Latest News

10 Businesses Receive Funding From Network Kansas During August

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

E-Community Loans - ~Toms Kountry Kitchen in Kinsley. Partner: Edwards County Econ Dev ~Arrowhead Family Chiropractic in Dodge City. Partner: Dodge City/Ford Co Dev Corp. ~Eclectic Bistro in Dodge City. Partner: Dodge City/Ford Co Dev Corp. ~JAM Partners, LLC in Dodge City. Partner: Dodge City/Ford Co Dev Corp. ~Bombshells Beauty Lounge in Russell. Partner: Russell County ~MAS Properties, LLC dba Cradle to Career Literacy Center in Emporia. Partner: Emporia Main St. ~Orange, LLC in Colby. Partner: Thomas County Econ Dev Alliance Read full article.

Infrastructure Investment as an Economic Stimulus Tool

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

In times of economic struggle — such as the recession that abruptly arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic — analysts and advocates promote an array of options as effective tools for stimulating the economy. One of the most frequently suggested options is infrastructure spending. Proponents of infrastructure spending during dire economic times view it as a productive job creator and essential foundation for a long-term recovery and return to sustained prosperity. Brian Raff, director of Communications and Public Affairs for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), cites a 2015 study by the Duke Center on Globalization, Governance, and Competitiveness to demonstrate infrastructure investment’...

Registration Now Open: The Aligned Leader, A Six-Week Virtual Leadership Series

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce is excited to bring a unique and powerful program to Central Kansas and beyond in a time when many business owners and leaders are uncertain of just where and how to move their teams successfully forward. We believe now is the time to grow your leaders from within and arm yourself and your team with the tools and resources needed to take your business to the next level. The business environment has changed dramatically in the past several months. As more and more companies have remote workers, the need for Aligned Leaders has never been greater. It’s easie...

Russell Stover is Sweet on Abilene

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

For those seeking employment in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, finding a well-paying job can be an extremely sweet moment. Almost as sweet as biting in to a Russell Stover Pecan Delight. The combination of finding that job at the Russell Stover Abilene facility offers an opportunity that is beyond sweet. That connection is currently available, as the company is seeking to fill 200 jobs at the Abilene manufacturing facility now. Following a strong fiscal year in 2019 while focusing on driving operational efficiencies, Russell Stover Chocolates growth plans required the company to close a Colorado facility but expan...

Could a Post-Pandemic National Industrial Strategy Advance the Cause of Advanced Manufacturing?

Monday, September 28, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic disrupted global supply chains, a new report released in April by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) urged the U.S. government to develop a national industrial strategy to strengthen the competitive position of advanced, traded-sector industries that are “too critical to fail.” “Even before this pandemic, China posed an unprecedented competitiveness challenge in the advanced industries that are most critical to America’s economic wellbeing and national security,” said ITIF President Robert D. Atkinson, the report’s author and a past contributor to Site Selection. Read full article.

First Person: Effects of the Global Pandemic on Company Supply Chains

Monday, September 28, 2020

AD: Will more companies be re-shoring or near-shoring as a result of the global pandemic? Jensen: For certain, most companies are closely examining the options available to them to avoid future supply chain interruptions. Part of the challenge of making a decision on a future sourcing direction is that this story isn’t over. As the pandemic progresses, every week, sometimes every day, brings new information to light regarding risks associated with both the supply available for companies to transact business, as well as the fluctuations in the demand associated with their specific product offerings. It is very safe to say that at present...

Survey Reveals Manufacturers’ Post-Pandemic Plans

Monday, September 28, 2020

Few implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are as consequential to global manufacturers as disruptions to their supply chains. For many, this is the most consequential by far. Supply chains are always a work in progress as such market variables as transportation costs, tariffs and trade agreements force logistics managers to tweak their supply chains a little here, a lot over there and everywhere in between. That’s under normal conditions. Add a global health pandemic originating in the world’s second largest economy and the largest in industrial output, and it’s a whole new ballgame. Even as Western and other companies resume operation...

How Small Businesses in the Heartland Are Coping

Friday, September 25, 2020

The Brookings Institution hosted a webinar on June 10 titled “Mitigating the Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Rural Areas.” Moderator Tracy Hadden Loh, a Brookings Institution Fellow, engaged three experts on rural economies in looking back at the pandemic’s effect on two small towns and across rural America, and how recovery steps are taking shape. The panelists were Lindsey Dotson, executive director of the Main Street Downtown Development Authority in Charlevoix, Michigan; Todd Wolford, executive director of Downtown Wytheville, Inc., Wytheville, Virginia; and Matt Wagner, vice president of revitalization programs at the National Main Street Center. Much of the discussion initiall...

Tech Talent & COVID-19

Friday, September 25, 2020

Beset by the COVID-19 pandemic and its recessionary shocks, companies across the globe are paring workforces at alarming rates. In the United States alone, some 40 million workers had filed jobless claims by the end of May, with the biggest losses occurring in the leisure and hospitality, professional business services, retail trade and manufacturing sectors. Driven, however, by the expectation of long-term social distancing, the remote economy is soaring, as is the demand for technology workers, especially engineers. Read full article.

Work from Anywhere?

Friday, September 25, 2020

Somewhere between your umpteenth Zoom meeting of the month and the latest webinar on the economic impacts of COVID-19, this thought probably crossed your mind: “How long will I be working from home?” While an exact answer to that question still eludes most companies, the effects of remote working are starting to come sharply into focus. Read full article.

Indemnification Provisions in Incentives Agreements: Best Practices and Special Public Entity Issues

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Indemnification provisions are an important part of the fine print of many contracts. These clauses generally operate to protect one party against the other party’s actions or failures to act that lead to a loss claimed by a third party (not a party to the contract). A common example is the indemnification provisions (or entire agreements) used in the rental car setting. Before you drive off the lot, the rental car company will require you indemnify (or protect) it against a third party (not you) bringing a claim due to your being in an accident. Similarly, most incentive agreements contain one-wa...

Optimizing Project Outcomes Through Advanced Project Planning

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

While APP involves a modest amount of additional upfront time for planning, the investment pays significant dividends throughout the project — and at the most critical times. Detailed planning is executed in advance, enabling the project team and stakeholders to discuss project objectives, prioritize needs, and examine costs from the very outset. This relieves some of the reactive urgency surrounding these decisions, when such issues are addressed amid the thin margins associated with not only time but also the cost of business today. Using APP, facilities that have inevitable downtime related to modifications can plan more efficiently. Read full article.

Site Selection 2020: The Importance of “Regional Depth” with Global Reach

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

The last several years of corporate site selection have been influenced by many trends. Among these are corporate tax cuts, a red-hot industrial real estate market, the explosion of e-commerce, increasing trade protectionism, record economic growth and, in a stunning reversal, a global health pandemic and recession. It seems the ever-shifting tide of global and domestic affairs can be confusing at best and downright frightening at worst to corporate executives evaluating where to locate their next headquarters, newest manufacturing plant, or distribution center. Risk and uncertainty have never seemed higher, and without looking deeper and thinking differently, it can b...

Dixon becomes DKEDC Assistant

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Courtney Dixon has joined Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC) as an administrative assistant. Dixon joins DKEDC after she and her family moved to Woodbine in December of 2019 from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Dixon has a diverse background, having held various volunteer leadership positions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from the University of Wyoming and has spent time studying agricultural business, ag communications, and ag economics. Dixon grew up in Wyoming on a small operation raising horses, goats, and hogs. Dixon’s family enjoys showing and riding horses, fishing, playing cards and board games, camping, and spending time a...

Front Line: COVID-19 Spurs More Automated Manufacturing

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

The global pandemic has upended the labor market and dramatically and suddenly reversed U.S. economic expansion. COVID-19, especially, has caused U.S. manufactures to face unprecedented labor challenges. With COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, these shortages are escalating. Many factories have shuttered to protect workers and prevent COVID-19’s spread. Even before this global crisis, in 2018 Deloitte had already projected that manufacturers would face shortages of some 2.4 million workers through 2028. Read full article.

How are Uncertain Times Altering Company Location Strategies?

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

As corporate decision-makers develop their business strategies for the future, the markets they consider are rapidly changing. This dynamic trend was already in place before the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic as businesses sought to alleviate concentration risk. With the unprecedented impacts on the global economy of the current public health crisis, however, the search for alternative locations has taken on new urgency and quickly became a priority. While there is still much to be determined about the long-term economic effects of the pandemic (daily cases continue to reach all-time highs in the United States, as of the writing o...

New Strategies for Learning and Development in an Increasingly Virtual World

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Newly dispersed work teams are facing new challenges. During the early months of the global pandemic, more than three-quarters of organizations reported 80 percent or more of their employees were working from home, according to a global survey on workplace re-entry. While workplace mobility isn’t new, the scale of remote work has accelerated digital transformation, with rollout timelines shrinking from years to weeks. Workflows have also been upended as employees try to adopt new tools as part of their daily routines. Read full article.

Affiliation good fit for Lindsborg hospital

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Since affiliating with Salina Regional Health Center in 2012, the Lindsborg Community Hospital has benefited in two major ways. Memorial Health System of Abilene recently approved a Letter of Intent to affiliate with Salina Regional and is currently investigating the details. Larry Van Der Wege, chief executive officer in Lindsborg, said there are other pieces, but the hospital has seen benefits in financial areas and clinical areas. Those are the two key pillars. Read full article.

OCCK receives Innovation Award

Friday, September 11, 2020

OCCK Transportation was awarded an Innovation of the Year Award from the Kansas Public Transit Association at the 2020 Annual Meeting held virtually in August. Innovation of the Year Awards were given to OCCK Transportation, Topeka Metro, Dodge City Transportation and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority for their use of free fares during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to provide social equity and are greatly appreciated by the transit dependent. OCCK operates the public transportation in Abilene. Read full article.

Land Pride revs up

Thursday, September 03, 2020

Touring Kansas on the Labor Day break, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said he was able to visit a growing industry, one using cutting edge technology, an industry that is paying premium wages. That’s what Moran took away from his tour of Abilene West, Great Plains Manufacturing’s Land Pride Division facility west of Abilene. Linda Salem, president and chief executive officer of Great Plains Manufacturing, said the Abilene plant is on the move. Read full article.

Windfarm talk becomes official

Monday, August 31, 2020

A windfarm development company representative has offered to visit with Dickinson County Commissioners about expanding its Marion County wind project into Dickinson County. The company does plan to expand, but not until 2024. It’s long been known that Tradewind Energy, developer of the Diamond Vista windfarm in northern Marion County, plans to expand at some point; however, a number of overtures made recently to some landowners in the southern part of Dickinson County has led to speculation that the expansion may occur sooner rather than later. Read full article.

5 Effective Strategies for Employee Retention

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Effective hiring and retention practices are key to effective leadership. The reality is that managers that hire well and that are able to keep talented employees produce better results. Replacing employees is time-consuming, expensive, and disruptive. Plus, when an employee leaves, it can impact the entire team and cause a ripple effect of unhappiness or turnover. Read full article.

How to Leverage LinkedIn for Lead Generation and Sales

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

With 700 million users, LinkedIn provides a massive opportunity for businesses to increase sales leads and revenue. In this video, the creator and host of “The Startup Story” shares tips for leveraging LinkedIn to start conversations with cold contacts, namely: Research, learning more about the contact you’re reaching out to from their profile as well as other social media accounts Requesting to connect, adding a personal message using the information you’ve discovered in your research and suggesting next steps Read full article.

Why Companies Should Onshore in Dickinson County

Friday, August 21, 2020

Nearly two-thirds of United States manufacturing companies surveyed by Thomas report business disruptions due to the COVID-19 crisis. As a widespread issue impacting virtually all industries, onshoring is top of mind for business executives who have watched their supply chains be disrupted and product deliveries delayed over the past six months. For four decades, companies have offshored manufacturing operations overseas in order to save costs. COVID-19 has forced companies to ask, “At what cost?” If the cost is an inability to supply customers and fulfil contracts, it may not be worth it. Onshoring is the logical solution to reducing th...

Historical Roots Lead To Business Success for Dickinson County

Friday, July 10, 2020

Communities across the country trace their development to the business origins dating back over a hundred years. Typically, a set of individuals came together to solve the problems they faced to improve life for their families and seek prosperity. Like many Midwestern communities, Dickinson County, Kansas, lineage involves livestock, railroads, agriculture and strong leadership individuals. Today, Dickinson County leans on that history to continue to focus on economic vitality for businesses and families alike. History The heart of the county’s historical record lies in Abilene, which is the county seat and largest town in the county with a population of about 6,300...

A Disciplined Road Map for Industrial Site Selection

Monday, June 22, 2020

It’s almost always good news when an industrial manufacturer needs to find a new plant site. It means business is growing, new markets are emerging, and financials are healthy. However, this is the point of time in the business cycle when decisions about next steps need to be made carefully. Unfortunately, this is when many businesses get tripped up. Plant owners and managers may agree on the need for new production lines, more distribution capacity, new automation processes, and more staff. But this is also when additional rigor is most urgently needed to analyze the best-case business scenarios for that nex...

Preparations for the “New Normal”

Monday, June 22, 2020

Until an effective treatment is proven or a vaccination is widely distributed, we’ll continue to have more questions than answers regarding a succinct definition or timing of the “new normal.” However, what we do know now is that the COVID-19 crisis has exposed the over-reliance on just-in-time global supply chains. Moving forward, the more successful companies will modify these chains to increase reliability, utilize localization, and create redundancy. Strategies such as rapid satellite facility deployment and workforce balancing will be key to maintaining competitiveness. Read full article.

Finding Talent in a Time of Economic Change

Thursday, June 18, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has caused more economic disruption than the U.S. has seen since the Great Depression. No one can say for sure what the landscape will look like as the economy recovers, but it’s clear that a lot of puzzle pieces won’t snap back into the same places as before. In a post-pandemic reality, business operations may look dramatically different. Many people will be forced to transition from one job or career to another. Put another way, there will be an incredible need for workforce development as millions of idled workers return to the workforce. The country’s many workforce program...

Innovation in America Reaches New Heights

Thursday, June 18, 2020

The concept of an “innovation center” is certainly not new. However, without much fanfare, over time, some operations have reinvented the traditional center model, changing how and where they operate, leaning upon new partners and resources, and switching out the types of clients or markets served. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, these centers now have additional herculean challenges sprung upon them in a world facing unprecedented levels of economic and social upheaval. How can innovation be supported in this “new normal” era so organizations cannot just survive, but thrive? Read full article.

Restart Kansas: A Proven Demonstration Of Inclusion In Entrepreneurship

Thursday, June 18, 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.

Risk Management, Enhanced Communication Needed in Post-Pandemic Environment

Thursday, June 18, 2020

COVID-19 has significantly altered the landscape for businesses globally that will reverberate well beyond and into the future. Manufacturing and supply chain decisions for corporations have had to make adaptations due to the massive disruption from this pandemic. Understanding and implementing the new norms will be quintessential to success in this environment. Cost-driven decisions have stranded and left companies vulnerable due to a lack of redundancy in manufacturing. Going forward, adapting a strategy that has supply chain alternatives and enhanced protocol for these facilities will be paramount for implementation. Creating a safe environment that allows employees access to counseling, as wel...

The Nature of Incentives Compliance in the Age of the Coronavirus

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Economic development compliance is historically a long process, one that is typically managed over a multi-year time frame. Companies have negotiated incentives to help offset costs associated with growth and expansion and count on the economic benefits as part of their strategic growth plan — specifically, their plan for building the future of their business and their teams. What no one counted on was a global pandemic bringing life as we know it to a standstill. The dramatic slowdown of the economy has caused business leaders to take a close look at all aspects of their business, which should absolutely includ...

How the Covid-19 Crisis is Affecting the 2020 U.S. Census

Monday, June 15, 2020

The U.S. Census is conducted in the United States every 10 years. The Census aims to count the entire population of the United States. The Census asks American households certain questions such as sex, age, and race of each person in the household. These demographics help determine congressional representation and how much funding each state, county, and community received of the $675 billion per year in federal funding. These funds are spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other essential programs. The U.S. Census data is also very helpful for businesses and developers. Businesses can use Census data to decid...

Mid America Bank Commits to the NetWork Kansas Restart Kansas Loan Fund

Monday, June 08, 2020

Wichita, Kansas, --- NetWork Kansas announced that Mid America Bank made a commitment to support Restart Kansas in Douglas County and the funds were used to provide loans to nine businesses. Restart Kansas is an initiative led by local leadership teams and Network Kansas professionals to assist Kansas communities in creating a new resource for small businesses. While these funds support the immediate needs of local businesses due to the COVID-19 crisis, they will also provide critical infrastructure to better meet the long-term needs of counties with additional loan programs to address future emergency situations. Read full article.

Chiropractor formally opens for business

Thursday, June 04, 2020

The city of Abilene is one of 66 Kansas communities to receive a grant to help small businesses. Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Commerce announced Abilene as the recipient of $132,000 in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement (CDBG-CV). Read full article.

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

Tuesday, June 02, 2020

Governor Laura Kelly announced today 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.

Abilene again among best historic small towns

Tuesday, June 02, 2020

For the second year in a row Abilene has been named as a finalist for USA Today’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Best Historic Small Town contest. “We are excited to be named as a finalist in USA Today’s Best Historic Small Town contest,” said Julie Roller Weeks, director Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Receiving this recognition two years in a row is extra special and celebrates our efforts to market Abilene as a destination.” Read full article.

2020 Best to Invest

Friday, May 29, 2020

This annual report is usually a celebratory recognition of some of the world’s best performing economies, especially those most successful at attracting investment and creating jobs. And we’ll still do that. But it’s impossible to highlight last year’s successes as populations and economies in every corner of the world are ravaged by an unprecedented crisis. The world we celebrate on these pages no longer exists, what comes next hotly debated by talking heads on tv screens. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) has declined for the last four years. It’s collapsed this year. It will be years, perhaps decades, before global FD...

Meet Deputy Secretary of Commerce Patty Clark

Friday, May 29, 2020

Patty Clark, Deputy Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, is a shining example of public service as a noble calling. Patty has been working for the people of Kansas for 23 years, including serving at different times as Ag Marketing Director, Community Development Director and even Deputy Secretary of Commerce once before, under the Sebelius Administration. Patty retired at the end of May, bringing her incredible career in public service to an end. But, before she went, she took the time to sit down with us and impart a little wisdom to Kansas’ present and future economic developers. Read full article.

5 Ways HR Leaders Can Engage and Empower Hourly Workers

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

The turnover rate for hourly employees has always been, and continues to be, extremely high. Retail, for example, has a turnover rate of around 60 percent, and other sectors can be even higher than that. This is a real problem for businesses since replacing an employee costs on average $4,969, according to a 2015 survey. For any business, that is a large cost that could be avoided with better management. HR managers can mitigate this level of turnover by engaging with hourly employees, so they feel listened to and respected, and empowering them with specific work benefits that can lower this churn rate. Let’s dive into five ways that HR leader...

9 Strategies To Build An Employee-First Culture

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Organizations should recognize that if you take care of culture, then the customer experience and profits will take care of themselves. Putting your people at the center of your thinking and decision-making will never steer you in the wrong direction. Culture is experienced in every employee’s actions, 365 days of the year. It is not about the organizational perks, being perfect or being tied to a rigid set of rules. Culture is when employees feel empowered to work autonomously and make decisions driven by core values. Read full article.

Improving Productivity for Remote and Distributed Work Forces

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

At a time when more people are working from home but business deliverables and deadlines remain the same, managers are seeking tangible ways to make remote work function just as well as the usual methods for employees they support. Below are four tangible steps that managers can take to combat communication or productivity issues that can occur for teams who aren’t used to working remotely. Read full article.

Amazon Said To Be In Talks To Buy Self-Driving Startup Zoox

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Amazon may be preparing to make a big move into the self-driving vehicle world as the logistics giant is said to be in “advanced” talks to acquire Zoox, a stealthy developer of robotaxi technology, according to the Wall Street Journal. Along with Amazon, other interested parties are considering offers for the Silicon Valley startup, a person familiar with the matter tells Forbes. The purchase terms would value Zoox below its estimated market value of $3.2 billion, a level attained after its last funding round, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. There’s no final agreement yet, and the timing of when ...

Welcome home Kyle and Stephanie

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

When Kyle Becker graduated from Abilene High School in 1998, he had had enough of small town life. “I’d lived here all my life and I fully intended to not come back,” Kyle recalled. “I didn’t know exactly what the plan was, but I had always lived in the county and I was ready for adventure.” He may have felt that way at graduation, but by the time Kyle graduated from college, he had changed his mind. Today, he is partial owner of Smart Insurance, president of the Abilene Public Schools Board of Education and is involved in a number of communit...

What’s Good For The Planet Can Also Be Good For Business

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

By making sustainable packaging for e-commerce and the industrial supply chain, Ranpak is doing well by doing good. Ranpak is a leading global provider of environmentally friendly protective packaging solutions, and its systems play an increasingly important role in an ever more complex and interconnected economy. Ranpak serves a broad array of industries, including e-commerce, food and beverage, healthcare, automotive, machinery and consumer goods. Read full article.

‘Abilene by Choice’

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Julie Roller Weeks grew up about 20 miles southeast of Abilene in Woodbine, but when she took the job as Abilene’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau director in late 2016, she saw it as an opportunity to come home. “I’m not from Abilene, but being from Dickinson County, Abilene is our county seat,” she said. “I consider myself ‘Abilene by Choice.’” “I’m a boomerang. I went out and worked in other communities. I saw what’s out there and you realize home is pretty good,” she said with a laugh. A graduate of Chapman High School, Julie received a degree in journalism/mass communications with a...

It's Time To Close The Digital Divide

Friday, May 22, 2020

With so many school districts around the country working feverishly to implement distance learning programs, there is no better time to talk about the digital divide and a student’s right to education. While the term "digital divide" can be used to describe many instances in which marginalized kids and those that require assistive technologies do not have access to the technologies that they need to stay competitive with their more affluent peers around the world, what I want to address in this article are the millions of K-12 students across the United States who don’t have internet access at home. Read ful...

A Disciplined Road Map for Industrial Site Selection

Thursday, May 21, 2020

COVID-19 Will Remake How We Work and Live

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Generally speaking, everyone resists change. Especially sudden change. But Covid-19 changed all that. Friday rolled around and we were told to grab-your-stuff and go home and no one knew when we would be back. You hear people say, “When things go back to normal…” Well, will things really go back to normal? We’ve learned new techniques, new ways to do things differently when working together digitally. Perhaps we will not return to the old ways. Read full article.

Ensuring Business Continuity While Focusing on Accelerating Automation

Thursday, May 21, 2020

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, I think that the outlook is positive in the near- and long term for corporate site location projects. The current environment is teaching us that the need to ensure business continuity in the face of exceptional risks will be driving many supply chain location decisions in the future. More localized supply chains will be a way for companies to increase resilience and minimize disruptions as the probability for exceptional events of a global impact increases. This will generate increased activity from corporations seeking to re-shore, move, or establish new operations closer to their markets...

How Is the Pandemic Affecting Location Decisions in the Food & Beverage Industry?

Thursday, May 21, 2020

I've been fortunate to have some great conversations with economic developers over the past few weeks, with many questions on the pandemic's impact on site location decisions for the food and beverage Industry. While nothing is certain, I've read and attached links to some important insights which I would like to share with those who currently or plan to target this industry. Be very aware that: Disruption of reliable demand and labor shortages have resulted in huge supply chain inefficiencies, leaving too much food in the wrong places. New facility locations that process products that heavily rely on predictable supply chain will n...

Resiliency of Supply Chains & Post-Pandemic Opportunities for FDI

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Disruption of supply chains and the prospects of reshoring to the U.S. are not unique to the spread of the coronavirus and related pandemic. As is well-documented, the development of global supply chains over time has provided cost-competitiveness to many companies. However, as we have witnessed rising offshore wages and operating costs, increased lead times, a lack of consistency in product quality, and a move toward more protectionist trade policies, many of our clients have for some time been assessing these mounting global supply chain risks vis-à-vis any cost-competitiveness that they once produced. The COVID-19 disruption will accelerate these analyse...

Smart Facilities and Industrial IOT in the Era of 5G

Thursday, May 21, 2020

For manufacturing and distribution facilities, the introduction of 5G — the next generation of cellular wireless — could be a game-changer down the line. Consider: 5G will hasten the rise of the smart factory/warehouse, where tracking and distribution will improve exponentially, thanks to industrial IOT sensors. Monitoring will happen continuously in real time as the 5G network takes a triple approach to improving mobility — speed (ultra-fast data rates), interactivity (ultra-low lag with no buffering), and connectivity (more capacity, devices, and data). Read full article.

Social Distancing; Not Social Media Distancing. Ideas To Boost Your Online Presence.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

As Kansas transitions to phasing in re-openings following COVID-19-related stay-at-home orders and gathering restrictions, Shelley Paasch provides a reminder to business owners that we're social distancing; not social media distancing. Here are a few tips, she provides, to encourage entrepreneurs to keep being creative and ramp up your online presence. Zoom for the Chamber Coffee with “X” business or a FB live! The Chamber can 'host' it and introduce them then “hand it over” to the business. (And by ‘hand it over’ meaning, the Chamber creates an “introductory video” sending it to the ‘hosting’ business. Regardless your business, T-shirts, coffee shop, hai...

Workforce Reductions, Incentives Compliance, and Adjusting to the “New Normal”

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Companies are primarily concerned with maintaining operations while also keeping their workforce’s good health a top priority. For some of our larger clients, those with a workforce of more than 1,000, it’s simply not possible to maintain operations and keep their workforce safe. As a result, these companies are temporarily halting operations and furloughing or laying off employees. Our corporate clients with fewer than 1,000 workers are able to significantly reduce their operations and implement new policies to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Examples include requiring the use of masks and maintaining a safe distance from other people within th...

“Future-Proofing” Corporate Location Decisions in Uncertain Times

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Site selection has traditionally focused on analyzing and comparing markets based on their current — and sometimes historical — capacity to support a corporate end user’s organizational objectives. More recently, a fundamental shift is under way where clients are challenging their consultants and candidate communities to also provide assessments of future market conditions, particularly surrounding talent. This forward-looking approach mitigates risk around the final location decision and aims to ensure that the selected market will align with the company’s long-term location and people strategy. Clients are increasingly requiring a site selection analysis that solves for their future workforce needs an...

3 Fundamentals for Building a Resilient Supply Chain

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

The global health crisis has exposed widespread vulnerabilities in supply chains. Although toilet paper shortages have become the most talked-about issue, long-term demand and supply shock ripples caused by this crisis will likely be felt for much longer as production delays at impacted sites, material shortages and scarcity of logistics come to light. It’s no surprise that many companies have relied on old habits to navigate out of the crisis. But solely relying on comfortable tools like spreadsheets, emails and conference calls can add undue delay to a team’s ability to resolve issues at a time when speed is critically important. Organizations have to accept that "crisis mode" is going t...

5 Ways Restaurant Owners Can Prepare for Reopening

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

In early May, many states began loosening restrictions on business operations. In California, for example, Governor Newsom announced that bookstores, music stores, toy stores, florists and some other retailers could reopen for pickup service. While restaurants were not a part of this first wave of reopenings, if all goes well, we could see them open their doors for seating in the next few weeks. Many eateries are operating on pickup or delivery service at the moment, but in order to truly reopen, restaurant managers will need to figure out how to handle a crowd of customers in a time of continued caution and social distancing. It’s no easy task, but in anticipatio...

8 Steps Your Industrial Business Should Consider When Planning to Reopen After COVID-19 Closures

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

As state closure end dates creep closer, all kinds of small businesses are preparing for an inevitable reopen and for many, the task will be incredibly daunting. The CDC has released a series of guidelines for reopening businesses and advises that if a business cannot easily maintain them, they should stay closed until further notice. In order to reopen safely and put your best foot forward in managing an industrial business, here are 8 steps you should consider for the sake of success and the safety of your staff. Read full article.

8 Ways the Crisis Will Forever Change the Future Workforce

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

This year's public health crisis has reoriented our relationships with each other, the media, technology and the work we do. Humanity has never experienced such a swift and universal shift. Friends are hosting live parties on Instagram. Teachers are uploading lessons to YouTube for the first time. Doctors are utilizing FaceTime or Google Duo for telemedicine services with patients. Read full article.

Push For Supply Chain Resilience, Reshoring Likely To Boost Industrial CRE

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has left hundreds of U.S. manufacturers examining how to bring at least some of their operations and real estate footprints home. Nearly two-thirds of North American manufacturers say they are likely to bring production and sourcing back to the continent, a new survey by industrial data and tech company Thomas shows. The company surveyed over 1,000 of the continent's manufacturing and industrial suppliers, with the help of business-to-business data gathered on Thomasnet.com. Read full article.

Governor Kelly Announces $9 Million in Grants to Support Community Responses to Coronavirus

Monday, May 11, 2020

Topeka, Kan. – Governor Laura Kelly announced that more than $9 million in federal funding will be made available to the state’s Community Development Block Grant program to support community responses to the COVID-19 crisis. The Kansas Department of Commerce will administer the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement (CDBG-CV), which is part of the state’s allocation from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Read full article.

Preparing To Reopen Your Small Business During COVID-19? Heed These Tips

Thursday, May 07, 2020

Businesses in most parts of Florida – excluding Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach at the moment because of the high numbers of COVID-19 cases – are already beginning to reopen, per an executive order signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. That doesn’t mean, of course, that you must reopen now – that’s a business decision you need to make, considering the risks. Brian Van Hook, regional director of Florida SBDC at FIU, the small business development center with the university’s College of Business, been sharing these tips around town to help businesses reopen successfully and put a plan in place to weather futur...

Recognizing Economic Developers in May

Monday, May 04, 2020

May 4-9 is International Economic Development Week (EDW). It’s an opportune time to reflect on the importance of local economic development efforts to building a vibrant and sustainable community. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) created EDW in 2016 to help raise awareness for the profession. Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) are often misunderstood because their activities happen behind the scenes, outside of the public eye. EDW is a chance to recognize economic developers, the local leaders and organizations that work tirelessly to recruit investors, develop businesses, create jobs, enhance the tax base and ultimately improve the quality of life of their communities. Di...

Department of Commerce introduces new grant program for Kansas arts organizations affected by COVID-19

Friday, May 01, 2020

Topeka, Kan. – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that nearly $500,000 in grant funding is being made available to provide operational support to Kansas arts organizations experiencing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19. The Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Creative Industries Arts Commission will distribute CARES Act arts funding through the Short-Term Operational Support (SOS) Program, a grant program developed to assist with immediate financial needs resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. Applications will be accepted beginning Monday, May 4, through May 15, 2020. Read full article.

Grow Your Digital Presence

Thursday, February 06, 2020

Dickinson County Economic Development Corporation (DKEDC) to host a workshop on digital skills using resources from Grow with Google, Facebook, and Instagram. DKEDC is partnering with Pamela Starr of Grow with Google, and Elizabeth Collins of Webcom Resources to help our community learn digital skills, with a workshop at Sterl Hall (619 N Rogers in Abilene) on February 26th, from 8:30 am to Noon . At the Google Workshop, featuring Facebook and Instagram Marketing/Sales, individuals will learn the following: How do customers find your business online and how to promote your online presence using a free Google business listing, Facebook, and Instagram. Ho...

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...

Dickinson County Economic Development on this week's episode of Our Town

Thursday, January 16, 2020

This week's Eagle Community Television episode of Our Town features a recap of 2019 from Dickinson County Economic Development. Take a look: http://www.eaglecomtv.net/category/dickinson/our-town/

Russell Stover expanding in Abilene

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Russell Stover expanding in Abilene From: https://www.candyindustry.com/articles/88941-russell-stover-expanding-plants-in-kansas-texas-while-closing-colorado-facility January 14, 2020 Alyse Thompson Russell Stover Chocolates has announced plans to expand its production facilities in Kansas and Texas and close its plant in Montrose, Colorado next year. The Kansas City, Missouri-based company noted in a press statement the changes in its production and distribution networks will add approximately 300 jobs across its facilities in Corsicana, Texas, and Abilene and Iola, Kansas. The Montrose facility is set to close in spring 2021, accompanied by closures of select low-traffic retail stores over the next year. “Having been in business since 1923, we know the importance of keeping pace with the changin...

Holm Auto Good News: Fund available for storefront restoration

Thursday, December 12, 2019

https://www.salina.com/news/20191211/holm-auto-good-news-fund-available-for-storefront-restoration

See us on Our Town with Dennis Weese

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Very rare, but grants may be available

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Very rare, but grants may be available. Please go to https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/free-grant-tips/ for more info!

Congratulations to the City of Chapman, which received $600,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funds!

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

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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