 |
 |
"Confidence
comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong."
More than 30,000 people are expected to move into the Manhattan-Junction City-Wamego region over the next three to four years as a result of the new brigade being formed at Fort Riley and additional troops being brought to the base. Troops will begin arriving this summer and most are expected to be here over the next three years. After receiving word in May that Fort Riley will be bringing back the Big Red One, along with the 6th Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division and other additions, communities throughout Geary, Riley and Pottawatomie counties are gearing up for major housing expansions. With a projected housing shortage of 4,000 units, immense development will be occurring throughout the area over the next few years. "5 percent to 10 percent of the 30,000 new residents are expected to settle in the St. George, Wamego and Blue Township areas in the southwest corner of Pottawatomie County," said Robert Cole, Director of PCEDC. Plats are being developed for about 1000 housing units in Blue Township alone, which has a current population of about 1,800. "The increased demand for housing due to Fort Riley expansion may also cause some people to move out to more rural communities, including Olsburg, Westmoreland, St Marys and Onaga", Cole said. With Pottawatomie County having the third lowest property tax rate in Kansas, its not a surprise why many are building in Pottawatomie County. Along with new housing development, the region will also be witnessing an increase in employment and a labor shortage in some cases. Due to the Fort Riley expansion, there will be several thousand new jobs in the area, including civilian jobs in retail, service and construction trades. The construction trades are already experiencing shortages in some skilled trades and in general labor. A joint effort is being made among organizations in the three counties most affected to develop a cooperative and comprehensive employment recruitment, marketing, training and placement service coordinated through the Kansas Workforce Center in Manhattan. For more information about the Fort Riley Expansion and its possible implications, please contact Bob Cole at 785-456-9776. The "Bleeding Kansas and the Enduring Struggle for Freedom National Heritage Area" is included in a bill (S203) recently passed the U.S. Senate. Representative Jim Ryun is now working on passing the bill through the U.S. House of Representatives. The "Bleeding Kansas and the Enduring Struggle for Freedom National Heritage Area" is a grassroots project developed by a group representing 23 counties in Kansas and several western border counties in Missouri, working to designate our unique historic and heritage sites as a "National Heritage Area" in order to use our assets to attract tourism to our area. When designated, the Heritage Area will receive a congressional appropriation with which to develop and implement a management plan and a vigorous national marketing program for our area. "National Heritage Areas" are designated by Congress, then administered and funded through the national park service. A National Heritage Area is "a place where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography". Unique areas are acknowledged by Congress for their capacity to "describe nationally important stories about the evolution of our nation". Our stories include early exploration, early settlement, the conflict in Kansas over slavery and the resulting Civil War. They also include the histories of the various tribes that inhabited our area, the history of our emigrant and commercial trails, the missionaries who worked here, the struggles to develop a modern economy, and other developments that led to the creation of Pottawatomie County as it exists today. Our interest in this was prompted by evidence that National Heritage Areas are powerful attractions for tourism, with business increasing for participating attractions, as well as related retail and service businesses serving tourists and visitors. Individual attractions and towns in Pottawatomie County have submitted information and provided financial support for the development of the application, along with representatives from 20+ other counties, many towns and many more historical attractions throughout eastern Kansas. Participation is strictly voluntary. Whether Pottawatomie County decides to formally participate will depend on the private property rights protections included in the final legislation. Individual attractions may decide to participate on their own. Participating organizations may decide to be removed from the Heritage Area at any time, once it is established. For examples of existing National Heritage Areas, see: www.cr.nps.gov/heritageareas Provided that the final legislation contains adequate protections for private property rights - and only if it does - we look forward to our continuing participation and the economic benefits that should occur as a result of our inclusion in this new National Heritage Area. Pottawatomie
County Outdoor Recreation Council
Increasing outdoor recreational use throughout Pottawatomie County is the top priority for the "Pottawatomie County Outdoor Recreation Council," which was formed in December. The first two projects on the groups agenda is to build a canoe landing on the Kansas River in Wamego and to also implement a recreational trail, which will stretch between Wamego and St. George and run parallel with the river. "Having more recreational opportunities in the area, makes Pottawatomie County more attractive to visitors, which could lead to those visitors moving or retiring here," said Diane Novak, chairperson of the outdoor recreation council. "Also, its obvious that with more recreational opportunities more people will be able exercise and enjoy nature." PCEDC has established a fund through the Wamego Community Foundation that will allow citizens to make a tax- deductible contribution that will go towards the projects. The Cabin Fever Challenge and the Northern Flint Hills and Thrills bicycle rides have been used as a fundraising mechanism for the project with great success. For more information about the Pottawatomie County Outdoor Recreation Council or how you can donate money or time to the projects, please contact Kelly at 785-456-9776.
Kansas
Business Awards Month
Several businesses in Pottawatomie County were recognized for
the contributions they make to their local communities and to
the state economy, when officials from the Kansas Department of
Commerce held a North Central Kansas regional awards ceremony
June 3, 2005 at the Columbian Theatre Museum & Art Center
in Wamego as part of Kansas Business Appreciation Month.
"It is with great pleasure we recognize these and other outstanding Kansas companies, which have been nominated by people and organizations in their communities," said Commerce Secretary Howard Fricke. "While June is set aside for Business Appreciation Month, it is my hope that Kansans will recognize the crucial role local businesses play in their communities throughout the year." Seven regional ceremonies are being held statewide throughout the month of June. At each ceremony, one company in each of four categories (Distribution, Manufacturing, Retail, and Service) is selected to win a Regional Achievement Award. In the North Central Kansas region, the winners from Pottawatomie County were: Distribution: deLacey's
Lane
Home Accents Today named
deLacey's Lane to it's first ever list of fifty retail "Shining
Stars" in its May 2005 issue. The home accents trade journal
searched for small- to medium-size independent retailers that
have made an impact in their community and are known for their
creativity. Stores were chosen for many reasons including product
mix, display and personality.
deLacey's Lane in Wamego, Kansas was the only store in Kansas named to the list. Laura Atwood established deLacey's Lane in 2003. It quickly became known not only for its unique merchandise but also for its quirky sense of humor and fun-filled atmosphere. deLacey's Lane offers a wide variety of home accents, gifts and furniture along with outstanding customer service. Services offered include free gift wrapping, free delivery, and in-home design consultation. deLacey's Lane is open seven days
a week , Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday
from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
deLacey's Lane is also available for private parties in the evenings.
Midwest
Grain Products
Today
Midwest Grain employs a manager and 5 full time employees
at the Onaga facility previously occupied by Onaga Composites.
MGPI has completed production equipment repairs and upgrades.
They plan to add a second production line within a few months
and a third within 12 - 18 months, bringing the projected
permanent employment at the Onaga facility to 15 full time
employees. They will soon have invested nearly one million
dollars of their own money in the facility and equipment,
with more planned for the future. The current local payroll
is approximately $ 9,000 monthly. Payroll should double within
a few months and triple within 12-18 months. There will be
a property tax abatement request for this company in the future
Due to timely intervention in partnership with the mayor of Onaga and some local Onaga investors, we have been successful in keeping the composites business previously operated by Onaga Composites in Onaga. The new owner, Midwest Grain Products, is a major public company headquartered in Atchison and traded on NASDAQ. Liberty
Inc.
Liberty
Inc. bought land from the PCEDC in Green Valley Business Park
and has just completed a new building, funded in part by a USDA
Rural Development Guaranteed Loan in the amount of $450,000.
Total investment in the project has been $689,500 ($59,500 for
land, $480,000 building and improvements, and $150,000 for equipment.)
This will result in a significant expansion of production capability
and employment of 25 new employees over the next 3 years. A
property tax abatement request is pending soon on this project
for consideration by the county commission.
First
Trust Company of Onaga
In the
fall of 2004 PCEDC made arrangements for a team of graduating
K-State MBA candidates, under the supervision of Dr. David
Vruwink, the Assistant Dean of the business school, to conduct
a market research study for First Trust Company of Onaga.
The cost was only $750, shared between the corporation and
the trust company.
In May, 2005 the results were presented, which showed that First Trust Company of Onaga has a substantial growth opportunity. The company presently employs 30 people, co-located with Morrill and Janes Bank in Onaga of which it is an affiliate. Current local payroll is approximately $50,000 monthly plus substantial health and other benefits. It is projected that the size of the company could double over the next few years. We are presently working with the city of Onaga, Community Health Care Systems, the bank, the trust company and others to find a suitable site and financing arrangement for a new 5,000 to 10,000 square foot building to house this growing company. Custom
Wood Products
Custom
Wood Products is in the process of expanding their facilities
in St Marys. Their total investment will be $1,250,000 ($800,000
for building and improvements and $450,000 furniture, fixtures
and equipment) This will result in a projected 5 new employees
each year for the next 5 years, and 42 new employees over
10 years. A property tax abatement request is pending on
this project for consideration by the county commission.
Due to the financial
partnership between the Pottawatomie County Economic Development
Corporation and Washburn
University Small Business Development Center, interested
people in Pottawatomie County can use the small business consulting
services of Chad A. Jackson at no cost. Chad Jackson has a business
degree from K-State. His previous experience is as a commercial
loan officer for a regional bank, and as a financial analyst
for a large credit union. Chad is available every Wednesday
throughout the year. To contact Chad A. Jackson, call (785)
587-9817 or contact our office at (785) 456-9776.
Washburn University Small Business Seminar The Washburn University Small Business Development Center also makes business training available to people in Pottawatomie County at minimal cost. A summer seminar in Westmoreland is scheduled this week.
For more information and registration for the small business seminars, please contact Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, 785-456-9776.
FERMATA
FERMATA, Inc., a nature-based tourism consulting group, has recently been hired by the Kansas Travel and Tourism Department to explore nature-based tourism opportunities throughout the Flint Hills. The basis of their consulting work is to find opportunities
for local economic development through experiential tourism
in the Flint Hills. Pottawatomie County has been included
in this study and expects many positive outcomes from this
partnership. Site assessments have been completed and Pottawatomie
County was referred to as a "real treasure." FERMATA
is in the process of writing the final report and after
its completion in September, a series of public meetings
and press conferences will be held to brief the public on
the recommendations. 2007 - Pottawatomie County 150th Birthday Celebration Plans are getting underway for the celebration
of the 150th Birthday of Pottawatomie County. For those interested
in helping with the event or if you have ideas for the celebration,
please contact Kelly Pearl at 785-456-9776.
WWW.VISITWAMEGO.COM Wamego Convention and Visitors Bureau recently
unveiled their new visitor web site. Check it out at: www.visitwamego.com.
Mark
your calendars for these events
Washburn
SBDC Training - Westmoreland - Aug. 3 |