Discover Phillips County
Logan USD #326 is seeking a High School English Teacher for the 2012-2013 school year. Coaching opportunities are available. For information and an application, please contact: Larry M. Lysell, Supt./Pre-K-12 Principal, Logan USD #326, P.O. Box 98, Logan, KS 67646-0098.
Phillips County launches Coast-to-Coast marketing campaign. First County in nation as a ‘Destination for Opportunity’!
A ‘Destination for Opportunity’ … (Phillips County,Kansas) is the new expression ‘rallying cry’ being marketed from coast-to-coast through a fully wrapped 53-foot semi truck trailer acting as a 24/7 traveling billboard. This traveling billboard, known as the “Discover Phillips County’ trailer, encourages travelers and entrepreneurs to “Discover” Phillips County as a place to visit, live, and grow a business.
Proclaiming the slogan ‘Entrepreneurs Welcome!’, Phillips County, Kansas is aggressively encouraging small businesses and entrepreneurs to consider the positives of being located in rural Kansas. Phillips County Economic Development (PCED) has made it one of their missions to create new and proactive programs which are specifically geared toward helping small businesses start-up and grow in this rural environment. One of many successful programs Phillips County offers is the Entrepreneurial Business & Enhancement Program (EBEP). The EBEP is a cost-sharing grant program with an educational element which has assisted twenty four (24) businesses with over one-half a million grant dollars cumulatively given over the last 3 ½ years. Taking into account the matched funds of 1.8 million injected into these development projects by business owners, resulting in over fifty-eight (58) new jobs; it becomes clear, that Phillips County (population 6000) has created a unique environment for entrepreneurs. One portion of the program’s educational element comes from training being provided to businesses through the Jon Schallert training given to educating a business on ways to become a destination.
Besides all the business development programs already available only to Phillips County businesses, this county along with a handful across the State of Kansas have been designated Rural Opportunity Zone areas (ROZ areas). The ROZ designation will provide new residents which domicile in Phillips County from out-of-state to be free from State of Kansas – personal income taxes for up to five (5) years. Phillips County is also in the process of providing homesteaders the ability to participate in a loan forgiveness program (through ROZ) for higher education loans incurred while in college up to $15,000 dollars by an individual.
The “Discover Phillips County’ trailer captures the essence of the area in fourteen (14) postcard snapshots of people, items, and locations in Phillips County which are featured on both sides of the trailer. Sharing the uniqueness of the area, these pictures point out the fine arts, wildlife adventures, events, activities and people, which show the ‘soul’ of Phillips County. Two entrepreneurs pointing toward the horizon (viewed from behind the trailer), not only show the location in the State of Kansas where these possibilities for business development are located, but also leave a strong reminder to all that Phillips County is a place where ‘Entrepreneurs are Welcome’.
Coomes Trucking has provided the trailer for the promotion, which Rick Coomes, Coomes Trucking owner, stated “We are proud to be pulling the trailer and being able to promote our county.” Sign Solutions designed and placed the marketing on the trailer for the project, stated Sheila Roberts, coowner Sign Solutions, “It was exciting to see it come together and we felt blessed to be part of the teamto make the project happen!”
The trailer’s kick off display was all three nights of Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo in Phillipsburg, Kansas where it was seen by over 15,000 people. It also received applause and strong acceptance when it appeared in the Rodeo Parade on Saturday, August 6, 2011. Upon finishing its inaugural appearance at the rodeo, the trailer left for its first business haul, which took it to Bakersfield, California returning briefly to Phillipsburg only to set out toward Jacksonville, Florida and the outskirts of Savannah, Georgia. Within one week, it has traveled coast-to-coast putting on more than 6000 miles while marketing PhillipsCounty. “We hope it continues to get the message out across America that people need to ‘DiscoverPhillips County’ and our unique entrepreneurial atmosphere we have created for individuals to pursuetheir dreams,” remarked Jeff Hofaker, PCED director.
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Phillips County was pleased to welcome Jon Schallert founder of Destination University to our area! Jon Schallert is an internationally-recognized speaker and business expert specializing in teaching businesses and communities how to turn themselves into a Consumer Destinations. Schallert speaks to thousands annually on his proprietary 14-step “Destination Business” process, which he developed over the course of twenty-five (25) years of working with independent business owners.
Fifty-nine (59) business owners, community leaders, residents from outside Phillips County had the great opportunity of acquiring information from an hour and half presentation by Jon Schallert. This special presentation was on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 5:30-7:00pm at the Huck Boyd Community Center as part of the Community Reinvention Program of which Phillips County has been a partner in for the last two years. For over fifteen years, Jon has been helping business’ learn how to become destination locations. Businesses he’s consulted have found real success and a noticeable increase in sales. His strategy is a fourteen step process to become a “Destination Business” which attracts customers and media from over three hours away. Jon shared many stories of businesses that became very successful by utilizing his process. Highlighting three of the fourteen steps covered in the process, attendees at Phillipsburg were very impressed by the information; of which, several locked themselves down for a PCED sponsorship to attend his 2 ½ day workshop in 2012. “With his real life examples, intricate background knowledge and his energy tied with humor, gave me the enthusiasm and ideas for starting to think outside the box,” stated Sherry Robinson.
Phillips County Economic Development was the first county in the nation to make a long term (four year) commitment toward sending six business owners and one community coordinator each year within the Community Reinvestment Program to the “Destination BootCamp“. Phillips County Economic Development provides a sponsorship to the Schallert Bootcamp Program which pays for an approved attendee’s registration. A business who attends the Destination BootCamp learns the entire 14 step process in 2 ½ days in Longmont Colorado. Phillips County will be sending two more groups out to Longmont in 2012 and 2013. If you are a business owner interested in attending please contact the Phillips County Economic Development office.
Picture: Jon Schallert, and wife Peg, accepting Destination for Opportunity- Discover Phillips County caps at the meeting. They displayed their caps proudly after receiving them by the PCED.
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The Legacy Committee and Phillips County Economic Development created Discover Phillips County magnets which are free to the public. The magnet include contact information for different departments and foundations. It is a full 8 ½ x 11 sheet magnet. You definitely need to pick up a magnet for your refrigerator!
Locations to pick up a magnet include: Agra Library Community Center, Agra Post Office, County Treasurer-Courthouse, E-Center, Logan Library, Logan Post Office, Long Island Post Office, Long Island Library Community Center, Phillips County Extension Office, Phillips County Community Foundation, Phillips County Hospital, Phillips County Medical Clinic, Phillipsburg City Library, Prairie View Library Community Center, Radio Station, Wenzl Drug, Witmer Rexall Drug Store, and Westview.
*Thank you to all of these places for allowing us to distribute the magnets to the public.
At the Kansas Main Street Awards Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 22nd in Leavenworth, Phillips County Economic Development was presented with the Leadership Award.
Lt. Governor Troy Findly presented staff of Phillips County Economic Development with this award. Kansas Main Street recognized PCED for the financial and staff support they have given and continue to give the Discover Phillipsburg Main Street program.
Discover Phillipsburg Main Street also received the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award for the 1959 Walking Tour. The Excellent in Public/Private Partnership award was given to Discover Phillips County for the educational grant they provided for quarterly trainings.
Phillips County was pleased to welcome Jon Schallert founder of Destination University to our area! Jon Schallert is an internationally-recognized speaker and business expert specializing in teaching businesses and communities how to turn themselves into a Consumer Destinations. Schallert speaks to thousands annually on his proprietary 14-step “Destination Business” process, which he developed over the course of twenty-five (25) years of working with independent business owners.