Grow Clay County Director: Economic Development is changing

Since several organizations merged together to become Grow Clay County two and a half years ago, the organization has accomplished a lot, Grow Clay County Director Natalie Muruato said at last week’s Lions Club meeting. “Rural (economic development) can be very hard and very difficult, we have to look at it differently,” Muruato said after listing the organization’s accomplishments. “And not only that, now it’s not only about business attraction, it’s about people attraction. If you have the people, the businesses will come, the businesses will grow.”
Source: www.ccenterdispatch.com

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T14:52:57-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

Lutz retires after 36 years with Butler County

Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works/Butler County Engineer will be hanging his hat at the end of March as he retires from his position. After working in the engineering department of Butler County for 36 years, he’s ready to move on with his wife. Engineering has always been a part of Lutz’s life. As his mother boasted at his retirement party, he was very bright even as a young boy. Coming from a small farm town in Kansas by the name of Olpe just over an hour northeast of Butler County, little Lutz had no idea where his future career would take him.
Source: Andover American

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T14:51:42-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

From toxic sludge to lush park? Johnson County weighs cost of taking over old factory

Tucked away in southeastern Johnson County, a wooded path curves around the Blue River. The quiet pocket of nature has become a makeshift bike trail for some, and a tempting after-school hangout for nearby Blue Valley students. But abandoned since the 1990s when it was the site of a multi-million-dollar environmental cleanup, the land also has seen explorers get injured, and a fatal crash at the railroad tracks near it. Now, conservationists and some local officials are urging Johnson County to take over the 35-acre site near 164th Street and Mission Road. They want the county to turn it into a new park connected to its trail system, improve safety, remove invasive species and finish ecological remediation to restore the soil and water quality. “You don’t have to drive very far in southern Johnson County to see the bulldozers converting natural areas and former agricultural land into subdivisions,” said Bill Blessing, a board member for the nonprofit Heartland Conservation Alliance. “The ability of the county to conserve land for the use of current and future residents is rapidly being diminished due to the pace of real estate development. We see this as a closing window of opportunity to conserve natural land.”
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T11:04:05-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

City of Goddard plans to build pedestrian bridge across highway 54

The Goddard city council has approved plans to build a pedestrian bridge going over highway 54 in order to give citizens a safe way to cross from the north side to the south side. Walking across highway 54 is dangerous with lots of cars driving through at all hours of the day. There are already signs telling people not to cross but people do it anyway. That’s why people who live in Goddard want a pedestrian bridge to go across the highway. “We’ve lived here for almost 11 years and it’s always a topic of conversation either within the city or on social media. Everyone wants a bridge,” said longtime resident Tracy Wolf. Wolf thinks this bridge will help open up the community. “People can walk across Kellogg to get to the walking trails. They can walk over to get some ice cream from you know Braums or Dairy Queen or Starbucks. It just gives the opportunity to connect both sides,” said Wolf. The city is one step closer to this dream becoming a reality. The city council approved plans for a bridge to be built and go across the highway between 183rd street and 199th street.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T11:02:35-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

Roofing manufacturer bringing 150 jobs to Newton

Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that GAF, a Standard Industries company and North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, will invest more than $300 million in Newton by constructing a new shingle plant. The estimated 275,000-square-foot facility will create more than 130 high-skilled manufacturing jobs in management, engineering, and operations. GAF has more than 4,800 employees and operates in 30 locations across the U.S. producing commercial and residential roofing and waterproofing products and services for customers throughout North America. The Kansas Logistics Parks in Newton will be the company’s first location in Kansas. With one in four homes in the United States protected by a GAF roof, this investment enables the company to add residential roofing manufacturing capacity and enhance best-in-class service to customers nationwide. “GAF’s expansion into Kansas once again showcases our status as a national leader in advanced manufacturing,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The company’s innovative production methods and proven track record of community involvement make it an ideal partner for Newton and the entire state.” Construction is expected to begin in June 2024, with production anticipated to begin in 2027. The company expects to reach full production capacity by mid-2029.
Source: KAKE – News

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T11:00:55-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

German company to join Panasonic mega development in De Soto with $110M battery plant

A German company is joining the massive Panasonic development in De Soto, to work on site producing containers for the company’s electric vehicle batteries. H&T Recharge leaders say the company will be a supplier for Panasonic’s battery plant, working in De Soto through a “factory-in-factory approach.” Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced the development this week, saying the company is expected to invest $110 million and create 180 new jobs in De Soto. “My administration is dedicated to making Kansas the best place for businesses to start or grow,” Kelly said in a news release. “H&T’s decision to co-locate with Panasonic is proof that the work we are doing to attract business is paying off.” Panasonic recently signed a long-term agreement with H&T to supply lithium-ion battery cans. In De Soto, the company will install four production lines on site at the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, just south of Kansas 10 Highway. Japanese electronics company Panasonic’s 4-million-square-foot battery plant is under construction, on 300 acres. Officials have said the $4 billion project could result in as many as 4,000 new jobs.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T10:59:14-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

Geographic wonders: Sign up for poster project and illustrate beauty of JoCo’s parks

If you have artistic talents and want a place to show them off, Johnson County Park & Recreation has a project for you. It’s gearing up for its second annual poster project promoting local parks. Applications to be part of it are due March 26. Styled after the Works Progress Administration posters for national parks of the late 1930s and early 1940s, this year’s batch of posters will feature Antioch Park, Ernie Miller Park, Mill Creek Streamway Park and Stilwell Community Park. The idea is to make sure the parks “represented geographic diversity across Johnson County, some of our older parks mixed with some of our newer parks,” said Susan Mong, superintendent of culture for Johnson County Park & Recreation District. Last year’s featured parks included Shawnee Mission Park and Big Bull Creek Park. The county has been selling posters, notecards and postcards of last year’s designs both online and at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. Interested artists should have a background in graphic design or illustration, but a huge professional portfolio is not a necessity to compete. Even students can apply just by showing examples of pieces done in the past.
Source: Joco 913 News

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T10:56:44-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

Pittsburg adopts stricter lawn parking rules

Pittsburg city commissioners approve a measure keeping vehicles off of lawns. At a commission meeting earlier this month, an ordinance banning the parking of vehicles on lawns, grass, or landscaped areas was adopted by commissioners. City leaders say several factors led to the move, including vehicle safety, environmental concerns, and the impact on city infrastructure and utilities. “When there are vehicles, whether they’re inoperable or they’re operable, they’re running vehicles, or they’re used daily parked in the front of a home, in the yard, you know, that’s going to be where your utilities are running. That’s not meant to have a vehicle on top of utilities,” said Kim Froman, Director of Community Development and Housing, City of Pittsburg. The first offense will lead to a $25 ticket, with fines increasing for each additional offense.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T10:55:00-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

Bourbon County’s sales tax vote approaches

In less than two months, Bourbon County residents will head to the polls to decide the fate of a county-wide sales tax. “We want the public involved in this. We want them to help make this decision. That’s why we put it to a vote,” said Jim Harris, Bourbon County Commissioners Chairman. The one-quarter cent tax would be used to establish and operate an emergency department in Bourbon County. “We’re negotiating today with health care providers. We’ve got to show that we will have some funding to sign agreements with them because they’re not going to come here and $750,000 a year just because they like us,” said Harris. Bourbon County hasn’t had emergency health care services since Via Christi closed its emergency department in Fort Scott in December of last year. “Our goal is to have the special election get the funds coming in. We are negotiating with some health care providers today, 24 seven So we’ve got to start raising funds because we know we’re going to move forward. We have to subsidize it,” said Harris. If approved, the sales tax would last five years and is expected to generate 750 thousand dollars.
Source: KSNF/KODE

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T10:53:49-05:00March 25, 2024|News|

Governor Kelly Announces More than $76M Investment by Marvin, Creating 600 Jobs in Kansas City, Kansas

Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Marvin, a premium manufacturer of windows and doors, has selected Kansas City, Kansas, as the future home of its latest manufacturing facility. Marvin is investing $76.5 million to build a 400,000-square-foot facility in the Scannell 435 Logistics Center. Upon completion in 2025, Marvin anticipates employing approximately 100 team members in full-time positions across its manufacturing, fabrication, and assembly divisions to produce the company’s industry-leading fiberglass window and door solutions. With progressive annual growth, Marvin expects to employ a 600-person workforce in Kansas City by 2028. “Marvin’s investment emphasizes that my administration’s approach to attracting business into our state is working,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We are delivering on our commitment to making Kansas the best place to live, work, and raise a family.” Marvin conducted extensive research across multiple states before selecting Kansas City, Kansas, for this development. A strong workforce, state and local commitment to education, a collaborative approach to economic development, and compatibility all contributed to Marvin’s final selection.
Source: Sunflower State Radio Network

Ranson Financial2024-03-25T10:52:28-05:00March 25, 2024|News|