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Category Archives: Business
Annual Key Warehouse Sale November 22nd-29th
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Chamber Coffee Hosted by Key Apparel on November 20
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Voice Your Opinion on the Atmos Energy Rate Increase Request
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New Businesses Open On East Wall

Julie and Brian Thurston had a shirt-making home business, and were asked to come to rodeos to sell their wares.
This, along with living in a rural community and having a local college with a rodeo program, prompted their newest venture, Grits & Grace Mercantile at 323 E. Wall.
They thought that with the many local rural communities, and rodeos ( a big fashion/decor trend) they would step out in this venture. Julie previously had designed decor for weddings.

Their boutique sells Western clothing for men, women and children, along with decor and furniture.

“A little something for everyone,” Julie said.
Julie said her husband’s brother has a funnel cake truck and they are hoping to have him at the business site during the upcoming Christmas on the Bricks festival, Dec. 4-7.
The Rest of the Building
They closed on the purchase of the two-story building, circa 1911, on October 24. Thurston said she heard that at one time there was a candy factory in the building and most recently, a rural real estate agent office.
Their storefront neighbor, Dr. Erin Crank, will continue her chiropractic business in the building.
Upstairs, they have been readying two living spaces for use as short-term vacation rentals.

There are two apartments: a two-bedroom, one-bathroom living space and a one-bedroom, one-bathroom living space.

She said they hope to have the rentals available by the holidays.
For more information:
Website: gritgracemercantile.com
The store is open Wednesday thru Saturday 10:00 AM — 7:00 PM
Phone: 620.215.4999
New Businesses Start on East Wall In Fort Scott

Julie and Brian Thurston had a shirt-making home business, and were asked to come to rodeos to sell their wares.
This, along with living in a rural community and having a local college with a rodeo program, prompted their newest venture, Grit & Grace Mercantile at 323 E. Wall.
They thought that with the many local rural communities, and rodeos ( a big fashion/decor trend, she said) they would step out in this venture. Julie previously had designed decor for weddings.

Their boutique sells Western clothing for men, women and children, along with decor and furniture.

“A little something for everyone,” Julie said.
Julie said her husband’s brother has a funnel cake truck and they are hoping to have him at the business site during the upcoming Christmas on the Bricks festival, Dec. 4-7.
The Rest of the Building
They closed on the purchase of the two-story building, circa 1911, on October 24. Thurston said she heard that at one time there was a candy factory in the building and, most recently, a rural real estate agent’s office.
Their storefront neighbor, Dr. Erin Crank, will continue her chiropractic business in the building.
Upstairs, they have been readying two living spaces for use as short-term vacation rentals.

There are two apartments: a two-bedroom, one-bathroom living space and a one-bedroom, one-bathroom living space.

She said they hope to have the rentals available by the holidays.
For more information:
Website: gritgracemercantile.com
The store is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 AM — 7 PM
Phone: 620.215.4999
Chamber Coffee Hosted by Sunshine Boutique on November 13
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Funding Match Is Next Week For Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas For Local Business Support Endowment

Submitted by
Jody Love
Rural Community Partners, Inc.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc.
President and CEO
620-215-2892
104 North National
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Match Week is around the corner! If you are willing and able, we are asking for your support of our work to build financial security, a key driver of long-term health and well-being. Healthier local economies create healthier people and stronger communities. Every dollar donated through SEK Gives is matched by the Patterson Family Foundation, meaning your dollar goes further.
Please see attached flyer we are sharing for the Match Week campaign. We have seeded a small business support endowment at the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas with $10,000. And YES! non-profits, for profits, food business, artists, farmers…they’re all businesses!
If you would like to help us spread the word, we would love that support too. We will be posting on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn throughout the week as well…if you could comment like and share that will help us get the word out: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1APm6pkB7d/.
We have a goal to raise $25,000 for our local endowment that will support businesses in communities that have an LHEAT coalition (we would love to add more counties to this list!!): Bourbon, Crawford, Labette, and Montgomery Counties). This way, we’re giving the decision-making authority and money to community and residents with lived experience while also building individual self-sustainability.
We’ve found our business support services to be highly cost-effective: increasing access to technical support and expertise, partnering with local, regional and state institutions like cities, economic development, KU School of Business and WorkforceONE, and filling crucial gaps in capital so entrepreneurs can start earning revenue.
We hope to raise enough money in 3-5 years to start giving micro grants to businesses in our catchment.
- Goal: Raise $25,000 this year, growing to $250,000 within 3–5 years.
- Funds go directly back into small businesses, no administrative or payroll costs.
- Together we’ve already:
- Helped 160+ new business clients (up from 3)
- Generated $3.3 million in capital investment
- Done it with only $154,000 in micro-grants
Thank you for your consideration!
Fort Scott’s Holiday Open House Starts At 5 p.m. Today
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Peerless Products Rebrands

Peerless Products Unveils Rebrand In Bold Step Forward for Company Growth and Innovation
New website, brand design reflect leading manufacturer’s commitment to excellence
FORT SCOTT, Kan. (November 5, 2025) – Peerless Products, a leading manufacturer of high-performance curtain walls, windows and doors, announced a comprehensive brand refresh to reflect its continued growth and the exceptional quality of its products and services. The rebrand includes a new logo, color palette, brand voice, website, anthem video and storybook—each showcasing Peerless’s drive to deliver state-of-the-art manufacturing, engineering and innovation.
“At Peerless, we’re constantly striving upward, and our new brand look reflects our ongoing evolution,” said president Coby Jones. “As we continue to build on our 70-year legacy of quality, innovation and strong customer relationships, this new direction is a testament to our continuous drive for improvement and our dedication to engineering solutions that truly matter.”
Peerless has continued to experience strong growth across its national footprint, with several large-scale Talon Wall®, commercial and multifamily projects underway in markets such as Kansas City, Seattle, Chicago and Dallas. To keep pace with demand, the company has increased its workforce at all three of its locations in Fort Scott, Kan., Nevada, Mo. and Iola, Kan.
Since 1952, Peerless has built a reputation for excellence, true to its namesake, in everything from materials to process, engineering to testing, packaging to partnerships, and on-time delivery to on-demand solutions. Specializing in aluminum and hybrid fiber resin windows and doors, the company offers a variety of capabilities across a project’s lifespan, including customized design, engineering, sustainable and long-lasting powder coating, in-house testing, 3D prototyping and aluminum extrusion. Peerless also offers a patented curtain wall system, Talon Wall®, which is lab-tested and certified to the industry’s most demanding air, water, thermal, seismic, fire and acoustic standards.
Peerless services a versatile range of building types within the multifamily, hospitality, historic, government and military, school and university, office and medical sectors. Peerless manufactures, services and distributes from the heart of the U.S., but its portfolio extends far beyond the Midwest, including several projects from coast to coast. Peerless has produced windows for some of the most demanding applications in the country, including projects like the Hudson Exchange residential buildings in Jersey City, N.J., Universal’s Stella Nova Resort in Orlando, Fla., the Lees-McRae College’s Historical Commons in Banner Elk, N.C., the Texas Tech University Honors Hall in Lubbock, Texas and more.
About Peerless Products
Peerless Products is a leading U.S. manufacturer of high-performance curtain walls, windows and doors. With a legacy dating back to 1952, Peerless is dedicated to delivering superior quality, innovative engineering and unparalleled customer service. The company’s commitment to continuous improvement and enduring partnerships makes it the best choice for complex architectural applications. Learn more at peerlessproducts.com.
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FS Washateria Provides Donated Clothing To Those In Need

Submitted by Linda Lovelace, owner
As we go into the colder time of the year, I want to take the time to remind Fort Scott of the Fort Scott Community Closet.
This is Lori Lovelace, owner of Fort Scott Washateria and Fort Scott Community Closet, located at 501 S National.
We have been providing clothing, coats and other items to those in need of them with the help of the generous folks of this community for six years now.
I want to say a special thanks to St. Mary’s school and Mary Queen of Angels Church who have supported us year after year with coat and clothing drives. We have coats right now along with clothing for any who are in need.
We don’t ask what your circumstances are, we have no income or other requirements, we take in the clothing and other items and give them out, no questions asked.
We can do this because of YOU, Fort Scott.
We are currently bringing out coats and they are hanging on a rack in the Washateria, if you need a coat, come in and check out what we have. We are putting out coats as they are given away so if you don’t find one that fits, stop by again.
The Closet is open Mon-Fri 10-6 if you would like to go through our tubs of clothes as well. To those who are sorting through clothes looking to donate, our most requested items are children’s clothing of all sizes, adult t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweat pants, jeans, coats,
Social Media Can Drive Sales: Nov. 5









