wKREDA News

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

2020 was nothing like anyone imagined it would be due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it didn’t stop life from continuing in Garden City. This was the takeaway from Garden City Mayor Troy Unruh’s State of the City Address at the October Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday. Unruh said 2020 was not the year anyone expected and was full of uncertainty, but it did teach that “we are better together when we work together.” The city pulled together with the Finney County Commission and the Finney County Health Department and they were able to work together to keep everything running...

Gov. Laura Kelly signals new wave of broadband development in Kansas

Thursday, October 08, 2020

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly elevated the administration’s commitment to improving access to quality internet service in Kansas by establishing Thursday an office of broadband development in the state Department of Commerce. “Achieving universal broadband coverage will make communities more competitive economically, make them healthier and improve educational access,” Kelly said. “If we are serious about competing in today’s global economy and recruiting the best talent to come to our state and keeping our children where they grew up, then we must do everything in our power to end the digital divide.” The Democratic governor appointed Stanley Adams as director of broadban...

Gov. Kelly announces project to expand sustainable energy across Kansas, creating hundreds of jobs

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Governor Laura Kelly announced a new project to expand sustainable energy across Kansas. Kelly was joined by Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers, Deputy Secretary Bill Murphy and Kris Zadlo of Invenergy. The new project with Invenergy, called the Grain Belt Express, will send electricity 800 miles across Kansas through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It will create up to 22,525 jobs during construction and 968 permanent jobs. Read full article.

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Nearly 1,000 Permanent Jobs and $8 billion of Total Investment to Kansas

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Governor Laura Kelly today joined Kansas Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary for Business Development Bill Murphy and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Invenergy Kris Zadlo to announce Inevergy’s new Grain Belt Express transmission line. “Kansas is uniquely positioned to be a regional and national leader in the development and expansion of clean and renewable energy,” Governor Kelly said. “The Grain Belt Express will be instrumental in helping to power Kansas and other states, and will bring nearly 1,000 jobs and billions in economic investment and energy savings to our state. My administration is committed to rebuilding our foundation and supporting ke...

Governor Laura Kelly Applauds Department of Commerce State Trade Expansion Program Grant Award

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly applauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on its announcement of a $127,400 award being presented to the Kansas Department of Commerce’s International Division through SBA’s competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). “International business is a major economic driver for Kansas, and the work done by the Department of Commerce has created a significant advantage for our state in markets across the world,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m very pleased that the Small Business Administration has awarded our state this grant, which will support our ongoing efforts to recruit new businesses and bring good paying jobs to Kansas.” Rea...

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Personal Protective Equipment Program for Kansas Businesses

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) has launched a new Business PPE Stopgap program, which provides personal protective equipment (PPE) to businesses experiencing delays in purchased equipment. “Businesses in our state have experienced immense challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and they need our support,” Governor Kelly said. “By making sure Kansas business owners have access to the necessary protective equipment when they need it, they can not only protect their employees and customers but also make sure they can stay open for business.” Read full article.

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Community Development Block Grant Recipients

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced that three Kansas cities will receive Community Development Block Grants from the Department of Commerce to assist with commercial redevelopment efforts. Clay Center, Eudora and Lincoln each will receive $250,000 in CDBG funds for redevelopment projects, with each city providing matching funds of $88,000, $87,400 and $125,714, respectively. Read full article.

Governor Laura Kelly Celebrates Third KANSASWORKS Statewide Job Fair

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly celebrated the success of this year’s third KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair, which involved 189 employers and 1,182 jobseekers. “COVID-19 has presented major challenges for workforce services in our state, but we must continue to do all we can to help people find employment opportunities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These virtual fairs are a great system to connect employers and jobseekers across the state so that we can get Kansas back to work, safely.” Read full article.

Restart Kansas: A Proven Demonstration Of Inclusion In Entrepreneurship

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Race relations, police practices and the impact of COVID-19 are propelling a feeling of unrest, uncertainty and tension across the United States. The disproportionate impact of these three issues upon African-Americans has prompted a series of responses ranging from people of all backgrounds flooding the streets in protest to a barrage of social media posts, tweets and snaps written from a multitude of perspectives. Whether agreeing with the responses or denouncing them, the root of the inequities experienced by the African-American community should be addressed — including roots that have created inequities in economic development and entrepreneurship. Read full article.

Hoping for a bin-buster year

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

For Jon Oden, like his wheat fields, life has had many challenges. But like his fields, he keeps going – often with a calm demeanor and an optimistic attitude. Oden is a fifth-generation farmer, operating Sterling Heritage Farms in Sterling and Lyons. Like his forebears, he raises wheat, corn, soybeans and milo. He’s added and deleted other crops to and from the mix throughout the years, including alfalfa, sunflowers and cotton. Read full article.

FAA funds airport work

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

On June 9th at Hays Regional Airport, Hays Aircraft LLC general manager Chris Springer soldered a wire to repair an engine instrument on a customer’s Piper Cherokee 6. He was aware of the $2.2 million in upgrades the city of Hays has planned in the next year for the airport. The construction will have minimal affect on operations, according to city officials. Hays Aircraft, the fixed base operator that fuels and repairs aircraft and offers flight lessons, will see a difference when work begins on an asphalt overlay to rehabilitate Airport Fuel Road on the east side of the airport. Read full article.

NetWork Kansas Awards $250,000 in Grants from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas for COVID-19 Relief Measures

Saturday, June 06, 2020

TOPEKA, Kan. (June 6, 2020) — NetWork Kansas announced it has awarded $250,000 in grants from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS). The grants have been given to nine colleges and small businesses in Kansas that are making personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers with low supply during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The funding is part of the BCBSKS Blue Health Initiatives Trailblazers grant that was given through NetWork Kansas. Trailblazers builds partnerships to blaze a trail to a healthier future by finding innovative solutions that improve social determinants of health, increase access to care, and streamline the coordination o...

66 Kansas cities and counties to receive Community Development Block Grants to support coronavirus response

Tuesday, June 02, 2020

Governor Laura Kelly announced the award of nearly $9 million in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement (CDBG-CV) funds to 66 Kansas communities. “Kansans have faced unprecedented challenges during the past few months due to COVID-19,” Governor Kelly said. “Our communities need relief – and they need it now. I’m pleased to announce additional resources to help Kansans navigate through the recovery process. These grants will help our communities rebuild their economies and support Kansas families.” Read full article.