County to apply for grant to provide business loans
ED secretary presents 60-day update
Staff reporter
Marion County Economic Development Secretary Teresa Huffman wants the county to apply for a $40,000 grant with USDA Rural Development's Enterprise Grant Program.
The grant would be used to fund a revolving loan program that would focus on existing businesses that want to expand.
The county would contribute $10,000.
Huffman also presented a 60-day update Monday to Marion County Commission.
Her report included:
— Set goals for the economic development department.
— Met with local economic development directors in Marion and Hillsboro; the Main Street Director in Peabody; Christi Henry of SCKEDD (South Central Kansas Economic Development District); Rod Weinmeister, business development division, Bill Thompson, business recruitment manager, and Jim Knedler, business development division, all of Kansas Department of Commerce; Tom Finger, USDA Rural Development; and Margo Yates, Marion Chamber of Commerce.
— Continues to collect data for a Marion County Resource Directory.
— Sent $100 check to Kansas Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) for membership for Marion County Economic Development Council. Membership with KEDA is required to be a member of Location One Information System (LOIS), which allows available commercial property to be listed.
The membership also provides a $100 discount for the Heartland Economic Development course in Blue Springs, Mo. Huffman also has applied for a scholarship from KEDA to offset the $696 fee.
— Huffman has distributed 28 business surveys in Burns, Florence, Peabody, and Marion. Twelve surveys have been returned.
— Contacted a television station in Wichita about advertising for a business.
— Received approval from the county commission to use a county-owned bus for tourism. Huffman is in the process of forming a committee to determine the use of the bus.
Judy Mills of Florence suggested selling advertising on the outside of the bus which could pay for the upkeep of the bus.
— Visited with 11 businesses in the county that want to do expansions or were in need of assistance with purchasing equipment. Three business have been referred and five more will be referred to Marion Economic Development Director Jami Williams.
— Working with the City of Burns regarding construction of a "mini mall."
— Facilitated a public meeting in Florence regarding the local grocery store.
— Provided a Marion resident with information about the Neighborhood Revitalization Program.
— Collected information regarding a possible grant for a water tower at Marion County Lake. Huffman plans to attend a KDOC workshop in April and will submit a grant in the fall.
— Working with two businesses to do cooperative ordering.
— Assisting two businesses in Burns with expansions and purchasing equipment.
— Working with individuals about a marina and other events at Marion Reservoir.
— Working with Burns for highway signs and direction signs at Marion County Lake.
— Developing a list of general contractors, electricians, plumbers, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning providers.
— Working with a local contractor interested in remodeling a downtown property.
— Will attend the Sports, Boat, and Travel Show Feb. 15 at Wichita to attempt to recruit a boat and recreational vehicle dealer. Huffman also wants to locate a company that would be interested in providing recreational equipment at one of the lakes.
— Working with Florence on an "Extreme Makeover" possibility.
Other goals to be completed include a complete database of Marion County businesses and resources and collection of information to be placed on LOIS.
Huffman began as county economic development secretary Nov. 1.
