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US Census still searching for workers
The Census is currently recruiting thousands of individuals across the country for the upcoming decennial census. It has recently been brought to the PCED office staff’s attention that they still are looking at 39 more workers for the Phillips County region pool of census takers. Although these positions vary between part-time and full-time, and will only be available for a fixed amount of time, it would be a great opportunity for an interim or extra job. The requirements are that you be 18 years of age, U.S. Citizen, and pass a basic written test consisting of basic reading and math questions.
WALK-INS WELCOME: A Census representative will be at the Phillips Co. Annex Building in Phillipsburg at 784 6th Street. Representative will be there for testing on Mondays at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Weds. At 1:00 pm and 5:30 pm.
HOW TO APPLY: CALL 1-866-861-2010
Enter your 5-digit zip code to get connected to your local Census office to confirm testing locations, dates, and times in your area.
Interested applicants may also visiting the US Census web site at…
http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/
Fundamentals of Computer Navigation Workshop offered at Ecenter
April 20th and 22nd from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, Cricket Cole, Colby Outreach Instructor will be teaching this class. Topics will cover Interenet Search Engines, how to find topics of interest. Also Skype & Yahoo, how to use a webcam, hold a business meeting and visit with family and friends. Instruction will be given on how to design a word document with pictures andgraphics. For registration and more details contact: Ecenter at 540.4110 or ecenter@ruraltel.net. $10.00 registration required, seating is limited.
Grocery Store Summit
Opportunity knocks!
Local grocery stores represent a critical infrastructure for our rural communities. These stores are an important part of the economic engine that sustains rural communities, providing essential jobs and taxes. They are a vital source for nutrition and health, providing a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and protein. Grocery stores, like schools, restaurants, and post offices, are community assets used to recruit and retain citizens, providing a symbol of community health. Unfortunately, it seems every day we hear about another store closing shop and shutting their doors. In Kansas alone, 82 grocery stores in communities of fewer than 2,000 people have closed since 2007. Although, we have several strong grocery stores in Phillips County, we need to encourage them, support them, and give positive comments as to how they might improve.
Because the loss of a rural grocery store threatens the health of local citizens and the very existence of that community, Kansas State University and a broad range of partners have been working to assist rural communities and their grocery stores. They been collecting data on rural grocery stores by surveying store owners and rural grocery consumers, identifying and archiving the latest research, and talking with store owners, policy makers, and funders about grocery store challenges and their best practices.
They have put together a Rural Grocery Store Summit where owners can discuss issues, but also investigate options to keep their stores viable in the rural economic climate. For more information on this summit, visit www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/ruralgrocery or www.ruralgrocery.org
Submitted by: Jeff Hofaker
Wenzl Drug
In 2008 we realized we had overgrown our existing facility and had a vision of a bigger store offering products and services that we knew the community desired but that we couldn’t provide due to lack of space. The perfect location was available, we were eager to expand and the timing was perfect. The problem was that we didn’t have enough funding to go through with an expansion. However, the communities’ desire to see us expand gave us the drive and ambition to find a way to make it all happen.
The board members of Phillips County Community Foundation (PCCF) and also the board members of Phillips County Economic Development (PCED) saw our vision as well. Without their support, we would not have been able to complete our expansion. The Entrepreneurial Business Enhancement Fund (EBEF) is what finally made our dreams a reality. Without the grant we received from this fund, we would not be open in our new location today.
As a result of PCCF, PCED and the entire community believing in us, we have expanded from less than 2000 square feet to over 5000 square feet and opened our new facility in November 2009. We now offer a full line of medical equipment, therapeutic shoes and Oxygen and CPAP services in addition to expanding our other departments as well. As a result of the expansions we now have eleven employees on staff and anticipate adding one more employee within the next six months. We are blessed to live in a community with so many wonderful people and economic development tools at hand.
Sincerely, Stacie Wenzl
Wenzl Drug
Phillipsburg
Always Seek Legal Advice -- BEFORE signing Land-Leases
Wind development can be a BIG benefit to you as a landowner, BUT be careful NOT to sign land-lease agreements immediately. Phillips County Economic Development (PCED) encourages landowners to seek their legal counsel’s advice prior to signing any land-leases agreements offered by a wind development company. With “green” energy development, such as wind, solar, and biomass projects, on the rise across western Kansas, it is more important than ever for landowners to take precautionary measures in protecting their landowner rights before making long term commitments to any development company. A typical pressure tactic by some questionable company representatives visiting landowners in person has been, “If you don’t sign now, your neighbor may get the development and not you.” Because of the potential for additional income, sometimes it’s hard to wait for the agreement to be reviewed. But in the long run, your decision to make a “pause” may save you a lot of heartache. Tapping our local wind resources as a commodity will be positive for our county. It has the potential to help our landowners, create development activities, create jobs and create potential financial resources for our school districts. The PCED committee and its staff look forward to having wind development within Phillips County. Our intent and goal for providing this notice is to protect Phillips County landowners from speculators or inexperienced representatives of newer wind development companies. For more information visit our website at www.DiscoverPCED.com or call our office at 785-543-5809.
Posted by: Jeff Hofaker – PCED Director
Phillips County Wind Development Project
Everyone is talking about wind development nowdays! Well, Phillips County has been for a while, as well. There continues to be activity for wind development in our area on several fronts. The most noteworthy is the Pleasant Ridge Wind Project. Pleasant Ridge Wind, LLC is an organization formed out of a collaboration of landowners across portions of 8 townships in the northern section of Phillips County. Roughly 33,000 acres cumulatively through these landowners have agreed to utilize Bannister Capital Advisors, LLC as a direct liaison and negociator for wind developers to be recruited into the area. Bannistor Capital Advisors, LLC is a private consulting business which has experience in negociating in legal terms with wind developers. At the present time, Mark Bannister and his three brothers (Joel, Grant, and Ted), have started the process of soliciting wind developers through an offiical RFP (request for Proposals) process. This process includes all the specifications wanted and agreed upon from all the landowner members of the Pleasant Ridge Wind organization (landowner group).
While this process continues, the PCED staff has continued to create tools which may help with the marketability of Phillips County for wind development. Letters were sent out in late 2009, to all landowners in Phillips County, with an “Endorsement of Wind Development” committment sheet. With the return of these “endorsements”, a map of landowners “for” and “against” their land being considered for wind development has been constructed and updated daily. This provides a ready-to-use tool (information) for wind developers. Out of the 1700 letters orginally sent out, we have recieved 264 “endorsements” back to the PCED office. The majority of the “endorsements” have been positive. There was no deadline for returning this information, but we have recieved about 15% back after two months; we would encourage all Phillips County landowners that have not sent in their “endorsements” to please do so.
Most recently (within the last three days), we have had two inquiries for this information. It is exciting to know, we have most of the information readily available to immediately scan and send out to a possible wind (green) developer. This does not necessarily mean development will happen, but it does allow the developer to have additional information abuot the county to help make a more informed decision. PCED will continue to work with these groups toward the end result hopefully becoming wind development in our area.
Posted by:
Jeff Hofaker
TEC Communications in Phillipsburg since 1972
TEC Communications has been a part of the Phillipsburg business community since 1972. Tim Ellenberger owner, has been selling and servicing commercial FM two way radio products since that time.
MOBILE ELECTRONIC CENTER
TEC offers a full line of radios, antennas and commercial headset project. No system is to larger or small for Tim or Shawn to provide a bid or quote for your electronic system needs.
They do custom manufacturing on commercial headset products and controllers which are designed for FM Two Way Radios. This manufacturing is done in the business, at 224 State Street in downtown Phillipsburg. The website is:
www.mobilealerthandsfree.com
Please contact Tim or Shawn Ellenberger for any of your electronic needs. Phone numbers are 785.543.2313 or 1.888.268.8229.
Northwest Kansas Development Roundtable
The Northwest Kansas Development Roundtable meeting will be held at the Huck Boyd Community Center on March 16 at 10 am through 3 pm. This meeting will be hosted by Phillips County Economic Development (PCED) with Midwest Energy, INC sponsoring the lunch and providing information on their How$mart program. The meeting agenda, discussion points, education and speakers will be facilitated by Kansas Commerce’ s business development regional office, the office of rural opportunties, Network Kansas, and the Kansas Small Business Development Center. This meeting is open to business and community leaders across the eastern nine counties of Kansas Commerce’s Northwest Section, which includes: Norton, Phillips, Smith, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Trego, Ellis and Russell counties. The following day, a similar meeting will be held in Goodland to host the western counties of the Northwest region of Kansas Commerce. We are very fortunate to be one of the counties chosen to host this event for Kansas Commerce this year and encourage business leaders and city/county representatives to become a part of this roundtable of ideas, program education and organizational networking.
Posted by Jeff Hofaker – PCED Director
How is your Customer Perception?
As a business owner, one of your first priorities should be customer satisfaction. This is a very broad area. It is not just … for the customer to get my product/service TODAY. Yes, the customer is usually interested in something you have, or they would not be there, but creating a communication with the customer is very important to know how they feel. Hopefully, they will not leave your business without having made a transaction. But, the real questions a business owner should want to know are: Was the customer’s experience in my store a pleasant one? Will the customer come back again? Was there customer satisfaction with the entire shopping experience? Will this person recommend the business’s services to another? Receiving the answer to these questions are sometimes very obvious. Though keep in mind, in this modern day setting, having a courteous smile returned from a customer doesn’t always mean their experience was a positive one. Most local business owners have their own unique ”saying” to invite the customer to share their experience. Training of your employees in public communication is very important . As your employees , they are a strong reflection of your business and “you”. If there is communication training or other employee training provided in your region, encourage your employees to attend. Help pay for their training, if possible. The long term, positive impacts on your business will far outweigh any short term costs. The type of service given is always remembered by the customer, especially if it is negative. Think of the service satisifaction issue “you” personally had as a ”customer” at a business other than your own. How did that business react to “your” issue? If they did not react in the best way for you as a customer, I bet you had several “ideas” you were ready to suggest to them … “That they should have done”. These are the same answers you can implement in your own business, either by you personally or by instructing your employees, which will improve customer satisfaction. The Kansas Small Business Development Center has classes throughout each year that cover many areas of interest for businesses, including customer service. Also, the E-center located in the Fischer building of Phillipsburg, Kansas has periodic classes for different business development activities, if enough businesses have a particular educational interest.
Posted by Jeff Hofaker – PCED Director
Majestic Community Theatre Receives $125,000.00 Grant from Kansas Department of Commerce
Six rural Kansas communities will share $500,000 in Small Communities Improvement Program funding from the Kansas Department of Commerce, officials announced today.
The cities of Phillipsburg, Rossville, St. Mary’s, Tribune, Udall and White City were each awarded funds through the program, which is designed to assist communities with populations of 5,000 or less. The seven communities will provide $681,690 volunteer time, labor and materials toward their projects.
“We are excited to provide funding to these deserving communities and organizations,” said Secretary of Commerce Bill Thornton. “The Small Communities Improvement Program was created especially for our smallest communities, those communities that sometimes struggle to secure other funding sources. SCIP funding is a great tool for us to encourage rural community development in Kansas.”
SCIP allows communities to apply for funds for projects and determine which parts of the project they can complete on their own. The community acts as the general contractor, organizing local labor and equipment and coordinating work done by a subcontractor. The SCIP provides direction, technical assistance, guidance and support to make it happen. Self-help and volunteerism must produce savings of at least 40 percent of the project’s marketplace price. This year’s six winners were chosen from a pool of 14 applicants.
For more information, visit www.KansasCommerce.com/SCIP or contact Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.
The communities receiving grant awards are as follows:
City of Phillipsburg ($125,000)
Funding will go toward the completion of Phase II improvements to the Majestic Theatre. This award will allow for the restoration of the historical building housing the theatre. The community will provide at least $142,700 in labor and materials.
City of Tribune ($59,265)
The funding will go to the City of Tribune for the restoration of their community carnival. This award will provide for renovation the individual rides, the purchase of a tilt-a-whirl and the completion of a building for storage. The community will provide at least $39,777 in labor and materials.
City of Udall ($124,615)
The funding will go to the City of Udall for the revitalization of its City Park. This award will assist in construction of an amphitheatre, a playground area and a restroom. The community will provide at least $298,801 in labor and materials.
City of Rossville ($75,000)
The funding will go the City of Rossville for improvements to its community playground. This award will provide for new playground equipment, improved accessibility and safer surfaces. The community will provide at least $71,825 in labor and materials.
White City ($61,285)
The funding will go to White City for its Centennial Park Improvement Project. This award will allow for the removal of old playground equipment, construction of a new park building, a walking trail and the refurbishment of existing structures. The community will provide at least $49,121 in labor and materials.
City of St. Mary’s ($54,835)
The funding will go to the City of St. Mary’s for its Riverside Park Renovation. This award will assist the community in purchasing new playground equipment to replace the unsafe existing equipment. The community will provide at least $79,465 in labor and materials.