WKREDA Celebrates Economic Development Week, May 6th - May 10th

WKREDA is excited to celebrate Economic Development Week (EDW) from May 6th - May 10th. EDW, established by the International Economic Development Council, highlights the importance of economic development in our region and across the globe.

Economic development is crucial in Western Kansas’ growth and prosperity. It encompasses various initiatives, from attracting new businesses to supporting existing ones, creating new job opportunities, and enhancing our community's overall quality of life.

Understanding the Role of WKREDA

At its core, economic development involves a range of activities to attract, create, and retain jobs to foster a resilient and growing economy. This collaborative effort requires close coordination between businesses, government entities, and various community stakeholders to achieve sustainable success.

WKREDA dedicates itself to supporting businesses in Western Kansas. Our services include:

• Business Retention & Expansion (BRE): Support existing businesses to thrive and expand, creating jobs through infrastructure improvements and resource access.
• Marketing & Attraction: Develop and execute campaigns to attract businesses and talent, showcasing community strengths to internal and external audiences.
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development: Support small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to capital, space, and technical assistance.
• Real Estate Development: Engage in projects like industrial parks and incubators to stimulate economic growth.
• Incentives: Help businesses access financial services and incentive programs for growth and expansion.
• Workforce Development: Collaborate with agencies to ensure a skilled talent pool, understanding and addressing company workforce needs.

Driving Economic Development: How WKREDA Supports Business Success

We’re fortunate to have resources and partners who have worked with us to create an ideal business environment in Western Kansas. The Kansas Department of Commerce has many incentives available to business owners in our region, which we’re happy to help facilitate. Among these are energy incentives, tax abatements, and business assistance programs. We can also help local businesses apply for the following incentives:

• High-Performance Incentive Program: This program provides tax incentives to employers that pay above-average wages and have a strong commitment to skills development for their workers.
• Promoting Employment Across Kansas (PEAK): This incentive is offered to businesses that create five new jobs in non-metropolitan counties or ten new jobs in specific metropolitan counties.
• The Kansas International Trade Show Assistance Program: This program provides funds for Kansas producers who want to exhibit at international trade shows.

Visit our website to learn more about these and other incentive programs offered to help local businesses succeed.

WKREDA: Your Partner in Business Growth and Development

During EDW, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of our economic developers and local leaders, who are committed to driving economic growth and improving our community's quality of life. We invite you to join us in recognizing their efforts and learning more about economic development's impact on our region.

To learn more about how we can support your business or to get involved in our economic development initiatives, visit https://www.wkreda.com.