WKREDA News

Kansas had the most dramatic jump in economic development success of any state in the country in 2020, according to Site Selection magazine. With 70 projects meeting the magazine’s criteria, Kansas ranked 10th in the nation in economic development projects per capita in 2020. The new ranking increased from 2019 whe...Continue Reading

Less than one year after launching a comprehensive online entrepreneurship fair and business competition plan software for Kansans, NetWork Kansas announces the software's national expansion. VentureDash is on track to host 50 competitions across the country, including competitions of seven colleges and universities. "I know that we are definitely excited to work wit...Continue Reading

When she was elected, Governor Kelly promised to be “the education Governor.” Since the start of her administration, she’s made good on that commitment by increasing funding for public schools and working to align education with business needs. On January 24, 2019, Governor Kelly issued Executive Order 19-03 creating the Governor’s Council o...Continue Reading

Governor Laura Kelly announced that applications are currently being accepted for the Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP). “The Community Service Tax Program helps local nonprofit and healthcare organizations improve the health and economic wellbeing of their communities by streamlining their fundraising efforts,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “This program will encourag...Continue Reading

Governor Laura Kelly announced the selection of Atchison, Baldwin City, and Junction City as the newest members of the Kansas Main Street program, bringing the total number of designated Main Street communities in Kansas to 28. These three communities are the first new additions to the state’s Main Street program sinc...Continue Reading

The Smithsonian Institution is helping to showcase the rural Kansas heritage. Through a series of in-person events, they are helping six Kansas communities showcase their people and culture.  The traveling Smithsonian exhibition, "Crossroads: Change in Rural America," has its next stop at the Volland Store in Alma.  Small towns are overcoming challenges through innovative solutions...Continue Reading

NetWork Kansas announced its 2021 board of directors. Joining the board, Dr. Robert Weems, Jr., the Willard W. Garvey Distinguished Professor of Business History at Wichita State University since Fall 2011. Before coming to WSU, he taught at the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Iowa. A native of Chicago...Continue Reading

Governor Laura Kelly unveiled Kansas’ new, comprehensive economic development strategic plan, the first of its kind in more than 30 years. The Kansas Framework for Growth is an aggressive strategy to align our state’s strengths with emerging trends across the global economy, while guiding economic development at state and local level...Continue Reading

Governor Laura Kelly, Lt. Governor David Toland, and Treasurer Lynn Rogers announced the release of the Office of Rural Prosperity’s (ORP) 2020 Annual Report. The report outlines ORP’s policy priorities and the office’s ongoing projects, including rural infrastructure and broadband, childcare and early education, housing, and community and workforce development. “Th...Continue Reading

Governor Laura Kelly today announced her intent to submit an Executive Reorganization Order (ERO) to the Kansas Legislature relocating the State’s Tourism Division to the Kansas Department of Commerce. The move comes as the result of input from businesses, destination marketing organizations and other key industry partners, including the Travel Industr...Continue Reading

Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Kansas Department of Commerce has established an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Office of Broadband Development’s Broadband Acceleration Grant program and provide input on grant requests proposed for communities across Kansas. The goal is to gather public input regarding the grant application...Continue Reading

The Grain Belt Express transmission line, an approximately 800-mile high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line being developed by Invenergy Transmission, was announced on September 30th by Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary for Business Development Bill Murphy and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Invenerg...Continue Reading

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced that the state of Kansas has once again been recognized as a national leader in wind energy, with Business Facilities Magazine noting lofty rankings for Kansas when compared to all other states, and awarding an Honorable Mention to the Grain Belt Express project in the magazine’s Deal of th...Continue Reading

TOPEKA – As 2020 ends, the Kelly Administration highlights progress made in Kansas despite unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As we enter 2021, it’s important that we do not let the events of the last year be exclusively defined by hardship,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Due to good public policymakin...Continue Reading

The United States has grown and developed in large part by waves of new residents bringing their histories, values, customs, foods, religions, and so much more. While America has been a land of opportunity for new residents, each new wave has challenged the status quo creating ugly chapters in ou...Continue Reading

Kansas City, Missouri – Nick Poels, received the National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA) President’s Award for outstanding support and commitment to rural economic development. The NREDA President’s Award recognizes outstanding service to NREDA board, members and mission.   “Nick’s efforts on the Sponsorship Committee as well as his support for me makes hi...Continue Reading

Hays Community Theatre director Cheryl Glassman earlier this fall was asked to assemble a local ensemble to perform a song for a virtual Christmas variety show out of New York City. Glassman’s instinctive reply reflected the universal desire for relief from COVID-19 and everything else that’s happened this year. “We need ...Continue Reading

Dodge City Commissioners approved a Rural Housing Incentive District ordinance for housing development with Volz Builders LLC, which will provide 39 single-family residences with a market value of no less than $180,000. The housing development, Candletree No. 6, is located near the southwest corner of the subdivision at the Gary Avenu...Continue Reading

Organizers of the annual Women Managing the Farm conference announced Dec. 4 that the 2021 event will be held virtually from Feb. 10-12. Organizers said the virtual format is like many other events that have been altered by the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite that, the event will continue to offe...Continue Reading

The state conducted a public hearing for allowing industrial hemp to be grown commercially in Kansas. Last year, the crop was grown for research purposes. Unless there are substantial objections to the proposed plan, the ruling should go into effect on or near Jan. 1, 2021. This would mean farmers i...Continue Reading

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced the introduction of the new Broadband Acceleration Grant Program to expand broadband access to rural and underserved communities across the state. This year marks the first time in Kansas history that there has been a concerted, statewide, bipartisan effort to fund increased broadband access. Over the nex...Continue Reading

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced the Kansas Main Street program will be accepting applications for up to three new communities in the state interested in joining. The Main Street program – designed to develop and strengthen downtown corridors – has been a proven success for rural communities throughout the state. “My administratio...Continue Reading

Wichita, KS – NetWork Kansas’ Entrepreneurship (E-) Community Partnership announces the 2020-2021 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) Series. The YEC Series consists of local-level youth entrepreneurship competitions hosted by volunteers. The goal of the competition is to expose Kansas middle school and high school students to entrepreneurship. Forty-eight local events in Kansa...Continue Reading