Latest News

Thursday, January 20, 2022

With the beginning of a new year, comes the end of our first capital campaign program of work and the beginning of our second capital campaign program of work. First, we want to thank all of you who invested in us as we began working on our initiatives and goals in 2018 as well as those who have renewed their investment in us and those who joined us as new investors in this campaign. As our updated dashboard shows, we have provided a lot of assistance to businesses throughout the county since 2018 and we are thrilled that we were abl...

Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad announce major maintenance initiative

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Officials of the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad have announced a major fundraising campaign to upgrade track between Abilene and Enterprise, the route of the railroad’s excursion trains. According to Ross Boelling, the general manager of the railroad, the project will require two phases, and the organization is working with granting agencies and seeking contributions to fund the project. A&SV needs about $75,000 to complete the ongoing first phase and will need about $1.8 million more to finish phase two. The railroad operates on the former Herington-Salina subdivision of the Rock Island railroad. When that company went bankrupt in 1980, th...

Dickinson County adjusts its fee schedule for 2022

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

During the Dickinson County commissioner regular meeting Jan. 6, the commissioners passed the 2022 county fee schedule. This year’s schedule includes mostly raises with some decreases in the prices of the county’s services. For open records requests from the County Clerk’s Office, the cost per hour for research time for each request rose from $10 to $30. Genealogy requests rose from $10 to $30. Pages still cost $.50 cents. Read full article.

Seismic activity in Kansas: history and statistics of Dickinson County earthquakes

Friday, January 07, 2022

Did you know there is a tectonic feature called the Abilene Anticline? While the anticline is not the cause of earthquakes in Dickinson County, the county sits between two tectonic features that do. Part one of this two-part series will discuss the geographic causes of earthquakes in Dickinson County and county earthquake statistics. The majority of earthquakes in the county occur in the southeastern area of Dickinson County, above Hope and Herington, and the western county line around and below Solomon, according to an interactive map by the Kansas Geological Survey and Shelby Peterie, research geophysicist for the survey. The count...

Dickinson County Program Provides a Peek behind the Curtains of Business

Monday, December 20, 2021

Running a business has its perks, from being your own boss to the satisfaction of helping a community. But the hard work behind a successful business is often hidden from the view of the budding entrepreneur. In Dickinson County, one program gives high school students that education with a glimpse of entrepreneurial life. “Students have the opportunity to pull back the curtain of running a business with the CEO Program,” said Justin Coup, Dickinson County CEO Program board member and superintendent of the Solomon Unified School District. “An owner does not always have that chance amidst the daily tasks of runnin...

SPARK executive board earmarks $154 million for Kansas economic development, education

Monday, December 20, 2021

TOPEKA — The SPARK executive board of state officials and business advisers agreed to move ahead Monday with allocation of federal funding for $100 million in commercial building infrastructure projects and $50 million in direct aid to children enduring educational setbacks in the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea proposed by Lt. Gov. David Toland to the seven-member executive board featured development of grants to businesses and communities for expanding building infrastructure capable of attracting or retaining jobs in Kansas. In addition, Toland said the goal would be to provide a $1,000 voucher to low-income, high-need students particularly affected by loss of educationa...

Childcare assesment survey to be distributed around county

Tuesday, December 07, 2021

“There’s just not any more room left. They are all full.” Triston Cope, member of The Dickinson County Early Childhood Council, is one of the many people around the county who are concerned about the lack of child care in the county. To learn the child care needs of Dickinson County, she and members from several organizations decided to work together to create a survey to learn those needs. Read full article.

Dickinson County Economic Development Director departing for Emporia

Friday, December 03, 2021

Chuck Scott is saying goodbye to Dickinson County and hello to Emporia. The executive director at the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation has been selected as the next president of the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas, the board of directors announced Thursday. Chuck Scott will replace Kent Heermann, who has served as president of the RDA since 1994. The transition will occur in the first quarter of 2022. Read full article.

New Dickinson County Clerk sworn in

Friday, December 03, 2021

Eighth Judicial District Chief Judge Benjamin Sexton conducted the swearing in ceremony for new Dickinson County Clerk Jeanne Livingston at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, Dec. 1 in Sterl Hall, the temporary location of Dickinson County District Court. Livingston’s first day as county clerk was Wednesday, following the retirement Tuesday of long-time clerk Barbara Jones. Livingston was elected to the position Oct. 27 by Dickinson County Republican precinct committee men and women. Livingston has served as deputy clerk for 12 of the 15 years she has been with the county clerk’s office. Livingston said Jones did a “wonderful job” as count...

Creating a Work Environment For Employee Growth and Development

Wednesday, December 01, 2021

In August, Rocki Rockingham was named Chief Human Resources Officer for GE Appliances. Area Development’s editor recently asked her about the company’s strategy to build upon its recent global “Great Place to Work” recognition and to create a workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent. Area Development: Despite the high unemployment rate created by the pandemic, companies are still struggling to find skilled labor. How does GE Appliances’ workplace culture factor into attracting these workers? Rocki Rockingham: Having a great culture is critical to attracting talent and our success. This year, 81 percent of employees said GE Appliances is a grea...

Three Ways To Continue The Momentum Of Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 27, 2021

The holiday season is upon us, and small businesses have an opportunity to take advantage of pent-up demand and the overall rebound of the American economy in the post-Covid world. Consumers are ready to spend, and Small Business Saturday promotions will help lure holiday shoppers back to brick-and-mortar stores. Small business owners have much to be thankful for in 2021, compared to a year ago. Restrictions placed on businesses have eased, and people are willing to travel and spend again. Although an estimated 30% of small businesses closed during the pandemic and never recovered, the majority of small firms have gotte...

Small Businesses Drive Dickinson County’s Holiday Season

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

As the weather turns colder, residents throughout Dickinson County turn their attention to the holidays. Those seeking that special gift for friends and family have the perfect opportunity to do so on Saturday, November 27, with Small Business Saturday. Just as important, it is the perfect time for holiday shoppers to familiarize themselves with the small businesses who bring their products and services to benefit customers all year long. Small Business Saturday was organized more than a decade ago to highlight the importance of small businesses to local economies. It has been a resounding success, as the National Federation of Independen...

RV industry booming in Abilene and around the country

Thursday, November 11, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many people’s lives and businesses’ circumstances, mostly for the negative. In the RV world though, the pandemic pushed the industry to a new height, and some local businesses have experienced this good fortune as well. Dave and Leslie Cochran are the new owners of the Four Seasons RV Acres business east of Abilene. Their inventory has been affected by the national shortages, but as their products have become more available, their sales have increased. The increase though is just a sample of what is being seen nationally. Read full article.

USD 393 passes $8.82 million bond issue

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The unofficial results for the Solomon School District bond are in with the bond passing to a 245 to 189 vote. The bond is $8.82 million and will be used to build for the expansions, renovations and additions in the district. “We’re very excited as a community at the outcome of the vote. We’re looking forward to the opportunity that comes with that,” said Justin Coup, superintendent of the school district. Read full article.

Kansas Department of Commerce Announces New Grant Program Launch for Historic Building Revitalization

Friday, November 05, 2021

Article from Kansas Department of Commerce Website. TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced a new grant program that will move quickly to help revitalize underutilized, vacant and dilapidated downtown buildings in rural Kansas communities. The Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant program is designed to bring downtown buildings back into productive use as spaces for new or expanding businesses; housing; arts and culture; civic engagement; childcare; or entrepreneurship. The matching grants will help address emergency needs for neglected buildings and assist building owners with eligible expenses for the revitalization of historic properties. Projects submitted must show potential a...

Meet the new guys: Introducing Abilene’s newest city commissioners

Thursday, November 04, 2021

With Election Day past, Dickinson County released their unofficial results for the Abilene City Commission seats. Incumbent Trevor Witt won a four year seat with the city, while newcomers John Kollhoff won a four year seat and Wendy Miller won a two year seat on the commission. The new commissioners wanted to introduce themselves and talk about why they love Abilene. Fun, Creative, Entrepreneurial Kollhoff would simply describe himself with those three words and his history of starting business across industries would seem to back this up. Read full article.

Insights On The Five Stages Of Small Business Growth

Monday, November 01, 2021

Even during the best of times, starting a small business is tough. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it became a quest for survival. While roughly one-third of small businesses were closed amid the lockdowns, many have reopened their doors or launched anew as consumer demand roars back. Each of the 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S. has its own unique flavor, challenges and path to success. Some never expand beyond a single founder; others could scale to become the next unicorn. Along the way, many founders will face common sets of challenges as they reach new levels of success. For that reason...

Abilene City Commission & USD 435 School Board Candidates Answer Questions Submitted from The Driving Dickinson County Partnership Members

Friday, October 29, 2021

Abilene City Commission Candidate Q&A All candidates for Abilene City Commission whose name will appear on the ballot for the November 2nd, 2021 elections were provided the following list of questions submitted anonymously by members of The Driving Dickinson Partnership to answer. Their individual responses are listed below. Candidates are: Incumbent Chris Ostermann, Incumbent Trevor D Witt, John Kollhoff, and Wendy Miller. There are 3 seats up for election. Q: What do you see as the biggest issue facing the city in the next few years? John Kollhoff: “balancing supply and demand in the labor and housing markets.” Chris Ostermann: “Originally I would sa...

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Kansas Surpasses $7 Billion in New Business Dollars Invested in the State

Thursday, October 21, 2021

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that since she took office in January 2019, more than $7 billion new business dollars have been invested in the state of Kansas and over 29,000 new jobs have been created. “This announcement means more jobs, more money in Kansans’ pockets, and a stronger economy for all of us,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Since day one, my administration has been laser-focused on building an economy where families and businesses want to call home. Surpassing the $7 billion mark in new business dollars invested in our state is proof that our efforts are working &ndash...

Wanted: New Dickinson County Clerk

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Dickinson County Clerk and Election Officer Barbara Jones will retire Nov. 30 after serving more than 44 years in the clerk’s office. Jones announced her retirement last week. “I’ve really enjoyed working and seeing all the people that come into the courthouse for different things and working with all the people in the different offices,” Jones said. Read full article.

Lt. Governor Toland Announces Paul Hughes as Deputy Commerce Secretary

Monday, October 04, 2021

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced Paul Hughes as new Deputy Secretary for Business Development for the Kansas Department of Commerce. Hughes will direct efforts to drive the growth of existing businesses in Kansas and recruit new businesses into the state, with oversight of the Business, Community and International development divisions at the Department of Commerce. A resident of Prairie Village, Hughes previously served as Executive Vice President at the Arizona Commerce Authority, where he oversaw Arizona’s business development team in areas of workforce development, business attraction, international trade and rural markets. He also has significant experienc...

Moving Forward!

Saturday, October 02, 2021

As the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC) wraps up its new capital campaign, Driving Dickinson County, it provides me with an opportunity to reflect on what was accomplished during the first five-year campaign as well as consider what steps need to be taken to move forward on major issues like the need for housing, childcare, workforce, as well as others. Yes, we met all of the goals of our first capital campaign but that would not have been possible without the help of all our investors, partners, affiliates, and volunteers. Thank you all! To move forward, it is important to remembe...

Manufacturing Drives Dickinson County

Friday, September 17, 2021

As communities across the country seek to regain some semblance of normalcy post-pandemic, the importance of manufacturing companies and their employees is more relevant than ever. Beginning with National Manufacturing Day on October 1, the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC) is celebrating local manufacturers for their employment opportunities, innovations and dedication to the community throughout the month of October. We are proud to recognize the global manufacturing companies that produce goods using the latest technologies and plentiful raw materials in Dickinson County. Manufacturing Day Stretches Through the Whole Month of October Launched annually on the first Friday in October with event...

Connecting Skills To Opportunities

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

The State of Nevada is on top of things. For close to 10 years, they’ve been focused on where industry is going and what it means for the future of work in the state. State leaders like Bob Potts, deputy director at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) have recognized its legacy industries (gaming, entertainment, and tourism) have been on a maturing path for decades. They’ve thus been working to identify the state’s comparative advantages in various industries to better diversify. “We looked at advanced manufacturing, technology, healthcare, logistics and operations, and energy,” Potts said. “We were doing reverse staffin...

Childcare Needs Escalate in Dickinson County

Monday, August 23, 2021

Childcare workers have always experienced the struggle between the joy of helping raise children and earning low wages with little or no benefits. Historically, childcare employers have always struggled to maintain a quality staff for the same reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic made the entire situation worse across the country. For Dickinson County, the bottleneck is not having enough childcare facilities, but finding the staff to work at them. Kansas Trends Childcare in Kansas was trending in the wrong direction prior to the pandemic. According to the 2020 Child Care Supply Demand Report from ChildCare Aware? of Kansas, nearly 500 of the states&rsquo...

Dickinson County Continues to Drive Economic Development

Monday, August 23, 2021

Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC) has launched their new capital campaign, designed to drive economic growth in the area. The name - Driving Dickinson County - ties the historical economic backgrounds of the area with future economic growth for all. “We wanted to convey that DKEDC is sensitive to the agricultural and rural heritage of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives which began our path toward economic prosperity, “ said campaign co-chair, Doug Smart of Smart Insurance. “DKEDC is now driving the future direction and efforts of economic development in Dickinson County as an excellent place for business, grow future economi...

5 Tips for Attracting the Best Job Candidates in Today's Labor Market

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

The landscape has changed dramatically for businesses accessing the labor market pool. Employers have to rethink how to approach prospective employees if they plan on meeting their hiring demands. Job shortages have created a frenzy where companies are scrambling to adopt a new approach to hiring new team members in pursuit of a different type of job engagement. Every day I coach companies that are desperate to find workers who can support their growing business. Many of these businesses have unfortunately had to turn business away, because they don’t have enough staff to support the influx of work. According to th...

Two Dickinson Co. companies exhibited at the NCBA Trade Show

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Two Dickinson County businesses: Rawhide Portable Corral (Abilene): John McDonald and Sort’n Buddy (Woodbine) participated in the Cattle Industry Convention & National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee August 10-13, 2021. Read full article.

7 Ways to Successfully Manage Managers

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Managing managers can be similar, in some ways, to managing a team — you need to align priorities, communicate goals, provide feedback and serve as a mentor. But the difference in managing managers is that you have to not only oversee their work, but make sure they’re effectively supporting their teams too. In addition to ensuring that managers are producing quality work, you’re setting clear expectations for what a successful manager looks like, observing their leadership within a team and offering direct feedback on their management skills. A successful manager is one who guides their team to perform well and develops the...

DKEDC Announces Next Economic Development Strategic Plan and Driving Dickinson County Campaign

Monday, August 09, 2021

Dickinson County, KS (July 13th, 2021) – The Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC) kicked off their new Driving Dickinson County capital campaign with community leaders at DK Sports located in Chapman, KS on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. with over 100 attendees from all over Dickinson County. Driving Dickinson County will provide funding for the next five years of DKEDC’s strategic plan for economic growth. The campaign has set a goal of $1.5 million in total over the next five years and has already had a strong start with over $1,200,000 in pledges from 56 investors fro...

Toland: Economic growth in Kansas means swinging for fences, asking hard questions

Monday, August 09, 2021

Despite a pandemic and ensuing global recession, 2020 stood out as an eye-popping year for economic development in Kansas. Last year, the state closed 131 projects, creating 13,871 jobs and attracting more than $2.5 billion in capital investment — the highest amount since the Kansas Department of Commerce's inception in 1986. "We've done a great job going out there, hustling for leads and, frankly, converting those leads into real investment and real jobs," David Toland, the state's lieutenant governor and Commerce secretary, said during a recent interview. Even so, the state's second-in-command said he's "not satisfied" and thinks Kansas has significantly more potentia...

Kansas set to lead nation in renewable energy

Tuesday, August 03, 2021

Boost Kansas, an initiative of the American Clean Power Association says in 2020, the renewable energy industry had an exciting year, and Kansas is a leader with success in wind and solar energy developments. It said the newly released Clean Power Annual from the American Clean Power Association notes the Sunflower State is a national leader in renewable energy, with over 43% of the state’s electricity coming from renewable sources, ranking second in the nation. It said the report shows Kansas’ ability to increase jobs and investment while maximizing energy efficiency throughout the state. According to Boost Kansas, renewable energy i...

Activities Aplenty in Dickinson County

Monday, January 27, 2020

There’s always something to do in Dickinson County! Awesome natural beauty headlines the list. An abundance of parks, sports complexes, trails and outdoor spaces are perfect for all ages seeking recreation. Combine outdoor enjoyment with natural history at the Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Museum and adjoining parks. The avid golfer will find three beautiful golf courses, including the public Indian Hills Golf Course. Every summer, the Central Kansas Free Fair is the largest such event in the state. The feature attraction is the Wild Bill Hickok PRCA Rodeo, frequently regarded as one of the best outdoor rodeos in the country. Abundant activitie...

Chuck Scott Keeps Homage to his Father and Coach

Monday, December 27, 2021

Article from the Abilene Reflector-Chronicle, ABILENE, KANSAS: “Somebody took a chance on me and gave me an opportunity. I feel obligated to return that somewhere.” Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Chuck Scott, director for the Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation, grew up in a military family. His father worked as an accountant for the Air Force and constantly moved with his family for his job. “It’s hard to consider anywhere home when you are military dependent because you move a lot. Most of my youth was spent in Bellevue, Nebraska, so Omaha metro,” Scott said. “So I’m a midwestern kid.” Living in Bellevu...

Dickinson County Announced as Kansas Rural Opportunity Zone

Friday, July 16, 2021

Dickinson County is now recognized as a Kansas Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ). If you are an eligible employee, you may qualify for a 100% Kansas Income Tax Credit as well as up to $15,000 of student loan forgiveness over five years. If you are an employer and want to sponsor an employee who has moved into Dickinson County on or after June 18th, 2021, visit the link below to learn more about the ROZ program. If the employee is eligible: 1. Have them apply for the ROZ program at www.kansascommerce.gov/roz. 2. Once th...

It’s Beginning

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

It’s been a long 14 months, and we commend local businesses for adapting to the challenges you have faced. We have been adapting during this time as well. As we mentioned in the last newsletter, we have launched the Driving Dickinson County Partnership (The Partnership) and are thrilled to announce the hiring of Amy Isaacs, our Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Manager. As part of launching The Partnership, we sent out a survey asking for your input on the services, functions, and benefits you wanted The Partnership to continue. With the results of this survey, we are developing a process, procedure...

Dickinson County Housing Assessment

Friday, May 24, 2019

The Dickinson County Housing Assessment is available to view as a PDF. The report reviews local trends in housing since 2010, discusses opportunities and challenges in our communities, recommends a path for future success and showcases case studies of success stories from similar communities. View the assessment here.

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