Lt. Gov. David Toland stopped in to learn firsthand about the dilemma facing microbrewery owner Pippin Williamson after Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, who’s also been trying to help Williamson navigate the situation, called him. The brewery is hosting the special nightly dinners in an effort to meet minimum food sale requirements to renew its license, after learning on Monday from state regulators their license was under threat. Probst has been researching the history of the law that requires the brewery to make 30% of its gross sales annually from serving food and what changes might be made to address it. Source: [...]

For several years, Salina area professionals have been enhancing efforts to attract and retain young adults in Saline County. These efforts are one part of a bigger puzzle officials are working on – glaring gaps in the local workforce. Salina isn’t unique from any other midwestern town in the fact that it has experienced brain drain – substantial emigration or migration of individuals – over the last several decades, as well as overall population loss. ... So, how can communities like Salina attract workers and promote its variety of available jobs? The consensus from local experts seems to be focusing efforts [...]

Finding housing in Salina is more complicated than ever, and one sector of that industry, rental properties, isn’t immune from the confusion, as properties that come up for rent are occupied almost as fast as they open. The issues of rental properties are impacting both owners and managers of rentals and their tenants or perspective tenants. All types of housing are feeling the crunch. “We have people out looking for units to rent, and there’s just none available,” said Phil Nix, the executive director of the Salina Housing Authority. “And what does come on the market, rents rather quickly.” Source: Salina [...]

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS "investment grade" yields. Every issuer's credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman and Beth Warren.

Baldwin Retirement Apartment Complex Inc. ... received $733,711, which will help the nonprofit modernize Jersey Street Apartment Suites, a 24-unit complex of one-bedroom apartments spread across four buildings. It will also allow for two of those units to be converted to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it will allow a maintenance update that BRAC staff described to the Journal-World as crucial. It’s a project that definitely wouldn’t be happening if not for ARPA aid. In fact, it would be a 10-year project without it.... Source: LJWorld

The Baldwin City government will ask city residents to approve on the November ballot an additional half cent of sales tax authority to be used to rehabilitate brick streets in its historic district. Baldwin City Mayor Casey Simoneau said that the City Council in June approved placing the sales tax referendum before voters. If approved, the additional half cent in sales tax, which would be permanent, would be added to the existing 1.25-cent sales tax the city collects on retail sales in Baldwin City to help pay for various infrastructure needs. With county and state sales taxes, approval of the measure [...]