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Quality of life is a significant driver of economic development. The chambers of commerce across Montgomery County work tirelessly to make this part of America a great place to live. However, their efforts are supported by the residents who eagerly jump in to volunteer their time and skills to make...
March 19 is National Ag Day, which is organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA). Since 1973, this day (and the month of March as a whole) has been used to honor the people who produce food and fiber products in the United States. Agriculture plays an essential role...
February is National Youth Leadership Month and our team at the Montgomery County Action Council (MCAC) is thrilled to highlight local business leaders and entrepreneurs in the region. These professionals represent the next generation of Montgomery County and they are actively building a future for the region. Here are a...
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to date, has awarded over $270 million through cooperative agreements with state departments of agriculture to build resilience across the middle of the food supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems. The funding is...
STATE OF THE STATES 2024
Feb 4 2024Among the themes to emerge across the 50 state legislatures and governor’s offices over the past year is how to attract funding from a family of major federal programs toting hundreds of billions of dollars in funds. The various challenges and grants follow closely behind Recovery Act funds for which...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a pilot program to allow more cattle producers and meat processors to access better markets through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) official beef quality grading and certification. The Remote Grading Pilot for Beef, developed by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), matches simple technology...
When business schools nurture their relationships with local business communities, students and organizations benefit—all to the advantage of local talent pools and regional economies. The relationship is not a one-way street, however. It’s reliant on businesses reciprocating and participating in a business school’s initiatives.Business schools as catalysts for regional development...
Sponsorships Available to Support This Event for Youth Entrepreneurs:Platinum $250Gold $150Silver $100Bronze $ 75Contact: Jim Correll 620-252-5349 jimc@ibrcenter.orgInnovative Business Resource CenterPO Box 1513Coffeyville, KS 67337Local Partnering Organization for Montgomery County E-Community, a Network Kansas Initiative
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today $500,000 will be available under the Emergency Response Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (Emergency HEAL) program to bring rural downtown buildings back from likely demolition or collapse and rehabilitate them into productive commercial use.Emergency HEAL was created to provide...
Since 1961, Labette Health has been the center of medical care in the region. With the primary facility located at the southern edge of Parsons, this hospital supports six different counties, providing quality medical care to a wide range of patients. Labette Health is a trusted healthcare provider with a...
Building new and expanding existing facilities are complex undertakings. Companies face myriad decisions in first selecting a site and then in the long-term challenges of managing ongoing operations. A labor market analysis is a critical step in the site selection process, as the company needs to understand the local demographics...
The U.S. manufacturing sector has been quietly undergoing a resurgence as the widespread disruptions caused by the pandemic brought into sharper focus the criticality of having secure, resilient, well-functioning supply chains. Accelerated by legislative incentives such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, this paradigm shift...
The Montgomery County Action Council (MCAC) is full of engaged and active community members who continue to support this region. Our area consists of business owners who create jobs and residents who appreciate what a wonderful place Montgomery County is to live. We couldn’t do it without you. This holiday...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Farah Ahmad today announced that USDA is strengthening its partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a network of 25 organizations to help people in rural and underserved communities access affordable, modern and safe wastewater infrastructure.The actions being...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to...
Governor Kelly Announces $5M to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet in Rural Kansas Communities
Nov 27 2023Governor Laura Kelly today announced that $5 million has been awarded to eight internet service providers (ISPs) in the latest round of Broadband Acceleration Grants for 2023. The awards will be paired with an additional $6.6 million in matching funds, resulting in an investment of nearly $12 million for high-speed...
For every dollar you spend at local Montgomery County businesses, 67 cents stays in the local community. Of that, 23 cents gets reinvested in other local businesses. This means one of the best ways to support your neighbors this holiday season is to shop local. As you make your Christmas list...
KANSASWORKS, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, is taking significant strides to empower justice-involved individuals across the state through the Re-entry Specialized Employment Counseling & Training (ReSpECT)WORKS program. This program provides intensive case management and career navigation for eligible individuals released from the prison system in Kansas.The ReSpECTWORKS...
The entrepreneurial journey often begins with an idea, passion, and, quite frankly, a limited budget. While the digital age has ushered in numerous opportunities for aspiring business minds, capital remains a primary concern for many. But worry not because the current market landscape is brimming with low-cost startup ideas that...
WASHINGTON, November 1, 2023 - Today, President Biden will travel to Northfield, Minnesota to visit Dutch Creek Farms to lead his Administration’s Investing in Rural America Event Series and highlight investments from the Biden Administration in Rural America. During the visit, President Biden will announce over $5 billion in new...
It has been a continuous refrain since the pandemic upended many understandings about how the American economy is supposed to work: Across widely varying fields of work, there just aren’t enough people to fill all the available jobs.The reality, though, is that while the pandemic may have exacerbated the problem...
Closing the Workforce Gap: How Economic Developers Can Address Shortages in the Job Market
Oct 23 2023The modern job market is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, shifting demographics, and changing economic landscapes. As a result, many regions across the globe are facing significant shortages in the workforce, posing challenges to economic growth and development. However, with the right strategies and initiatives, economic developers can play...
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that $300,000 has been awarded to the 12 Rural by Choice Champions (Rural Champions) announced last year in collaboration with the Office of Rural Prosperity and the Patterson Family Foundation to address local challenges in their respective communities. The funding will allow these communities to...
Governor Kelly Announces Recipients of More than $500K in Registered Apprenticeship Grants
Sep 28 2023Governor Laura Kelly today announced a total of $528,478 has been awarded by the Kansas Department of Commerce to eight entities across the state for projects that will attract and retain employees and build the state workforce through registered apprenticeships.“Last year, I created the Office of Registered Apprenticeship to dramatically...