Category Archives: Business

Business, Fort Scott

New Auto Repair Business Opens in Fort Scott

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Dakota Rusk. Submitted photo.
Noah Terry  and Dakota Rusk are the owners of a new car maintenance business.
G3 Auto Repair, is located at 1131 227th, Fort Scott, on the east side of town by the Fort Scott Middle School.
Terry and Rusk perform simple auto maintenance to major overhauls “and everything in-between,” said Terry.
“We also do tires, we can even balance them, and we offer detailing services.”
(620) 240- 9343
The business will have a grand opening on February 28, 2026. They are currenlty accepting job inquiries now, Terry said.
Dakota Rusk is the technician and has experience from working at Briggs Auto. Terry is the CEO, he said.
Why start an auto repair business?
“The reasons are twofold,” Terry said.  “We want to first and foremost honor God with our work. We devote all things to Him, and our business is a part of that.”
“Secondly, we see this as an opportunity to serve our community; we want to offer a professional service to Fort Scott. We want to build up the place we call home, and providing excellent and honest service is one of many ways we can contribute to that mission.”
Terry said their goals are simple:
“Over communicate. Under promise.
 and over deliver.”
To learn more: 620.240.9343 or
Noah Terry, right, and Dakota Rusk, left, are the owners of the G3 Auto Repair. Submitted photo.
Business, Government, Kansas

Startups and Entrepreneurs Accelerate Kansas Innovations: March 10 Event

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Gamechangers & Champions Event to Feature Startup Pitch Competition, Networking

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce, in partnership with NXTUS, Inc. and KU Innovation Park, announced today it will host Gamechangers & Champions 2026: Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels in March. The high-energy event will bring together startups and angel investors, along with corporate and innovation leaders from across the Midwest.

“In Kansas, startups and entrepreneurs fuel innovation and spur next-generation businesses that create the jobs and wealth of the future,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Events like Gamechangers & Champions are a great opportunity for them to connect with one another — and with investors — to discover resources that can help advance their ideas and companies.”

Gamechangers & Champions 2026 will take place Tuesday, March 10, at the University of Kansas Conference Center connected to the David Booth Memorial Football Stadium in Lawrence. The event is a one-day experience designed to catalyze new angel investments, support early-stage companies, and accelerate Kansas’ innovation momentum. It will feature educational sessions, networking opportunities, speaker presentations and the popular competitive pitch event.

The bracket-style pitch competition is open to Kansas-based, high-growth startups in the pre-seed or seed stage. Winning startups will be chosen at the event with the grand prize being $25,000, sponsored by the University of Kansas Business School. Those interested in participating can find applications here.

Key competition dates include:

  • February 15: Applications due by midnight
  • February 25: Round of 32 winners announced
  • March 4: Sweet 16 winners announced
  • March 10: Elite Eight live pitch and selection of Final Four takes place

Registration is open for Kansas entrepreneurs, angel investors, potential investors, innovation leaders, corporate partners and community members. Following the event, NXTUS, Accelerate Venture Partners and the OREAD Angel Group will coordinate follow-on investment opportunities.

To purchase tickets for the event, visit here.

“Last year, our first Gamechangers & Champions event was an incredible success — and brought many innovative Kansans together to collaborate and discover available startup resources,” Commerce Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Romaine Redman said. “Regardless of the phase your startup may be in, I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to speak to investors and innovation leaders and hear other ideas from like-minded innovators.”

 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.

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Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Human Resource Roundtable: Discuss Current/Relevant Topics In The Workplace on Feb. 11

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Labconco is located at 2500 Liberty Bell Rd. in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park on the south side of town.
You’re invited!

HR Roundtable

hosted by the Chamber

 

Wednesday, February 11th

11:45am – 1pm

Labconco

2500 Liberty Bell Rd.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members to a Human Resources (HR) Roundtable Luncheon on Wednesday, February 11th from 11:45am to 1pm at Labconco, 2500 Liberty Bell Rd. This roundtable event will provide an opportunity to discuss current and relevant topics impacting the workplace.

The February 11th meeting will feature guest speaker Kory Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources for Labconco, speaking to the group on “Building Tomorrow’s Bench: Succession Planning.”

HR Roundtables are open to any Chamber member involved in human resources-related responsibilities, regardless of company size, and are not limited to traditional HR professionals.

Attendees may RSVP at fortscott.com and an optional lunch may be ordered online for $10.

For more information, contact the Chamber at

620-223-3566 or email [email protected]

Click HERE to RSVP.

Please RSVP by Tuesday at noon if you’d like to order lunch!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com
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Business, Government, Kansas

Rural Kansas Downtown Revive and Thrive Grants Announced

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Commerce Launches Grant to Support Innovation, Incubator Spaces in Small Communities

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the launch of the Downtown Revive & Thrive: Rehabilitation for Innovation and Incubator Spaces program. There is a total of $500,000 available in funding for Kansas communities with populations of 5,000 or less for projects that result in functional business incubator spaces or facilities designed for temporary retail or restaurant operations.

“Rural communities are hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship but often do not have enough financial resources to maximize their economic potential,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This program will support the rehabilitation of spaces, especially in our state’s historic downtown buildings, for communities to activate underutilized assets and boost their local economies.”

Rural downtowns are experiencing an increase in vacant and underutilized properties, many of which are historic buildings in dire need of rehabilitation. At the same time, there is a strong demand for spaces that entrepreneurs can use to test products, develop commercial concepts and pilot new retail or restaurant ventures.

The program is designed to support projects that repurpose existing infrastructure to create spaces and provide equipment for pop-up retail and restaurants that drive economic growth and contribute vibrancy to communities.

The Revive & Thrive grant program is administered by the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity at the Department of Commerce. The application window will be open until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. Grant awards will be announced in April.

For those interested in applying for funding, a virtual webinar about the specifics of the program is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29. Registration is required and a Zoom link will be provided once registration is complete. To register, click here.

The Office of Rural Prosperity will host office hours from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. every Thursday, January 29 through March 5. To sign up, visit here.

For additional information about the Downtown Revive & Thrive program, click 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.

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Art, Business, Fort Scott

Faithful Together: Written By Local Author Tanya Glessner

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Tanya Glessner. Submitted photo.

Local author, Tanya Glessner, Fort Scott, continues mentoring people who are incarcerated and those in recovery from addiction.

“It remains the work I’m most passionate about,” she said. “I truly believe God is taking every part of my past—along with all the healing He’s brought into my life—and using it to help pull others out of the darkness they’re facing. That said, everyone has to do their own part; real change requires our active effort.”

In addition to mentoring, she is an author of several books.

Her latest book is “Faithful Together.”

Submitted graphic.

“My motivation for writing this book comes straight from my own life—the real, messy, beautiful experiences I’ve walked through,” she said. ” It started with everything I learned from my past marriage: the highs, the lows, the mistakes, and the hard lessons that shaped me. Then I watched and listened to so many other people’s marriages—the joys they shared, the struggles they faced, and the wisdom they gained along the way.”

“But the heart of this book is really about what I’ve seen and lived in my marriage now. We’ve taken everything we’ve learned from our past relationships and poured it into building something stronger together. Our children, our stepchildren, our grandchildren, this whole blended family we’ve been blessed with—they’ve all been part of the journey. We’ve grown through the challenges, the blending, the laughter, and even the tears.”

“Most importantly, though, what has made the biggest difference is having Jesus Christ right in the center of our lives,” she said. “Instead of focusing on ourselves or even on each other first, we’ve learned to put Him first. When we do that, everything else starts to fall into place—our love, our communication, our forgiveness, our hope. That’s the truth I want to share through this book: real transformation is possible when Christ is the foundation, and when we stop making ‘me’ or ‘us’ the priority and make Him the priority instead.”

Faithful Together” is in print form, with an ebook version coming soon, and can be purchased on Amazon.com.

About the Author

She and her husband  “love spending time with our grandbabies, and our home is always open to our kids and grandkids. We enjoy sharing our whole story with others—the victories, the struggles, and yes, even the hiccups along the way. We’re convinced there’s no shame in talking openly about past mistakes once God has made us overcomers. Speaking those things out loud can help someone else avoid the same pitfalls.”

“We’re still a work in progress, still learning and growing every day. Above all, we hold fast to the truth that a family that prays together stays together.”

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

The Rural Community Partners Website is officially live

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Jody Love

 

I have great news!  The Rural Community Partners Website is officially live!

 

Thanks to our Pittsburg State University Micro-Intern (funded through the Parker Dewey and the Kansas Department of Commerce), we have a BEAUTIFUL, user friendly website that clearly showcases our work and makes it easy for people to sign up for services, get involved, and connect with us.  It’s all part of our effort to find, connect, and engage across our rural communities!!

 

Explore the site:

 

The home page is here: https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/

 

Community Local Health Equity Action Team Page:  https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/programs/local-action-teams

 

Small Business and Entrepreneur Council Here:  https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/programs/entrepreneur-council

 

RCP Executive Board Members: https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/programs/board-members

 

And to sign up for all kinds of support or services:  https://www.ruralcommunitypartners.org/get-support

 

A few of the services offer to our rural communities:

  • General community support,
  • Small Business Mentorship Program (funded through HBCAT’s Social Entrepreneurship BCBS Pathways Grant),
  • Coalition and community technical assistance and community investment in partnership with KUMC COPE,
  • Small business micro grant program (a project we spearheaded with the support of our KFAN grant, funded by KHF)
  • Feasibility Studies and Cost Benefit Analysis

 

We’re incredibly proud of this milestone and grateful to the partners who helped make it happen. Please take a look, share the site, and encourage individuals, businesses, and community partners to explore how they can connect with Rural Community Partners.

 

 

Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen!!

 

Jody Love

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc.

Rural Community Partners

President and CEO

Office: 620-224-2563 Ext. 4

Cell: 620-215-2892

104 North National

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Bourbon County, Business, Government, Kansas

Kansas SIGNS Program: Support Communities By Upgrading Business Storefronts

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New Grant Opportunities Available Through Revised SIGNS Program

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced a new round of Supporting Innovative Growth through New Signage (SIGNS) grant opportunities, building on the program’s inaugural year in 2025 with several updates designed to further increase foot traffic, strengthen business visibility, and drive sales in downtown commercial districts.

“Prominent and visually pleasing signage can have dramatic impact — helping people notice a business and get new customers through the door to make a purchase,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By re-establishing the SIGNS program, we’re doubling down on design quality, supporting local artists and driving further economic growth in small businesses throughout our downtown communities.”

The SIGNS program is designed to support communities by upgrading storefronts for multiple businesses at once, recognizing that clear, attractive and strategically designed signage plays a critical role in helping customers spend more money locally.

Updates to the program require communities to work with approved artists from the Kansas Arts Commission’s Roster of Artists to help strengthen the design process, support Kansas-based creatives, and ensure signage projects are both visually compelling and responsive to local character.

“Pairing businesses with professional artists and designers establishes a collaborative effort to create signage that not only looks better but also is more effective,” Commerce Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Matt Godinez said. “Well-designed signs capture attention, increase foot traffic and contribute to stronger and long-term business stability — which is crucial to companies of all sizes.”

A total of $125,000 is available statewide, with communities eligible to receive up to $25,000 per application. Each funded community must complete signage improvements on at least three separate retail or restaurant businesses as part of a coordinated district-level effort. Eligible expenses include design, fabrication, lighting, installation and artist fees.

Eligible applicants include municipalities, Main Street organizations, local Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, foundations and other non-profit or community-based entities. Businesses that are interested must be consumer-facing establishments located in qualifying downtown or walkable commercial districts.

The application period will close February 28, 2026, with award notifications expected in April 2026. An informational webinar for interested applicants will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15. To register for the webinar, visit here.

For more information about the SIGNS grant program, including updated guidelines and application materials, visit the webpage here. Interested parties can also contact Sara Bloom, Quality Places Director, at (785) 506-9278 or [email protected].

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 Quality Places Division:

Established in 2024, the Quality Places Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce exists to improve quality of life in communities across the state through various programs and services. The Kansas Department of Commerce understands the immense role played by strong communities in economic development and prioritizes investments in people and communities as major contributors to the overall strength of the Kansas economy. To learn more, click here.

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Business, Food, Fort Scott, Youth

Hand-Scooped Ice Cream With A Mission

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Nichole Regan stands behind the counter at Lu’s Ice Cream shop at 6th and Main Street.
Nichole Regan is a special education teacher for USD 234, Fort Scott.  As a teacher, she is concerned about what happens to her students after they leave school.
“As a special education teacher, for years it has bothered me that when our kids age out of the school system and leave us, there are very few opportunities in our area for them to work,” she said. “Meaningful work provides people with social connection, purpose, and dignity. It is a positive part of all of our lives.”
“I was always hoping that more opportunities would be created in our community.”
“About a year and a half ago, I went to a conference that discussed post-secondary transition planning for students with special needs.”
One presenter was a previous Kansas City Special Education teacher who opened “The Golden Scoop”, an ice cream and coffee shop, which employs individuals with special needs.
“I thought it was awesome,” she said.” I started thinking about doing something like that in Fort Scott.”
Regan heard that Al and Luanna Niece were opening an ice cream parlor in Fort Scott. The Nieces are Texans who have a business in the Fort Scott Industrial Park. They noticed the dilapidated building at 6th and Main St. and have been working for two years to bring it back. They have a vacation rental and apartment for themselves on the second floor, and the ice cream shop was developed on the first floor of the building.
Lu Niece stands at the entrance to her new business, Lu’s Ice Cream Shop at 6th and Main in Fort Scott. Nichole Regan is the manager of the ice cream shop. The entrance to the shop is on the 6th Street side of the building.
To view that recent story:
“A friend of mine put me in contact with them, and I pitched them the idea. If you know Al and Luanna, they are wonderful people who continue to invest in the city and especially the people of Fort Scott. They loved the idea, and it took off from there!”
The first weekend of December, during the Fort Scott Christmas on the Bricks Festival, the ice cream shop opened for business, with Regan as the manager.
“We have started right away with employing some kids from the high school, as well as a few adults,” she said. “We will have a mix of employees, as I feel that everyone has something to offer and we can all learn from each other! “
Regan hired an assistant who has experience working in both special education and the restaurant industry.
“We also have a couple of shift leaders who I know on a personal level and trust to be the kind and patient leaders needed in this position.”
  “My plan is to add as many employees with unique abilities as possible. They have assigned duties based on their current strengths and tasks they are comfortable with. As we grow, we will continue to train and ease into new job duties. It has been amazing so far! Everyone is doing such a great job, and they love the experience!”

“We currently have eight employees and two individuals completing a job tryout period through Vocational Rehabilitation,” she said. “Five adults and five high schoolers. We have all of the employees we need at this time, but will be looking to add a couple more this spring. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.”

She will be teaching employment skills while they earn money at the shop

“That is definitely one of the goals. For most of our employees, this is their first consistent job. They are learning a lot about responsibility, expectations, customer service, and working alongside other people. With all of our employees, as they learn more and become more familiar, they will be given more responsibilities.”

Lu’s Ice Cream Shop has vintage type furniture and one true vintage Coke machine. A customer on their birthday can get one free bottle of Coke.
Lu’s Ice Cream Shop is one of several businesses at 523 S. Main..

The address is 523 S. Main, but the entrance for the ice cream shop is on 6th Street-the phone number is 620-418-4288.

Current Hours:
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Friday 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sunday 2:00-7:00 p.m.

“We plan to stay open later this spring once ball season begins” she said. “After the school year is over, and I move to a full-time position at Lu’s, we will be open during the day and will offer some light lunch options in addition to our ice cream! At this time we plan to offer paninis and salads as well as soups next fall and winter.”

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Hosts Needed For 2026 Chamber Coffees

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Sending on behalf of
Fort Scott Area

Chamber of Commerce

As we kick off 2026, it’s the perfect time for a fresh start — and that means filling up our Chamber Coffee spots! Don’t miss your chance to showcase your business, connect with fellow members, and engage with the community.

Chamber Coffees bring 40+ visitors and guests to your place of business for valuable exposure — and they’re also available on Facebook Live, so even more people can see what your business is all about!

These gatherings are a great way to:

✨ Share what your business offers

✨ Let everyone know what’s coming up next

✨ Promote upcoming events, sales, or specials

✨ Highlight new products or services

✨ Celebrate anniversaries or achievements

✨ Thank your customers and the community for their support

Chamber Coffees are casual, engaging, and one of the best ways to spotlight your business — and we’d love to help you secure your date!

📅 Call us at: 620-223-3566

📧 Email: [email protected]

Let’s get your 2026 Chamber Coffee on the calendar — dates fill up fast.

See the 2026 Chamber Coffee Calendar below!

Warm regards,

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Click here for a printable pdf copy of the schedule.

*Reminder – the schedule is current as of the time of this email

and can be updated at anytime.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Business, Fort Scott

The Davis’s Develop Historic Downtown Building Into Two Businesses

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20 North Main Street, Fort Scott, KS. One can see the reflection of the Fort Scott National Historic Site in the storefront glass reflection on the ground level. The upper level is a vacation rental in a historic downtown district apartment.

Another Historic Downtown Fort Scott building has been renovated, adding to the revitalization that has been moving forward in the area.

Don and  Sandra Davis purchased the building at 20 North Main Street in 2021 and began renovation.

“Located in the heart of Fort Scott’s downtown district, the building is within walking distance of local shops, restaurants, and community attractions. The goal of the renovation was to preserve the building’s history while creating functional space that contributes to ongoing downtown revitalization,” said Julia Shore, office manager of Davis Accounting, another business the Davis’s own and she also is the Airbnb host.

 

Sandra and Donald Davis in front of their business at 1519 S. National Ave. in 2024.

“The building was long known in downtown Fort Scott as the home of J & W Sport Shop, a family-owned sporting goods retailer that first opened at this location in 1978, after beginning business elsewhere in the community,” said Shore. “The shop served generations of local customers before relocating, making the historic storefront a familiar presence in the heart of Main Street’s commercial district.”

 

There are two businesses in the newly renovated building.

 

“The fully renovated ground-floor storefront is available for leasing in 2026,” she said. “The first floor is reserved for commercial use, providing space for a retail or business operation.”

 

“The upper level has also undergone a complete transformation and now features a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment designed for short-term rental use through Airbnb,” she said. “The upstairs Airbnb is fully operational and is now accepting reservations.”

 

The upstairs is available for booking through Airbnb.

https://www.vrbo.com/5009286?

 

To lease the first-floor property, call 620-223-9777.

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Business

Tri-Valley Receives Grant for Diabetic Training Tool

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Tri-Valley Developmental Services (TVDS) is proud to announce the receipt of a $297 grant from the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Circle of Friends.  The grant will be used to purchase a diabetic training kit, which will be used to enhance staff competency in diabetes care for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties in Southeast Kansas.

“Tri-Valley is grateful to the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Circle of Friends and the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas for enabling us to train our staff on proper diabetes care for the individuals we serve.” said Bill Fiscus, CEO.  “Tri-Valley appreciates the support given to us by both the Community Foundation and the Rita J. Bicknell Circle of Friends Committee.”

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas hosts individual charitable funds created by donors who have a passion for giving back to their community. Grants from these funds assist people throughout Southeast Kansas and beyond.  Call  CFSEK at 620-231-8897 with questions about the Community foundation.

 

 

Submitted by

Tricia Campbell

Special Projects Coordinator

Business, Government, Kansas, Sports

New Domed Chiefs Stadium and Training Facility Coming to Kansas

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Gov. Kelly and Kansas City Chiefs
Announce Agreement On Plans for
State-of-the-Art Domed Stadium in Kansas

Gov. Kelly: “This is a game-changer for Kansas”

New stadium and mixed-use entertainment project is expected to create 20,000 jobs and generate more than $4 billion in economic impact for state

TOPEKA – Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas City Chiefs today announced that an agreement has been reached to build a domed stadium and a mixed-use entertainment district, as well as a new team headquarters, training facility and mixed-use development in Kansas. The project will be a massive economic win for the state, with the construction phase alone creating over 20,000 jobs and $4.4 billion in economic impact for Kansas. From there, the stadium will bring over $1 billion in annual impact.

The agreement includes two distinct parts: (1) a $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, which will open at the start of the 2031 NFL season; and (2) a new Chiefs headquarters and training facility in the City of Olathe in Johnson County. Both sites will have mixed-use developments that could include sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, office, hotel and residential properties.

“This agreement to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level. With this new stadium, we’re creating thousands of jobs, bringing in tourists from around the world, attracting young people, and most importantly, we’re continuing to make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family,” Gov. Kelly said. “This is a game-changer for Kansas, and it’s a signal to America and the world that our state’s future is very bright.”

The agreement was approved today by the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) with strong bipartisan support.  It will be a public-private partnership between the state and the Chiefs organization – and it will require no funds from the current state budget and no new taxes on Kansans. A fact sheet of the agreement and the independent Economic Impact Study can be found here.

“Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “We are excited to partner with the State of Kansas to bring a world-class stadium to our fans. This project represents another step in our legacy of innovation and our fan-first mentality, which started with my father, Lamar Hunt. The stadium, practice facility, and surrounding development will benefit the entire region, and further elevate Kansas City in the eyes of the country and the world.”

“This is a great day for Kansas City Chiefs fans,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “This public-private partnership, the result of a thoughtful and deliberate process, will build upon the Hunts’ generational legacy by boldly investing in one of America’s greatest fan bases. The Chiefs’ new enclosed stadium will be a stage for unforgettable moments, whether it’s playoff games, concerts or championship events. We congratulate the Chiefs and the Kansas City community on this important achievement.”

The Chiefs announcement adds to the Kelly-Toland administration’s unprecedented streak of winning business investment projects that create jobs and grow Kansas’ economy. Since 2019, Kansas has attracted more than $30 billion committed capital investment and created or retained almost 78,000 jobs.

“Kansas has had a streak of big economic wins, but nothing is bigger than this. This is truly once-in-a-generation,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland, who led the state team that negotiated the deal with the Chiefs. “This happened because we brought Democrats and Republicans together to do what was best for Kansas – landing our state a huge economic win, without requiring a single dollar from the state budget or a tax increase on Kansans. This historic win is the latest in a series of major economic wins for Kansas, including the Panasonic headquarters, which all tell the same story: the future for Kansas, its workers and its economy is very exciting.”

“This is an extraordinary economic win for our state thanks to the effort of Governor Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Toland,” said Christal Watson, Mayor & CEO Unified Government of Wyandotte KCK. “All of us in Wyandotte and Kansas City, Kansas are excited to work with the Chiefs and are committed to driving results that strengthen our region and uplift our community.”

“This deal is a once-in-a-generation type of opportunity for our community and region. Having the Chiefs headquarters and training facilities here in Johnson County will be huge for our local economy – and a lot of fun for our families,” said John Bacon, Mayor of Olathe. “We’re eager to get to work, and are committed to ensuring the process – and the result – are first class, something everyone in Olathe – and all across Chiefs Kingdom – can be proud of.”

“Today, Kansas won the Super Bowl,” said Senate President Ty Masterson. “This is a huge win for Kansas. Now, we get to watch our beloved Chiefs play right here at home, keeping jobs and tax dollars right here in Kansas. Best of all, this will not cost one more penny for Kansas taxpayers.”

“Here in Kansas, we love the Chiefs, and we also love a good deal for taxpayers. So this is a win-win,” House Speaker Dan Hawkins said.

The project will be financed through a public-private partnership (60% public – 40% private). The public portion is funded through Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund – both funding mechanisms established specifically for this purpose – to ensure that there will be no new state taxes and no impact on the state budget.  The STAR bonds were authorized today by a bipartisan vote of the Legislative Coordinating Council. The STAR bonds have two components: (1) It allows the state to designate a portion of new state sales tax revenues generated by this project in neighboring communities to fund this project; (2) It allows Wyandotte County and the City of Olathe to designate a portion of their local sales tax revenue generated by this project to pay for it. For more on STAR bonds, click here.

The Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund was established by the legislature to dedicate revenue generated from iLottery and sports betting to recruit professional sports teams.

The Hunt Family is also committing to $1 billion in additional development, a portion of which can also be incentivized by STAR bonds.

For more information, visit www.kansascommerce.gov/chiefs-media-kit.

A photo is available for media use here.

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