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The Kiowa County Economic Development Corp. (KCED) held their annual meeting January 30th and discussed their achievements from last year and what they hope to accomplish in the next 12 months. It was noted that most economic development projects are not finished in just one year but there were several milestones and accomplishments made.
Many meetings were held with various entities considering locating a facility in the county. Two of those companies have taken the step of signing Letters of Intent to locate in the Greensburg Business Park. Both are in the process of obtaining the necessary financing and drafting of plans to get started. Both companies fit into the concept of “green” or sustainable that our county set out to attract in our ongoing rebuilding efforts.
KCED was also successful in helping Kiowa County opt in to the state Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) plan by obtaining the necessary funding to do so through area private corporation donations. The ROZ plan was designed as a recruitment incentive for higher educated persons to move into certain counties that were eligible to opt in to the program. The opt-in portion of the program allows persons moving in to our county to take a local job to apply to have up to $3000/year for five years paid towards student loans. The program went into effect on January 1st of this year and already one new teacher has been approved for the program.
KCED was successful in designing a new educational program called, “Growing Rural Businesses”, in conjunction with Wichita State University. This program just started February 3rd and participants will learn, among other things, better ways to market, merchandise, negotiate contracts, and how to manage employees. It is hoped that this program will become a model for the state. There is still time to enroll in this.
From revolving loan funds, two loans were completed. KCED worked with numerous potential and current businesses to make business plans, research opportunities and offer advice.
In the upcoming year, KCED plans to continue the work already started and to become more aggressive in pursuing other opportunities, especially in the fields of emerging alternative energy.
kiowadevelopment@gmail.com
The Kiowa County Economic Development Corp. (KCED) held their annual meeting January 30th and discussed their achievements from last year and what they hope to accomplish in the next 12 months. It was noted that most economic development projects are not finished in just one year but there were several milestones and accomplishments made.
Many meetings were held with various entities considering locating a facility in the county. Two of those companies have taken the step of signing Letters of Intent to locate in the Greensburg Business Park. Both are in the process of obtaining the necessary financing and drafting of plans to get started. Both companies fit into the concept of “green” or sustainable that our county set out to attract in our ongoing rebuilding efforts.
KCED was also successful in helping Kiowa County opt in to the state Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) plan by obtaining the necessary funding to do so through area private corporation donations. The ROZ plan was designed as a recruitment incentive for higher educated persons to move into certain counties that were eligible to opt in to the program. The opt-in portion of the program allows persons moving in to our county to take a local job to apply to have up to $3000/year for five years paid towards student loans. The program went into effect on January 1st of this year and already one new teacher has been approved for the program.
KCED was successful in designing a new educational program called, “Growing Rural Businesses”, in conjunction with Wichita State University. This program just started February 3rd and participants will learn, among other things, better ways to market, merchandise, negotiate contracts, and how to manage employees. It is hoped that this program will become a model for the state. There is still time to enroll in this.
From revolving loan funds, two loans were completed. KCED worked with numerous potential and current businesses to make business plans, research opportunities and offer advice.
In the upcoming year, KCED plans to continue the work already started and to become more aggressive in pursuing other opportunities, especially in the fields of emerging alternative energy.
kiowadevelopment@gmail.com
