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Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening in Fort Scott July 10 Edition

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What’s Happening in Fort Scott! July 10th Weekly Newsletter

SAVE THE DATE!

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffees

Every Thursday at 8am

UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Fort Scott National Historic Site

Visit your National Park! Visitor Center and historic buildings are open Friday through Tuesday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The grounds continue to be open daily from ½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour after sunset

** Guided tours Saturday & Sunday 10am & 1pm! **

Click HERE to visit the website.

Click here to see all the FUN classes at The Artificers, classes for ALL ages!

Fort Scott Farmers Market

Saturdays | 8am-noon Tuesdays | 4-6pm

Gathering Square Pavilion, 111 N. National

BINGO hosted by the American Legion Post 25 every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. Doors open at 6pm and Bingo starts at 7pm at Memorial Hall. (Taking the month of August off for BINGO & will start again in September)

KANSASWORKS in Fort Scott

Every Tuesday 9am-4pm

Office located at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, 104 N. National Ave.

620-231-4250

FS Public Library

*Wednesday Writers every Wed. @ 1:30-3pm

*Summer Reading June 3rd – July 29th!

201 S. National Ave.

Kansas Small Business Development Center

at the Chamber, 231 E. Wall St.

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 9am-4pm.

Par Tee Girl Ladies’ Golf League –

Every Wednesday thru July!

League Fee: $40

Contact:

Diane Striler at [email protected] or 248-568-7790

Click HERE for the Facebook Group Page!

Dolly Trolley Historic 50-min narrated tours!

Adults $6 | Children 12&under $4

Call 620-223-3566 or stop in the Chamber at

231 E. Wall St. to book your ride!

Fort Scott Aquatic Center

Opens Memorial Day, May 26th

Monday – Saturday

Public Swim: 1-5:15pm

Adult/Family Swim :5:30-7pm

*Lifeguard Breaks: 3pm & 5:15pm

Sunday

Public Swim: 1-6pm

Adult/Family Swim: 4:45-6pm

*Lifeguard Breaks: 3 & 4:30pm

$3 Tuesdays at Fort Cinema!

Follow their Facebook Page HERE for updates!

Lavender Patch Farm Saturdays!

9am-1pm

2376 Locust Rd. Fort Scott, KS

Click HERE for their website

Follow their Facebook Page HERE for updates!

UPCOMING EVENTS

GOLF CART RAFFLE – donated by

Bourbon County Cars

Proceeds benefit:

Kiwanis Youth Scholarships & Care to Share

2011 Yamaha 48V Electric Golf Cart

Tickets: $20 each or 10 for $100

Tickets can be purchased at Bourbon County Cars

via Venmo by texting Josh Jones 620-215-3680

or by clicking HERE!

Drawing will be held July 12th at the

Care to Share Golf Tournament!

6/2-7/17 ~ 9:15am-10am | Freedom Fitness KidFit Summer 7-week Session

Mon-Thurs.(4 days a week)

Skill/Sport-specific training

Limited spots available

$110 due on the first day

July 8th-19th

Bourbon County Fair

**SEE SCHEDULE BELOW or CLICK HERE to view the Bourbon County Fair Book!

7/11-12 ~ Let’s Flamingle Shopping Event! 🦩

🚗 Grab your flock and come shop at participating stores Downtown & Around, Fort Scott!

⏰ Early bird gets the worm & deals! 🪱🛍️

🎟️ Shop $5+ in at least THREE stores for a chance to win $50 Chamber Bucks!

📍 Look for the bright pink flamingos out front! 🦩 Downtown & Around Fort Scott, KS

🍧 Tiger Ice

will be set up at 1st & Main St.

Friday & Saturday from 11am – 8pm

🍦OffShore Tropix

will be set up in Bids & Dibs Parking lot,121 E. Second St., Saturday from 10am-4pm

Participating Stores:

🦩110 South Main Mercantile

🦩Angie Dawn’s Boutique

🦩Barbed Wire and Roses Vintage Market

🦩Be The Light Boutique

🦩Bids and Dibs

🦩Care To Share Gift Shop

🦩Common Ground Coffee Co.

🦩The Iron Star

🦩Laree + Co.

🦩Main Street Vintage & Co.

🦩 Museum of Creativity

🦩Shirt Shack

🦩Sunshine Boutique

7/11-13th The Fort Scott Baseball Series is HERE!

Joplin Outlaws vs. Texarkana Rhinos

at the Laroche Baseball Complex.

 

Friday, July 11 – 7:05 PM

*Postgame fireworks show

*Announcement of the official name of Fort Scott’s new baseball team coming in 2026!

Saturday, July 12 – 6:05 PM

*LIVE music after the game from

Steven Bankey & The Flatland Band

Sunday, July 13 – Doubleheader starts at 4:05 PM

*Game 1 kicks off at 4:05

*Between games celebration of the 2024 Kansas State Champion Fort Scott High School Tiger Baseball Team!

Get your tickets now:

Individual Games: Click HERE

Full Weekend Pass: Click HERE

 

7/11 ~ 5:30pm | Care to Share Horse Race

Woodland Hills Golf Course

7/11 ~ 7-8pm | Friday Night Concerts In The Park

This weeks concert with Judy & Larry Snow

Heritage Park Pavilion, 1st & Main St.

7/12 ~ 2nd Annual Care to Share Golf Tournament

Woodland Hills Golf Course

7/12 ~ Battle Tactical Pistol Course

7/12 ~ Kansas Rocks Newbie Women Wheelers Basic Recovery Course

7/12 ~ 8am | Bourbon Co. Fair Dog Show

Show Arena @ the BBCO Fairgrounds

7/12 ~ 10am-13:30pm | Fort Scott Stamp Club

Meet at Public Library (Lower Floor Conf. Room)

201 S. National Ave.

7/12 ~ 11am-2pm | Paint & Pizza at Papa Don’s

10 N. Main St.

$30/ includes paint supplies

Click HERE for more details on their

Facebook Event Page!

7/14 ~ | Farmer’s Market Vouchers are in at the FS Chamber of Commerce

Come in & fill out your application

7/14-17 ~ | FSHS Tiger Basketball Camp

2nd-5th grade 1-2:30 pm

6th-8th grade 2:30-4pm

at Buck Run Community Center

7/16 ~ 10am | The Golden Aces Senior Group at the Fort Scott Public Library

Friendship watercolor Cards

7/17 ~ 8am | Chamber Coffee hosted by the Bourbon County Fair Association

7/17 ~ 4-7pm | Nevada’s Pizza Hut Pop Up in Fort Scott at G&W Foods parking lot

$11 Large Pizzas

*Accept Cash, Card, & more!

7/17 ~ 5:30-7pm | FS FFA Fried Chicken Dinner Fundraiser w/ Chicken Annie’s Chicken

Bourbon County Fair Grounds – 4H Building

$12/meal ticket

Menu includes:

2pc Fried Chicken

German Coleslaw

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Green Beans

Bread & Butter

Lemonade/Tea/Water

7/17 ~ 6-8pm | Paint with Katie Margarita Time

$45

Click HERE to register!

7/17 ~ 8pm | Bourbon County Draft Horse Pull

$5 gate fee

7/18 ~ 8am | AVAIL Golf Outing

Woodland Hills Golf Course

7/18 ~ 9am-1pm | Bourbon County Fair Field Trip

BBCO Fairgrounds

Take a field trip to the Bourbon County Fair. Activities provided by area Services in the Merchant’s Building, watch some of the Southwind Canine Club run their agility course, Touch the Truck, and more.

7/18 ~ 7-8pm | Friday Night

Concerts in the Park

Heritage Park Pavilion – 1st & Main St.

Downtown Fort Scott

7/19 ~ | Kansas Rocks

Summer Off-Road 101 Course

7/19 ~ | Sharky’s Fort Scott BYOP

(Bring Your Own Pool)

$25 per pool / $5 per person

% of Proceeds going to KVDS

SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!

Boutiques-Antiques-Flea Markets & more!

Click here for Chamber member

specialty shopping & other retail in

Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue

Calendar of Events

Special Event Features

THANK YOU Chamber Champion members!!
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.
…
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes

ArtEffects 2025 Spotlight Prize Awardees Highlighted

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Presenting the
2025 Spotlight Prize Awardees!
Twelfth grade student Claire Evans of Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded the $1,000 Spotlight Prize-Large Format for her mixed-media artwork Mary Anning: The Fossilist, which honors Unsung Hero Mary Anning, an English paleontologist and fossil collector born in 1799. “I can relate to her love of discovery, as well as her experience fossil hunting with her family,” Evans writes about her choice of hero in her Impact Statement.
View “Mary Anning: The Fossilist”
Eden Weathers, an 11th grade student at Harriton High School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, won the $1,000 Spotlight Prize-Sculpture/3D for the bronze crown they created in memory of ethnobotanist Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbott entitled Aliʻi of the Algae: Crown of the Sea. Weathers writes in their Impact Statement, “I chose bronze to convey both strength and elegance, hoping to reflect the grace of a woman who spent her life sharing her culture and protecting our oceans.”
View “Aliʻi of the Algae: Crown of the Sea”
Twelfth grade student April Truong of Poway High School in Poway, California, also found inspiration in Dr. Abbott. “To represent her life’s dedication to the field, I drew two versions of her: young and old,” writes Truong in her Impact Statement about her digital artwork Limu and Her Lady of the Sea, which won a $1,000 Spotlight Prize-Unsung Hero.
View “Limu and Her Lady of the Sea”
Three students selected Unsung Heroes from World War II as the inspiration for their $1,000 Spotlight Prize-Unsung Hero projects. Xinyue (Emily) Ren, an 11th grade student at San Jose, California’s BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, made her mixed-media drawing, The Courage to Stand in Solidarity, in honor of Ralph Lazo. “His willingness to stand alongside those who were unjustly imprisoned, despite not being targeted himself, challenges me to step beyond my own silence and comfort,” she writes in her Impact Statement.
View “The Courage to Stand In Solidarity”
“I find his creativity and leadership inspirational,” writes ninth grade student Se-a (Lucy) Min from Seoul Scholars international in South Korea in her Impact Statement about Unsung Hero Andrew Jackson Higgins, the inspiration behind her painting, Andrew Jackson Higgins and the Higgins Boat.
View “Andrew Jackson Higgins and the Higgins Boat”
Elyn Tao, a 10th grade student at Concord Academy in Concord, Massachusetts, explains the inspiration behind her award-winning oil painting, A Comet Through the Dark: The Silent Light of De Jongh in her Impact Statement: “Andrée De Jongh was a war hero and remains one today. I chose her because her courage doesn’t belong in the past, but continues to grow with each passing moment.”
View “A Comet Through the Dark: The Silent Light of De Jongh”
Ambassadors in Action!
Meet our 2024-2025 Ambassador Mindy Sizemore, Visual Arts Teacher at Spring Mills High School in Martinsburg, WV.

Each ARTEFFECT Ambassador culminates their visual arts online fellowship with a capstone project that brings the inspiring stories of the LMC Unsung Heroes into their classrooms and communities. As the yearlong program comes to its end, Mindy shared about her capstone project. Here is an excerpt from her narrative:

“My goal for this project was for students to see that they can be a hero. Whether they lean into their passions and change the world in a big way like the LMC Unsung Heroes or they simply care for others in their life, they have the ability right NOW to make a positive change in the world.”

Thank you to Mindy and the students at Spring Mills High School for your creativity and inspiring ARTEFFECT projects!
Read more about Mindy’s capstone project
Congratulations to Mindy and her student, Isaiah Griffin (Grade 10) for being a finalist in the 2025 Competition! Isaiah’s project,Terry Fox, a graphite and colored pencil on paper drawing, focuses on Unsung Hero Terry Fox.

Photos courtesy of Mindy Sizemore.
Stay connected with ARTEFFECT through social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arteffectlmc
X: https://x.com/arteffectlmc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arteffectlmc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arteffectlmc
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
ARTEFFECT Facebook
ARTEFFECT Instagram
LMC ARTEFFECT
ARTEFFECT YouTube
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Bourbon County

Mapleton Residents Invited to Community Forum on Town Improvements

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City of Mapleton Invites Community to Share Input on Park and Ballfield Improvements

MAPLETON, KS — The City of Mapleton, in partnership with the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT), invites all residents to a Community Forum on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 7:00 PM at 565 Eldora Street, Mapleton, KS.

This forum is part of a broader effort supported through Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas® (BCBSKS) initiative. With Pathways funding, HBCAT and the City of Mapleton are working to extend sidewalks around Mapleton City Park and renovate the Mapleton Ball Park to support physical activity, community connection, and quality of life.

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life in Bourbon County. HBCAT works to increase access to physical activity, healthy food, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life, and encourage economic growth. Its community-driven approach helps create a healthier, more vibrant region for all.

The event will feature a short presentation, a brief survey, and small group discussions. Residents will have the opportunity to share their ideas, concerns, and vision for improvements to Mapleton’s public spaces.

“Your input is vital to ensure these projects reflect what Mapleton residents truly want and need,” said Jody Love, President and CEO of HBCAT. “Whether it’s better lighting, more seating, or ballfield upgrades, this is your chance to be heard.”

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey ahead of time at: https://forms.gle/1h7w3xFLv18QxUFc6. All survey participants will be entered into a raffle for a $100 gift card.

Refreshments will be provided. Families are welcome. For more information, visit the City of Mapleton website or contact Jenny Layes at [email protected].

About Pathways to a Healthy Kansas

Pathways to a Healthy Kansas is the largest community grant program ever funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. The Pathways program provides community coalitions with the tools and resources needed to remove barriers and engage their communities in ways that improve active living, healthy eating, behavioral health and commercial tobacco prevention. For more information, visit bcbsks.com/pathways.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

For more than 80 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while quickly and accurately processing claims; fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve or maintain their health; and operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of premium dollars. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information, visit bcbsks.com.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. BLUE CROSS®, BLUE SHIELD® and the Cross and Shield Symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

About the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT)

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life in Bourbon County, Kansas. Through a collaborative, equity-centered approach, HBCAT works to increase access to physical activity, healthy food, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life, and foster economic growth. By building strong partnerships with residents, community groups, and local governments, HBCAT is helping to create a healthier, more vibrant region for all.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. BLUE CROSS®, BLUE SHIELD® and the Cross and Shield Symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. HBCAT is leading the Pathways initiative in Bourbon County and is not affiliated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.

 

Government, Health Care

Sen. Moran Holds Virtual Town Hall to Discuss Budget Reconciliation Bill

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Senator Jerry Moran Convenes Town Hall with Hospital Leaders
Kansas hospital leaders ask their questions and learn more about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that passed the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.

(July 3, 2025) – Kansas hospitals appreciated the invitation from Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to join a virtual
town hall to discuss the Budget Reconciliation Bill. The U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives passed
the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is now headed to President Trump for his signature.
This afternoon, more than 100 hospital leaders were able to join the virtual town hall. Senator Moran was able
to highlight several challenges in the original Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that were
mitigated. Kansas hospitals on the call were able to ask questions, share concerns and thank the Senator for
his leadership and advocating for Kansas and Kansas hospitals.
Specific issues discussed included how the bill maintains language grandfathering Kansas’ provider assessment
and state directed payment rates, including language protecting the enhanced support for Critical Access
Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals approved by the Kansas legislature earlier this year. Sen Moran
highlighted the Rural Health Transformation Fund. This Fund was increased to $50 billion ($10 billion per year
for five years). He also discussed delaying the wind down of the Medicaid state directed payments for an
additional year which will be a benefit to Kansas hospitals.
Kansas hospitals are appreciative of Sen. Moran’s work to ensure hospitals will continue to be eligible to
receive up to $5 billion in additional Medicaid payments over the next 10 years through the Kansas provider
assessment and state directed payment programs. This funding was in jeopardy with the original Senate
language in the bill. Kansas will now be able to proceed with the provider assessment that was approved by
the Kansas legislature earlier this year.
At the conclusion of the town hall, Sen. Moran discussed his commitment to continue supporting Kansas
hospitals, including efforts on the 340B Program and Medicare Advantage.

Government, Kansas

KS June Tax Collections Above Estimate

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June Total Tax Collections at $1.06 Billion;
7.4% Above Estimate


TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends June 2025 with total tax collections at $1.06 billion. That is $72.6 million, or 7.4%, above the estimate. Total tax collections were up 3.2% from June 2024.

“While this month’s stronger-than-expected revenues are a welcome sign, it does not alleviate my concern that the state legislature’s budget will put Kansas in the red by over $375 million by 2029,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Even with current revenues exceeding the forecast, the budget created by the state legislature still has us spending $300 to $700 million more than we receive each year for the foreseeable future, jeopardizing the long-term fiscal health of the state, which I have prioritized as governor.”

Keeping Kansas on the path of fiscal stability will require discipline in the coming years to prevent a return to four-day school weeks, crumbling roads and bridges, and a depleted rainy day fund.

Click here to view the June 2025 revenue numbers.

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Area News, Kansas, Youth

Learn How Recent Federal Bill Will Affect Families

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Submitted by

Jessica Herrera Russell

Senior Communications Manager for Kansas Action For Children

 

Now that the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” has been passed and signed into law, advocacy groups like Kansas Action for Children are diving deeper into the provisions to understand exactly how everyday Kansans will be impacted. Join the KAC experts on Tuesday, July 15, at 11:30 a.m. (CT) to learn what the bill means for kids and families. After the briefing, KAC policy advisors will be available for questions.

 

REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uTupmf1VQROKaVvHCR29kw

 

Featuring:

  • Emily Barnes, Education Policy Advisor, KAC
  • Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, KAC
  • Dustin Hare, Economic Security Policy Advisor, KAC
  • Nathan Kessler, Fiscal Policy Manager, KAC

 

During the call, we’ll cover what happened with Medicaid, SNAP, taxes, education, and more, including:

  • How SNAP is in danger of ending in Kansas – if state lawmakers don’t choose to pay the required cost share
  • Changes to child care tax credits
  • Implications for the health care system
  • Kansas kids losing access to the federal child tax credit

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Let’s Flamingle Shopping Event Downtown & Around Fort Scott, This Weekend

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

presents

Let’s Flamingle Shopping Event

Downtown & Around Fort Scott, KS!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Let’s Flamingle shopping event will be held this Friday and Saturday, July 11th-12th,

Downtown and around.

Businesses in the Downtown Historic District and additional locations will be participating by hiding flamingos inside the stores that can be found for discounts and giveaways.

Shoppers may also pick up a card from any participating store and get it stamped by spending $5 or more in at least three retailers for a chance to win $50 in Chamber Bucks gift certificates.

Offshore Tropix Dole Whip will be set up at Bids & Dibs and Tiger Ice at 1st and Main St., offering cold treats.

Participating retailers include:

    110 South Main Mercantile, 110 S. Main St.

  Angie Dawn’s Boutique, 121 E. Second St.

Barbed Wire & Roses Vintage Market, 18 N Main St.

Be The Light Boutique, 12 N. Main St.

Bids & Dibs, 121 E. Second St.

Care to Share Gift Shop, 9 E. Wall St.

    Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall St.

Iron Star Antiques & Such, 3 N. Main St.

Laree + Co., 3 S. National Ave.

Main St. Vintage & Co., 23 S. Main St.

        Museum of Creativity, 102 S. National Ave.

Shirt Shack, 11 E. 18th St.

 Sunshine Boutique, 18 E. Wall St.

Grab your “flock” and get ready to shop local this weekend for the Let’s Flamingle event, Downtown and around in Fort Scott. Organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, 620-223-3566, fortscott.com.

Click HERE for the Facebook Event Page!

A special thank you to our Chamber Champion members!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 
Government, Kansas

Return On Investment Study Released by KS Commerce Dept.

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Commerce Groundbreaking ROI Study on Registered Apprenticeships

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the release of a study recognizing the positive return on investment (ROI) companies receive by participating in registered apprenticeship programs. The analysis was drawn from surveys of Kansas employers involved in the state’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) for high-wage and high-demand occupations.

“These results make the case that businesses who adopt apprenticeship programs simply perform better by attracting and retaining more skilled workers,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “As we continue to expand apprenticeship opportunities in Kansas, this research will help inform employers’ workforce decisions — and keep up with industry demand for trained talent.”

As more companies show interest in RAPs, and more individuals pursue earn-and-learn pathways, there is a need to understand the benefits to employers who invest in this important workforce and educational initiative.

Key findings from the recent study revealed:

  • Identified company participation has grown 228% since 2022 – from 280 to 919 in just three years since Governor Kelly established the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship
  • At program completion, half of all employers report breaking even in the short term, while nearly two-thirds break even within five years — demonstrating both immediate and long-term returns on investment
  • After five years, the median ROI increases dramatically to 246%, or $2.49 in net direct benefits for every $1 invested
  • In addition to financial gains, employers also report indirect benefits such as improved employee satisfaction, stronger workforce culture, and a more reliable pipeline of skilled workers

The size of the sample group included 18 Kansas employers who provided full ROI responses and 16 reporting on indirect outcomes. The insights offer valuable insight into how RAPs are creating value for Kansas companies.

“This study alone confirms the feedback we’ve heard from our industry partners — that registered apprenticeships pay off,” Director of Apprenticeships and Internships Shonda Anderson said. “With this important data showing the monetary value of these programs, we can elevate our efforts to expand apprenticeship opportunities across the state.”

The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship and its partners will use the findings to support future policy, expand employer engagement and drive investment in high-quality training programs to meet the needs of the workforce and businesses.

To view the report, click here.

To learn more about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship and its resources, visit the webpage here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

About the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship:

The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship was established by Governor Laura Kelly on Sept. 6, 2022, through Executive Order #22-07. The office supports apprenticeships across multiple industries to provide a highly skilled source of labor for employers and ensure occupational proficiency for career-seekers. The program incorporates on-the-job learning, technical instruction and mentorship to create long-term employment opportunities in Kansas.

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