All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Food, Fort Scott, History, Youth

Shead Farm Homestead Festival: Learning To Produce What You Need AND More

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Since the pandemic, many people have been looking at a lifestyle that includes purchasing local products and growing their food, or at the least, knowing nearby local producers.
The fourth annual Shead Farm Homestead Festival event will happen on May 18, southeast of Fort Scott. This educational and family-fun event has attempted to help those people.
Photo opportunities will be available at the festival. Submitted photo.
Homesteading is moving towards food security by means of producing one’s own animals and gardens.
Larry and Vickie Shead and their extended family have provided people with an event where people can gather tips on gardening, homesteading,  grafting fruit trees, beekeeping,  orchard care, and soap-making, and many others.
Vickie and Larry Shead, 2020, from her Facebook page.
This year over 50 vendors related to homesteading, along with family activities are scheduled.
Besides new vendors and activities, there will be a speakers’ tent where people can listen to a question and answer time on various homestead topics.
“A chapel is provided for those who may need prayer or just want some  Biblical insight,” Vickie said.
Over 150 volunteers have been working to create a memorable time, on Saturday, May 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are $5.00 each or $25.00 for a family of five or more.
“There will be good old fashion and exciting, memory-making events that young and old will not want to miss,” Vickie said.  “There are plenty of places to sit down and relax for a good visit with old friends and neighbors while watching the exciting activities taking place.”
Historical demonstrations to view: blacksmithing, broom making, butter making, wooden spoon making, leather working, rock wall building, and a weaver who demonstrates on an 1864 old barn wood loom, as well as showing how to spin. There will be a Model T Ford and a Model A Ford for viewing with early 1900s music playing on a Victrola nearby.
Educational vendors will share information on growing microgreens, making butter, washing clothes without electricity, creating with macrame, making goat milk soap, milking a cow, making jams and jellies, and creating pictures with pastels.  One can also learn about making pottery, sourdough bread, and how to harvest maple syrup.  And many beautiful quilts will be on display, she said.
“Children can enjoy the Children’s Center’s huge tent full of new, fun, educational, and exciting activities,” Vickie said.  “The little children can gather bugs in their bag and turn them in for a prize.  Face painting and a Story Station give a moment of rest for children. New this year will be a huge sand pile with treasures to find.  New, also a Kids’ Corner Store with many farm and educational toys.”
An Animal Arena displays donkeys, goats, dogs, cows, sheep, and a pig. Poultry will be roaming the area with peacocks, chickens, guineas, ducks, turkeys, and quail. Children and adults can learn the techniques of roping along with other fun animal activities, and additionally, there will be kittens, rabbits, and quail.
The Food Court has expanded to include pulled pork sandwiches, as well as the festival’s famous Walking Tacos, she said. Snacks are in abundance with kettle corn and homemade potato chips, cotton candy, and bakery bargains. Snack Shack items are dried candy fruits, and many other snacks.
“A variety of refreshing drinks will be available such as hot and cold coffees, cocoa; lemonade, and homemade refreshing root beer,” she said.
“Hope to see you all for this wonderful family and friend’s event,” she said.
An aerial view of the Shead Farm Homestead Festival. Submitted photo.
Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Brandon Whisenhunt is Selected for the Bourbon County Commission

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Brandon Whisenhunt, Submitted photo.

Brandon Whisenhunt, 45, was selected last evening by the local Republican Party to fill the Bourbon County Commission  District One position. The meeting took place at the Fort Scott Livestock Market.

Whisenhunt replaces Nelson Blythe, who resigned earlier this month.

“I work as a trash truck technician for waste management in Kansas City, Kansas,” Whisenhunt said.  “I was previously a city council member for the City of Mapleton and currently volunteer for the Mapleton Homecoming Committee.  My wife Becky and I have been married for almost 25 years we have four children,  2 birth and 2 adopted.”  He works in Kansas four days a week.

He also has a Federal Firearms License and can sell firearms from his home, he said.

“I asked for this job because I feel like District 1 and the entire county is being ignored by the people who are supposed to be listening to the people,” he said.  “I will listen to the people and do my best to make sure they are heard.”
“Blythe was beginning to build trust and I want to continue that,” he said. “I will need to talk to department heads. I know the county has a budget and we have been overspending.”
Roads, solar and wind generators in the county are top issues with him, he said.
The Process to Select

Seven people applied for the position before the deadline: Joe Bisogno Jr., Marion “Mike” Embry, Nick Graham,  Ken Klassen, Mary Pemberton, Brent Smith, and Whisenhunt.

” Mike Embry was unable to attend in person due to a trip that was planned before the application process began, however; he prepared a written statement that was read by Mark McCoy,” Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Clerk said.

“The Chairman of the Republican party must send a certificate of election results to the Governor’s office within 24 hours of the vote,” Hawkins said. “The Governor’s office will certify Brandon Whisenhunt as the District 1 Commissioner and send him a Certificate of Appointment. I must receive a copy of the Certificate of Appointment before Brandon can be sworn in and act as a Commissioner. Due to the timing of Nelson’s resignation the term Brandon will fulfill will only be for the remainder of the year. The Commission 1 seat will be on the ballot this year (in November) to elect an individual for a two-year term.”

Thirty-eight citizens attended the Republican event to select a replacement.
Ten of 12 precinct persons voted, according to Chairman Mark McCoy. They were from District 1 in the county.
“Now I will complete the process by sending certified notice today to the Governor’s office,” McCoy said.  “Once received the Governor will officially appoint and send the certificate to Mr. Whisenhunt and he will bring it to our County Clerk who will record it. Brandon can start serving as soon as the County Clerk records it.”
Fort Scott

Fort Scott Downed Power Line: Power Is Fully Restored

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The powerline was near the Taco Bell restaurant in Fort Scott.

Seventy-two customers and many townspeople were affected by a power outage that started with a downed power line in Fort Scott on April 16, according to customer service at Evergy, the electrical utility.

The power is fully restored to Fort Scott from yesterday’s outage which happened about 12:15 p.m., according to Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin.

The wind blew down a power pole on the north side of Landmark Bank across from McDonald’s Restaurant at the corner of Hwy. 69 and 23rd Street, according to Matkin.

Helping with the problem were the Fort Scott Police Department, Fort Scott Fire Department, and Evergy, the utility company, he said.

The estimated restoration time was delayed because of strong winds, the Evergy Customer Servicewoman said.
Typically outages don’t last more than a few hours, but when there are several outages around the state, they could take longer, she said.
Hwy. 69 was shut down and 23rd Street going eastbound was closed, according to the Fort Scott Fire Department Facebook page, yesterday,
U.S. 69 was for a time closed to through traffic between K-7 and U.S. 54 at Fort Scott, according to a Kansas Department of Transportation Facebook page.  KDOT was flagging motorists through the scene

 

Business, Fort Scott, Jobs

Will’s Gutter Service: Outside Handyman

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Wills Gutter Service. Submitted photo.

William Billings has been mowing yards since he was a child growing up, and started with a push mower as a kid.

Now he has a truck, trailer, and a zero-turn mower, with chainsaws and weed eaters to tackle any job.

Will’s Gutter Service provides weed eater service. Submitted photo.

He has over 15 years of experience mowing and worked for LACO Seamless Gutters for four years as a gutter specialist until the company shut down, he said.

Billings started Will’s Gutter Service last year in Fort Scott.

“The services I provide for the community are mowing yards, gutter cleanouts, gutter inspections and maintenance, tree trimming, leaf and debris clean up,” he said.

 

William Billings, the owner of Will’s Gutter Service, mows a yard. Submitted photo.
To contact Billings call 620-418-3491.
Billings started the business last year to make extra money for his family, he said.
He is a Turner High School graduate from K.C., Kansas.
William Billings is the owner of Will’s Gutter Service and has four years of experience in gutter clean-outs, inspections, and maintenance. Submitted photo.
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Free Car Show On April 21 at Riverfront Park

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Submitted photo of last year’s Rumble on the Bricks car show.

Rumble on The Bricks is a local car show organized by Fort Scott residents,  Austin Alfaro and Dakota Rusk.

“We present ourselves as a car community but this is for anybody who wants to come out and have a good time, see friends, and promote small businesses/ideas,” Rusk said. “All vehicles are welcome, bring whatever you’ve got, just come hang out.”

Their first car shows were in 2023 and one is scheduled for April 21 at Riverfront Park, north of the orange-colored bridge on North National Avenue. The event starts at noon and will last about three hours, Rusk said.

Dakota Rusk with his son at the car show in 2023. Submitted photo.

“This is a family-friendly event, food trucks are welcome to come,” he said.  “We’ve had Over Yonder BBQ bring some amazing food last year.”

Last year’s Rumble on the Bricks car show. Submitted photo.

They hope to bring the community together and give people something to do, once a month when the weather is nice, Rusk said.

 

Austin Alfaro, submitted photo.

“My main goal is to bring the community together and have fun,” he said. “This is a car show, just for fun.”

Admission is free.

A motorcycle was part of the show in 2023. Submitted photo.

 

 

Bourbon County, Food, Fort Scott, Government, K-State Extension, Kansas

Kelly Perry: Kansas State Food Fellow Offers Free Workshop For Local Food Sellers

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Kelly Perry. Sumbitted photo.

Kelly Perry answered a job ad from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team posting in October, 2023 for a local food fellow position.

“I was so excited and quickly applied and in January was interviewed by Amanda Lindahl, Local Food System Program Coordinator with Kansas State, and Rachel Carpenter with HBCAT,” she said. ” I love food, small business, and local so this was right up my alley.  The duties were pretty vast for an 18-week program that is brand new across the state…and I landed this awesome opportunity!”
“As part of my job duties, I am required to hold an educational workshop,” she said. “I wanted to focus on food labeling at the farmers market. I know our local Fort Scott Farmers Market is growing like crazy, pun intended. I figured it would be a great topic for people to learn what the state requires at pop-up shops, festivals, bake sales, and farmers’ markets. I also wanted to cover the proper food licenses required by the state.”
“The main reason for this is that I receive about three calls, texts, or messages a week asking food-related questions from everyday people who own, run, or are thinking of starting a business full-time, part-time, or occasionally,” she said.
Kelly and her husband Thadeus Perry own Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store in Bronson.

“People know me and know I’m willing to help if I can,” she said. “Sometimes people get intimidated or scared of the inspectors or do not know who to contact to ask the questions so that leads them to me. I, for one, have had to attend countless seminars, online Zoom meetings, and hours of reading to learn about my family’s business Perry’s Pork Rinds, and our food laws and regulations.”

“I remember having the state Inspector show up at our front door needing to look over our home-based business back in 2018,” Perry said. “I remember the federal meat inspector showing up as well, due to the product we make being a meat product. I cried each time someone would flash their badge at the front door and I’d panic. After years of visits, and our yearly renewal inspections I came to realize food inspection, safety, and visits were not intimidating or anything to be scared of.”
“They had a job to do and if we were doing something wrong they would answer questions and tell us what to do to fix it and be in compliance,” she said. ” It’s in the state’s best interest to HAVE business in operation and to generate revenue. They want the businesses but they also have standards and regulations to help keep us all safe, both the consumer as well as the producer.”
“I figured a food license discussion would help so many who were just unsure, curious or didn’t know where to start,” she said.
The workshop is FREE to anyone from any part of the state, from 6-8 p.m. at the HBCAT offices, 104 N. National Avenue on Monday, April 15.
“We ask that you register so we can make sure to have enough handouts and packets created,” she said.
“We are so fortunate to have From the Land of Kansas’s very own Robyn Dolby attend and present a slide show and answer questions,” Perry said. “We will also have the K-State Local Food System Program Coordinator Amanda Lindahl coming to discuss the Local Food Fellow Program as well.”
Robin Dolby, From the Land of Kansas Marketing Coordinator, Kansas Dept. of Agriculture. Submitted photo.
Amanda Lindahl from her LinkedIn page.
“My goal with this Local Food Fellow position and HBCAT goal is to provide knowledge, access to resources, and networking,” she said. “We can then grow as producers, growers, suppliers, and a community! HBCAT always has the saying  Stronger Together and it is just that simple.”
 A description for the position she accepted is
– Update the Bourbon County Wholesale Food Directory
– Create a storytelling campaign on food-related business.
– Organize an Educational Workshop in Bourbon County.
– Complete the final report to be submitted to the K-State Research and Extension Local Food Systems Program Coordinator
Business, Fort Scott, History

Adamson’s Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Courtland Hotel Ownership

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Frank and Cheryl Adamson from her Facebook page.

Frank and Cheryl Adamson are celebrating 20 years as hoteliers in Fort Scott.

They purchased the Courtland Hotel, at First and Scott Avenue in the historic district of Fort Scott in 2004.

The hotel is located at  121 E. First St, Fort Scott.

“We purchased the historic hotel here in downtown Fort Scott to expand Cheryl’s day spa business,” Frank said. “She started doing massage therapy as a side gig that grew into the need for additional space. We utilize around 2,500 square feet of the hotel’s ground floor, for the Courtland Spa and Salon.” They employ seven people.

The Courtland Spa door is west of the main door of the hotel at 121 E. First.

“There have been so many things that have blessed us in ownership and operating the historic hotel in downtown Fort Scott it’s hard to pick out one thing,” he said. “Seeing and being part of the resurgence of downtown has been amazing. We have developed an appreciation for downtown’s impact on the community, what Fort Scott’s history is, and the impact it made on Western expansion. The historic hotel of course is a functioning hotel, circa 1906. With guests coming from all over the world to see it and stay in it. We get to share some of the local history and make a new friend.”

History of the Courtland

The Courtland Hotel was built in 1906 to accommodate people using the railroad traffic through the town.

The plaque on the  Courtland Hotel notes there was an Adams and Pacific Express Co., a tailor shop, the Cooper Restaurant, and a boarding house at one time housed in the building.

But today it offers a day spa that includes massage therapy service, a hair salon and manicures/pedicures, and internet service for its customers.

The Courtland Hotel, 121 E. First.

The hotel was recently featured in Kansas Magazine as a historic Kansas hotel, here are a few excerpts from that article:

“The first 50 to 60 years of this business, the lodging was essentially for men only,” Frank says, adding the hotel mostly housed railroad engineers and brakemen who brought the trains into town, spent the night, and reported back to work to replace the crews coming in on returning trains the next day. “The guys staying in these hotels were the same guys all the time.

“The building was originally constructed with six storefronts on the first floor to accommodate retail and wholesale businesses; the upper level had lodging rooms and a tailor shop. When the number of trains declined, the hotel eventually was used as a dormitory for a flight school before slipping into darkness.

“Seeing its potential, the Adamsons awakened the building from its sleep. Today, its exterior remains as it looked in 1906, and the lobby inside retains its 14-foot tin ceilings and other architectural features. Guests and local residents enjoy the main level’s 2,500-square-foot, full-service day spa the couple added in a way that maintains the unique building’s historical significance,” according to the Kansas Magazine article.

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Church news, Youth

Fun and Community Service: Trail Life

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From left,  Luke Moore, Hunter Fortenberry, Steve Fortenberry, and Russell Moore are preparing their trebuchets for the competition on April 6. Submitted photo.
On April 6, those passing by Bethel Community Baptist Church on Hwy. 54 saw a group of men and boys together picking up trash.
“We are Troop KS-7777 of Trail Life USA, a ministry of Bethel Community Baptist Church, and are partnered with the national organization,” Troopmaster Josh Gier said. “Trail Life USA is celebrating its tenth year with over 1,100 troops and 50,000 Trailmen nationwide. “
“Trail Life is an easy-to-manage, Christ-centered, boy-focused outdoor adventure program empowering the church to grow boys to become men of character and conviction,” according to the Trail Life website.
There are 19 boys enrolled in Troop 7777, and nine mentors, “mostly dads, grandpas and uncles,” Gier said.
“Our troop is not limited to church members,” he said.   “We are open to all.”
“All boys from kindergarten through high school are welcome to join at any time,” Gier said.  “Our enrollment focus will be in August at the beginning of our program year.”
They meet every other Monday of the month.
“If anybody would like more information about Trail Life Troop KS-7777, they may contact me through the Find a Troop link on traillifeusa.com,” he said.
From left Russell Moore, Luke Moore, and Josh Gier as the Moores receive the trophy for building the trebuchet with the farthest launch.Submitted photo.
 Gier said a total of 101 blue bags of trash were left to be picked up by the Kansas Department of Transportation, which they had made arrangements with.
After that project, the group had a Trebuchet competition.
A trebuchet, taken from the American Association for the Advancement of Science website.
Trebuchets are used as teaching tools in high schools and colleges to learn about load, force, fulcrums, velocity, gravity, and parabolic arcs. They are also used as recruiting tools to lure students into engineering programs. Designing a trebuchet is an assessment of mechanical design and engineering skills. Testing a trebuchet is not only a learning tool, it is also fun, according to https://www.aaas.org/trebuchets-and-their-modern-use
In Troop 7777, six father/son(s) teams were challenged to build their trebuchet to see who could launch a projectile, a golf ball, the farthest.
The winner of the competition was father Russell Moore, with sons Luke and Ben. They launched a golf ball 152.6 inches.
Trail LIfe Troop 7777. Submitted photo.

 

 

Bourbon County, Elections

Local Republicans Gather to Select A New District One Commissioner on April 16

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The Bourbon County Commission room, at the courthouse.

On Tuesday, April 16 at the Ft Scott Livestock Market, 2131 Maple Rd, the local Republican party will convene to nominate a replacement for Bourbon County  District 1 Commissioner Nelson Blythe who resigned on April 1, according to a press release from Deb Martin, Bourbon County Republican Secretary.

Blythe said he intends to run for Bourbon County Sheriff, according to the Bourbon County Commission Minutes of April 1.

Nelson Blythe resigned as Bourbon County District 1 Commissioner on April 1.

Only District 1 Precinctmen and  Women will vote on this appointment, according to the press release.

The voting precinct men and women of District 1 are as follows:
 Marion:  Brent Smith  and  Nancy Holt
 Franklin:  Tony Bradbury and Kaity Bradbury
Timberhill:  Dan Laughlin and Jan Laughlin
Millcreek:  Michael Keyes and Debra Martin
North Scott:  Bill Lalman and Glenda Lalman
Marmaton:  Charles Robinson and CJ Robinson
“April 16th we will meet at Ft. Scott livestock market, 2131 Maple Road 6:30 p.m.” Mark McCoy, chairman of the local Republican party, said. “The meeting will start open to the public for introductions of the Individuals wishing to be considered to fill the open 1st district commissioner position.”
Then each candidate will have up to three minutes to introduce themselves and why they should be chosen.  The closed
portion of the meeting begins immediately following that introduction.
Each candidate will speak to the precinct people individually with a brief question and answer period, McCoy said.
“After all candidates have completed this portion we will discuss candidates and precinct people will vote,” he said.
Interested Republican residents of Bourbon County District 1 seeking to fill the county commission seat vacated by Nelson Blythe should send a letter stating their interest with reasons why they should be selected to:  Mark McCoy, Chairman, email [email protected] or by postal mail to Mark McCoy, 2138 Jayhawk Rd, Ft Scott, KS  66701 by Thursday, April 11, 2024 by days end.
“When the individual resigns, they submit a resignation letter to me and the Governor’s office and I submit the resignation letter to the Chairperson of whatever party they are affiliated with,” said Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Clerk. “The political party then has 21 days to appoint a replacement and send notice of the replacement to the Governor’s office. The Governor’s office will send a certificate of appointment to the replacement who would need to file a copy of the certificate in the Clerk’s office before they can perform any duties as Commissioner.”
Business, Fort Scott

The Green Lantern Speakeasy Debuts This Month In Downtown Fort Scott

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The Green Lantern speakeasy bar, at 110 S. Main, the former Scottish Rite Temple. Submitted photos.

A new business venture, in the former Scottish Rite Temple, is unique to Fort Scott.

A speakeasy bar was opened by Kathy and Tracy Dancer this month.
 One hundred years ago the government tried to ban alcoholic beverages.
In  1919, Congress ratified the 18th Amendment, banning the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcoholic beverages. However, there were no provisional funds for anything beyond token enforcement, according to https://www.atf.gov/our-history/timeline/18th-amendment-1919-national-prohibition-act
“Speakeasy was a term used during Prohibition for drinking establishments and illegal bars,” said Kathy Dancer, owner of the
new Fort Scott speakeasy.  “They were usually hidden away in a building and sometimes you needed a password to be allowed to enter.  Fort Scott had several speakeasies including The Green Lantern, operated by J.D. McClintock.”
Kathy is the owner and her husband Tracy is the operations manager.
Tracy and Kathy Dancer at the entrance to 110 S. Main. The Green Lantern is on the second floor of the building.
“In recent years, speakeasies (although no longer illegal) have become popular again,” she said.  “Some are just regular bars while others are much more elaborate and keep the original spirit of the historic Prohibition-era speakeasies.”
The Dancers, Kathy and Tracy, purchased the old Scottish Rite Temple building at 110 S. Main a few years ago.
They added a retail shop, then a cafe and now are venturing into a speakeasy bar.
“These really are labors of love and we enjoy sharing them with the community,” Kathy said.
“110 South Main was originally constructed in the early 1920s, during the Prohibition era,” she said. “We thought a speakeasy would be a great fit as an additional business for the space.  It’s also an opportunity to bring something very unique to Fort Scott.  We have named the speakeasy The Green Lantern, after the original Fort Scott speakeasy.”
A conversation area at the Green Lantern. Submitted photos. One can see the lighted Main Street in downtown Fort Scott out the windows. Submitted photos.
The Green Lantern will be located inside the 110 South Main building on the second floor.
“The Green Lantern honors the tradition of speakeasies from the 1920s while adding some modern touches,” she said. “We will serve premium cocktails and Kansas-produced wines.  The speakeasy space has a very historic look and vibe with 1920s music and occasional visits from flapper girls and gangsters.  Patrons will need a password to get in.  Clues for the password will be posted on the speakeasy Facebook page: Green Lantern Partners LTD.”
To view the Facebook page:
A conversation area at The Green Lantern. Submitted photos.
The space has already been used for private events and the Dancers are doing several previews/soft opening on evenings in April.

“We have not established set days and times yet but we will post them on the Facebook page,” she said.

Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

Citizens For The ER Will Hold Town Hall Meetings in Fort Scott and Uniontown This Month

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The Vote Here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National in an earlier election.  A sales tax question will be on the ballot on May 14, 2024. for voters to decide the issue.

A citizen group working independently of the county commission plans a few community town hall meetings to inform people of the upcoming sales tax question on the May 14 ballot.

The group, Citizens For The ER, is presenting two town hall meetings regarding the one-quarter cent Bourbon County sales tax dedicated to re-opening the local emergency room.

The meeting aims to address questions and concerns about the sales tax.
 
 
Meetings are scheduled for:
 
Fort Scott on Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Scott Community College Ellis Center.
 
Uniontown on Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Meeting Room.
“This is an opportunity to learn how your vote will impact the well-being of our county,” said Charles Gentry, a member of the group.

 

“Our purpose is to support obtaining an emergency room (in the county) by getting the ¼ cent retail sales tax passed,” said Randy Nichols, another member.  “The members are myself, Jamie Armstrong, Craig Campbell, Lynda Foster, Charles Gentry, Mark McCoy, and Doug Ropp.”

McCoy will be the moderator of the meetings.

“We are taking on the issue because we all feel strongly the need to have an ER for both community health and economic well-being,” Nichols said.

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Significant Grants Are Available for Solar Energy For Bourbon County Businesses

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Daniel Zywietz and son, Noah on a recent solar installation in Chanute. submitted photo.

If you own a business in Bourbon County and selected other counties in rural Kansas, you can apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant and get up to 50% off the cost of solar panels.

Add the 50% federal tax credits available for renewable energy installations in Bourbon County, and a business owner could get a solar system for nearly free, according to Daniel Zywietz, founder of SEK Solar, Chanute.

SEK Solar designs and installs solar systems and also helps with the grant application, allowing business owners to drastically reduce their utility bills, he said.

Before starting SEK Solar, Zywietz founded and ran Enerwhere, the Middle East’s largest rooftop installation company and one of the world’s largest microgrid operators. The company started as a provider of temporary power services to the construction industry in 2012 and quickly expanded into the commercial rooftop solar market in Dubai, building over 45 MW of solar over 10 years, including the world’s second-largest solar rooftop system at the time, covering an area of more than 23 football fields, he said

He ended up in the Middle East as a management consultant working for Booz & Company, a spin-off of Booz Allen Hamilton, and one of the best-known management consulting companies worldwide.

With his wife (who is originally from Humboldt, KS) looking to move home after the COVID-pandemic, Zywietz started to look into the solar market in Kansas and was astonished to find that there were hardly any solar panels installed, despite the clear and sunny skies and large open spaces. With over $1 billion in grant funds for solar and energy efficiency available to agricultural and rural small business owners under the USDA’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, Zywietz and his wife decided to set up a solar company to service local business owners.

What made the opportunity even more exciting was that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, not only refilled the REAP program, which had been running for 10 years with much lower funding levels, but also significantly improved the Federal tax credits available to rural Kansans, according to Zywietz.

According to the EPA website, the credits are structured in three separate buckets, according to information from Zywietz. The 30% base tax credit is available to anyone wanting to install a solar system at the business or home, anywhere in the US. A further 10% “Low-Income Community” bonus is available to projects in disadvantaged areas. (Bourbon County, together with most of South-East Kansas, qualifies). Finally, there is another 10% “Energy Community Bonus” available to areas that previously hosted coal mines or coal-fired power plants, and again, Bourbon County qualifies, according to a map provided by the Department of Energy. Added together, the tax credits can add up to 50% for a renewable energy project in Fort Scott and the surrounding area.

While the tax credits don’t require any special application process, the REAP grants do. It all starts with checking whether a business’s location is eligible based on the USDA’s Property Eligibility site, says Zywietz.

The USDA defines a rural area as an area with a population of less than 50,000 people. The second criterion is the business size. The small business size standard is based on either annual revenue or the number of employees, depending on a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, which is used by federal agencies to classify businesses by industry type, according to http://kansasenergyprogram.org/assessments/REAP-OverviewFAQ

This generally means that if a business has less than $10 million in revenue or less than 100 employees and is a for-profit business, such as a restaurant, hair salon, retail business, or farm business, the owner is eligible to apply, Zywietz said.

“It’s a tedious grant application process,” he said. “The smallest grants of up to $20,000 have a nearly 100% approval rate because $200 million were set aside for these small projects and there aren’t enough applications, as most small business owners find it too time-consuming to fill in all of the forms. Larger grants, which can go up to $1 million, compete with other projects based on a scoring system, so getting the grant application right can make a big difference to the chance of approval. The next application deadline is June 30th.”

“It’s a big opportunity for rural business owners to lower their utility bills and go green. And while filling in government paperwork can be frustrating, I think it’s only fair for them to check if your business is legitimate before they hand you what is essentially free money. I’m happy to answer any questions on solar or the USDA REAP grants and the IRA tax credits as well,” Zywietz said.

To learn more about SEK Solar visit the website at http://seksolar.com

Zywietz can be reached at (620) 431-1122 or email: [email protected].

Zywietz will be in  Dubai for two weeks at the end of April.
“I’m mostly done with the handover to the new Enerwhere CEO and summers in Dubai are pretty miserable anyways,” he said.
To view a feature he wrote:

 

Zywietz plans to attend the Fort Scott Chamber Coffee meetings on Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. to answer questions from business owners., he said.

 

The Kansas Energy Program is also available to assist you through the entire REAP grant application process, according to its website.

 

A small project Zywietz has completed in Chanute, photo from SEK Solar Facebook page.