Panasonic breaks ground on massive De Soto battery plant predicted to transform KC region

Panasonic officially started construction of a new electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto, Kansas, on Wednesday. It’s the largest economic development project in the history of Kansas. The Japanese company said it will begin mass producing batteries in De Soto for the booming electric vehicle market by March 2025. Panasonic said building cylindrical “2170” lithium-ion batteries in De Soto will spur innovation and provide critical production capacity to fuel economic growth and other opportunities for the entire region.
Source: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 – WDAF

Ranson Financial2022-11-03T11:15:13-05:00November 3, 2022|News|

City of Emporia set to rollout new mass notification system Monday

The city of Emporia is set to expand communication with local residents with the rollout of a new mass notification system. According to City Communications Manager Christine Johnson during the Emporia City Commission’s regular action/study meeting Wednesday, beginning next week the city will be utilizing the CodeRed mass notification system for non-life threatening emergency situations and general notifications. This includes water line breaks, street closures and the like. Johnson says increased communication with local residents has been a major goal for the city in recent months and this is a great tool to help reach that goal.
Source: KVOE Emporia Radio

Ranson Financial2022-11-03T01:41:56-05:00November 3, 2022|News|

Osawatomie celebrates trail grant

Representatives of federal, state and local government agencies joined members of the community on Saturday, Oct. 29, to celebrate a $24.8 million federal grant recently awarded to improve and expand the Flint Hills Trail State Park, which begins at the Mile Zero trailhead in Osawatomie. The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant will help make infrastructure improvements on 40.5 miles of the trail and open 27 new miles of the trail, from Council Grove to Herington, according to a news release.
Source: republic-online.com

Ranson Financial2022-11-03T11:15:50-05:00November 3, 2022|News|

Grant will increase high-speed internet in 2 counties

Blue Valley Technologies has received another major grant to boost high-speed internet in Marshall and Washington counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development office will provide $3,066,752 for faster web access by deploying fiber inside the city limits of Frankfort, Waterville, Hanover and Washington. About 3,000 people along with 255 business and 14 educational facilities will benefit from this area’s project, according to BVT and USDA news releases. “High-speed internet is essential for success in education, health care and business in the 21st century,” said Christy Davis, Kansas director for USDA rural development.
Source: The Marysville Advocate

Ranson Financial2022-11-03T01:27:55-05:00November 3, 2022|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for November 1, 2022

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.

Henry Schmidt2022-11-02T08:54:38-05:00November 2, 2022|News|

Pottawatomie County approve raises for employees

Pottawatomie County commissioners approved a second cost of living adjustment for its employees Monday. The move will give county employees an overall 10 percent boost in their COLAs after the commission OK’d a 3.5 percent increase in July. The county deferred any additional increases to see if inflation concerns would diminish. County Administrator Chad Kinsley noted department heads began tightening their belts to ensure they could take on the adjustment for the remainder of the year. The commission already had approved a 6.5 percent COLA for the 2023 budget, amounting to roughly $1 million.
Source: 1350 KMAN

Ranson Financial2022-11-02T07:04:20-05:00November 2, 2022|News|

Sedgwick celebrates Halloween with downtown activities

Sedgwick held its third-annual Trunk or Treat on Halloween evening, closing down Commercial Street so trick-or-treaters could safely walk the streets and collect candy from residents and businesses alike. Activities included decorated trunks, candy distribution, a haunted tunnel, and free hot dogs.
Source: Harvey County Now

Ranson Financial2022-11-02T00:00:07-05:00November 2, 2022|News|

Wichita plans to replace two tennis courts with six pickleball courts at east-side park

Picklers just scored a key victory in the ongoing turf war between Wichita’s pickleball and tennis communities over the use of city parks facilities. The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved the conversion of two tennis courts at Edgemoor Park into six more pickleball courts. Parks and Recreation Director Troy Houtman said the problem with the six existing pickleball courts at Edgemoor is there are no court lights, limiting their use in the evenings.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-11-01T23:57:49-05:00November 1, 2022|News|

Wichita and Coffey County are competing for Kansas megaproject incentives, sources say

Wichita appears to be competing with Coffey County for a massive state subsidy package aimed at helping Kansas land billion-dollar “megaprojects” — the same incentives program used in July to lure Panasonic to the Kansas City area. It’s a competition because APEX incentives can go to only one more project before the program expires at the end of 2023. To qualify, companies must agree to spend $1 billion or more to expand operations or relocate their headquarters anywhere in Kansas.
Source: Wichita Eagle

Ranson Financial2022-11-02T07:05:49-05:00November 1, 2022|News|

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $1M For Central Kansas Affordable Housing Development

Governor Laura Kelly today announced $1 million will be going to the City of Russell to increase affordable and moderate-income housing options in central Kansas. Russell is using the funds, allocated through the bipartisan House Bill 2510 Governor Kelly signed this past May, to redevelop the former Holland Hotel into loft-style apartments. “Across Kansas, we are expanding housing in innovative ways so every Kansas family can afford to put a roof over their head – and so we can attract and retain the workers needed to continue our record-breaking economic success,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I applaud the City of Russell for finding a solution that preserves their history and benefits future generations.”
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce

Ranson Financial2022-11-02T07:06:03-05:00November 1, 2022|News|