When Kansas officials announced the arrival of a Panasonic electric battery plant to De Soto earlier this year, one number was prominently touted above all others: 4,000. While the state’s agreement with the Japanese multinational company doesn’t lay out a required number of jobs to be created, Panasonic and Kansas officials believe there will be 4,000 permanent positions created at the multibillion dollar facility. But there is broad agreement that Kansas, currently sitting at record low unemployment, needs to kick into gear to ensure the site of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant will be buzzing with workers when the long-coveted megaproject officially opens its doors.
Source: Salina Journal

With a cattle population of more than 6.5 million head, and slightly less than 3 million humans, cattle significantly outnumber Kansans in the Sunflower State. So much so, according to Mike Brouk, Ph.D., a dairy management extension specialist with Kansas State University, much of the dairy produced in the Sunflower State is shipped to other states. But the amount of milk surplus might change in the coming years. On Friday, Hilmar Cheese Co., which will take about two years to build, broke ground on a new cheese factory in Dodge City. When looking for a third location for a cheese manufacturing plant, David Ahlem, president and CEO of Hilmar Cheese, said, “Dodge quickly rose to the top, the cream of the crop.”
Source: Salina Journal

The City of Lawrence has now received nine of its 12 monthly sales tax checks from the state of Kansas. Thus far, the city’s sales tax collections are up 9.4% compared with a year ago. That is both a historically high number and a below-average number. In the past, a growth rate of 6% or 7% would be a great year for Lawrence sales tax collections. So, if Lawrence finishes the year at 9.4%, it would be extraordinary. But, it is also true that the number is currently below average. The average growth rate for local sales tax collections across the state is 11.5%. The reason for the strangeness, of course, is … inflation. As inflation has increased the price of most goods, sales tax collections have naturally gone up. Consumer demand has not increased by nearly 10% in Lawrence.
Source: LJWorld

The City of Lawrence has begun to relocate people experiencing homelessness who have been camping in some city parks to a temporary city-run campsite, with plans to create a long-term site in the near future. With the recent opening of the new campsite, which is located near North Second Street on city-owned property between the Johnny’s Tavern back parking lot and the levee trail, the city is requiring some people to move their campsites to the temporary site or other areas where the city continues to allow camping. The temporary campground consists of 48 spaces in the area behind the levee, and the city is also allowing existing campsites to remain in the general area. The city began setting up tents on Thursday and as of Friday afternoon 20 of the camping spaces were occupied, with about 20 additional campsites located in the wooded area or open space in the vicinity.
Source: LJWorld

Salina is preparing for the Crossroads Marathon in November, and the community as a whole is getting ready for the first, but hopefully not last, edition of the Boston Marathon qualifier. On Saturday, Nov. 5, downtown Salina is expected to be bustling with activities as the start and finish line of the marathon and half-marathon will be along Santa Fe Avenue, between Walnut and Mulberry Streets. This influx of people into Salina is expected to make an impact on the community.
Source: Salina Journal

You can find nearly anything on Google, and Lawrence police are using the tech giant’s data to track and identify crime suspects. One such suspect is on trial this week in Douglas County District Court. The suspect, Lee Andrew Mitchell Pennington, 34, of Lawrence, is charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and stalking after police used cellphone data from Google to track his movements the night of a home break-in in central Lawrence.
Source: LJWorld

It’s officially Fall, the weather is gorgeous, and it’s time to party. Bring on Hutch Fall Fest! Coming up this Friday and Saturday, September 30 and October 1, the festival kicks off the autumn season with a weekend jam-packed with fun activities for all ages and interests. … “We really want to see it become an annual celebration of community,” said Amy Conkling, assistant executive director at Hutch Rec. “I like the whole weekend, and I love the fact that we get to work together and collaborate.” Conkling sees this event as becoming “a true community festival in a really great season of fall, highlighting downtown in one weekend.”
Source: Hutch News

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.