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Category Archives: Business
HBCAT August Newsletter
HBCAT Grant: Tiny Greens and Herbs
This is part of a series featuring the grant recipients of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center For Economic Growth in their latest grant cycle.
This grant cycle, they awarded grants to nine area businesses.
The Heathly Bourbon County Action Team Grant Program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation and is a collaborative effort through partnerships with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Tiny Greens and Herbs, LLC, is a new microgreens business
which will open in September.
Tiny Greens and Herbs will provide Bourbon County families and
community members with convenient, year-round access to locally grown, nutrient packed greens and herbs, according to owner Cherri Walrod.
“This start-up business produces sustainably-grown microgreens which are tiny, immature vegetable and herb plants that are packed with up to 40 times more nutrients than their full-grown counterparts,” she said.
Phytonutrients, also called phytochemicals or antioxidants, are compounds produced by plants that provide health benefits to the body. Along with phytonutrients (antioxidants), microgreens are loaded with vitamins, minerals, flavorful, easy to prepare and
fun to eat, according to Walrod.
Walrod moved to Fort Scott in July 2023 from Eudora, KS.
Or connect on the Facebook page Tiny Greens and Herbs LLC.
1.66 Percent Increase Justified to Provide Electricity to Evergy Central Customers.
Kansas Corporation Commission Utilities Staff responds to
Evergy’s rate increase proposal in testimony filed this afternoon
TOPEKA – Kansas Corporation Commission Staff has weighed in on Evergy’s request for a rate increase in both of its’ Kansas service areas. In testimony filed with the Commission this afternoon, Staff’s detailed financial audit of the company’s income and expenses determined that an increase of 1.66 percent or $34,706,527 was all that could be justified at this time to provide service to Evergy Central customers. Staff’s position is in contrast to Evergy’s request for a net revenue increase of $204,152,629 or 9.77 percent.
KCC Staff’s detailed financial audit of Evergy Kansas Metro’s income and expenses determined that a 7.32 percent rate decrease totaling $53,194,189 is appropriate. This is in contrast to Evergy’s proposed rate increase of 1.95 percent or $14,152,521.
While an important part in the process, these results are far from final at this stage. Today is the due date for direct testimony to be filed by KCC Staff and all other intervenors in the rate case. The next steps in the process include cross answering testimony, rebuttal testimony from Evergy, a settlement conference to determine if the parties can agree on a resolution to submit for Commission approval, followed by either a settlement hearing or evidentiary hearing before the Commission. KCC Commissioners will issue a final order in the docket in late December or early January.
Evergy Kansas Central serves 736,000 customers in Topeka, Lawrence, Olathe, Leavenworth, Atchison, Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Emporia, Parsons, Wichita, Arkansas City, El Dorado, Newton, Fort Scott, Pittsburg and Independence, among other towns and rural areas. Evergy Kansas Metro serves approximately 273,000 customers in Lenexa, Overland Park and other communities near the Kansas City metro area.
Testimony filed today is available on the KCC’s website, along with other documents in the rate case.
The Commission is accepting public comments regarding the rate increase request through 5 p.m., September 29, 2023, on its website, by mail to the Commission’s Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.
HBCAT Grant: Bee Better Health Club
This is part of a series featuring the grant recipients of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center For Economic Growth in their latest grant cycle.
This grant cycle, they awarded grants to nine area businesses.
The Heathly Bourbon County Action Team Grant Program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation and is a collaborative effort through partnerships with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
The BEE Better Health Club owner, Wesley DeHaven started his business on June 19, 2023.
“I started a health club because I recognized how much diet and exercise can benefit one’s life in a positive manner,” DeHaven said.
“I provide group fitness classes for all ranging from 1st graders all the way up to seniors within the community, nutrition coaching, and affordable personal training services.”
He is currently in the process of getting multiple certificates from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
He currently has the club at 2542 Hackberry Rd. Fort Scott, with plans to build closer to town in the future.
“The grant money will used to install electrical, plumbing, and bracing in the walls for various types of equipment,” he said.
Contact info:
Facebook: @The BEE Better Health Club Instagram: @beebetter.hc
Email: [email protected]
Phone #: (620) 644-8150
HBCAT Grant: Brickstreet Barbecue
This is part of a series featuring the grant recipients of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center For Economic Growth in their latest grant cycle.
The Heathly Bourbon County Action Team Grant Program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation and is a collaborative effort through partnerships with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Brickstreet Barbecue, owned by Carissa and Alex Bowman, has received a grant from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
The Bowmans opened Brickstreet in May 2023.
“We wanted an opportunity to bring barbecue food to the community,” Carissa said. “We provide great barbecue. We employ about 40 people.”
The restaurant is located at 3 W. Oak St. Fort Scott just off North National Avenue. Contact info 620-224-2425.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday except Friday and Saturday, when they are open until 9 p.m.
“We will be using this grant money to help cover a portion of the cost of our smoker and kitchen equipment,” she said.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to Award $49,000 in Grants
Health is economic stability. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc. (HBCAT) aims to increase access to wealth building opportunities to Bourbon County residents through our local and regional partnerships at the Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth.
Providing local businesses expertise and guidance, particularly in these very turbulent times, has shown to be a critical resource to
increase the number of business start-ups and number of available quality jobs.
HBCAT will be awarding nine grants totaling $49,000 on August 23 rd in their office at 104 N National Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 at 12 pm. The event will be broadcast live on Facebook and is also open for the public to attend in person and celebrate the grant awardees.
With the support of the Patterson Family Foundation, the HBCAT has awarded a total of $195,000 to low-income, minority owned, women owned or food-based businesses in the past two years. Each grantee is a client of the Pittsburg State Small
Business Development Center (PSU SBDC) at the Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth.
There has been a total of four grant cycles in the past two years.
Please join us in congratulating following businesses:
Restaurant/Food Retail Recipient ($7000):
Brick Street BBQ
Brick Street BBQ, a women-owned start-up has a mission is to bring quality BBQ to Bourbon County.
“Fork tender and delectable” describe the smoked offerings found at Brick Street BBQ. It’s not just the meats that get a new twist, but also the sauces which come in nontraditional tasty flavors. They have a wholesale agreement with E3 Meat Co. to sell E3 Beef Products.
Lotus Express
Lotus Express, a minority-owned business, is a staple Chinese restaurant in Fort Scott. Families can dine in with generous servings and affordable prices, or they can take out and eat it at home watching their favorite movie!
Lotus also has a drive-through for those on-the-go families that need a quick, quality meal. Lotus’ menu has many different options of Chinese entree staples like General Tso, Sweet and
Sour, Chicken Lo Mein, and the local favorite, Meme’s Chicken. All meals are cooked from scratch and made fresh for their customers. Lotus is looking forward to establishing local connections through
farmers/ranchers and other small businesses to support the community.
7 Low-Income, Minority, or Women Owned Startup Businesses Recipients ($5,000 each):
The BEE Better Health Club
BEE Better Health Club, a low-income startup, will provide a variety of fitness classes at their gym located just south of Fort Scott, Kansas. Some of the classes offered are group fitness, personal training, kid sessions, and nutrition training. At this health club, the community members are tight-knit, which will serve as accountability for everyone to strive for a healthier life. This gym will increase access to physical activity in Bourbon County, giving another option for community members to better their
health. There are different memberships offered that will fit the different needs of the clients. BEE Better Health Club will also offer classes for youth. The importance of routine fitness throughout the
summer is important, especially for youth .
Country Kids Daycare
Country Kids childcare, a women-owned establishment, is available to children aged 3 months to 12 years of age. Country Kids encourages positive childhood development by providing opportunities for children to meet new friends, try out new activities and learn through play. Children’s happiness,
security, social and cognitive development are Country Kids Daycare main objectives.
Morning Birds Daycare
Haley Ellis is the owner of Morning Birds Daycare, a woman-owned childcare provider, and has recognized the need for childcare in Bourbon County. She decided to open a KDHE-licensed daycare,
Morning Birds Childcare, LLC, on August 28th, 2022. At Morning Birds Childcare, the children’s health and education are priorities. Haley makes sure that the kids are active and eating healthy foods. The daycare will be accepting DCF in the near future. She makes sure that she has the max capacity for infant care, because of the great need in Bourbon County.
Organized by Karis
Karis Poyner started the business Organized by Karis, a woman- and minority-owned startup business at the beginning of 2023. She realizes the importance of having a clean, quality place
to live. The clients she helps often aren’t able to clean or organize their belongings, or they don’t have the time and energy. She’s providing the services to fulfill that need and reduce
health risks that can come from irregular cleaning.
Refine MedSpa
Kayla Boyd, owner of the woman-owned startup Refine MedSpa, received services at HBCAT’s Center for Economic Growth. With the beauty industry growing quickly, the need for more advanced
medical spas is increasing drastically. The business will be offering these advanced services to Bourbon County and surrounding areas, including Botox®, filler, micro needling, cryotherapy, and vitamin
injections. Laser hair removal, other laser therapies, and additional advanced medical spa services are planned as future offerings. Refine MedSpa’s goal is to increase their patients’ happiness with their complexions and health. Refine MedSpa will have affordable prices for these luxurious services that will attract people from all over.
Hulbert’s Jewelry dba Bartlesmeyer Jewelry
Krysta Hulbert worked with the Center for Economic Growth team to prepare loan documents to open this new woman-owned business. Krysta is the sole owner of the business. After learning the unique skills from John Bartelsmeyer, her husband will become a full-time employee. Hulbert’s Jewelry will
purchase the inventory from Bartelsmeyer as a part of the business acquisition. “We are keeping the name Bartelsmeyer Jewelry for the store,” she said. “We know that the store’s name carries ahistory of honesty and integrity, and we are excited to carry on that legacy.”
Tiny Green and Herbs
Tiny Greens and Herbs, LLC is a new woman-owned microgreens business located in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Tiny Greens and Herbs will provide Bourbon County families and community members with convenient, year-round access to locally grown, nutrient-packed greens and herbs. This startup produces sustainably grown microgreens, which are tiny, immature vegetable and herb plants that are packed with up to 40 times more nutrients than their full-grown counterparts. Sometimes these nutrients are referred to as phytonutrients, phytochemicals or antioxidants. These plant-produced compounds provide health benefits to the body. Along with antioxidants, microgreens are loaded with vitamins, minerals, flavor, and are easy to prepare and fun to eat!
The HBCAT grant program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation with the intent to increase access to local resources that help provide opportunity for economic stability and reduced poverty, with a broader goal of encouraging upward mobility in employment. Each applicant is required to enroll with
the Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University (PSU SBDC.)
Located at the university’s Center for Economic Growth, the applicant will work with a local team to develop a
sustainable business plan with three-year financial projections.
To build more resilient food systems, grants to food retail, restaurant and farmer/rancher have an additional eligibility requirement to build and document wholesale relationships.
Supporting local foods and local food production offers multiple benefits:
• Providing incentives for entrepreneurship and innovation;
• Expanding consumer choice and fresh food access;
• Improving negotiating power to local producers;
• Supporting rural economic revitalization; and
• Protecting the food system against severe shocks through decentralization of production.
According to Smart Growth America, in today’s world, business growth is driven by collaboration among
many types of entities that must interact frequently and work together creatively. Operating within this
new model, the Center for Economic Growth is a multi-partner collaboration of the HBCAT, Fort Scott
Area Chamber of Commerce, PSU Small Business Development Center (PSU SBDC), Southeast
KANSASWORKS and multiple local business owners.
PSU SBDC is available to businesses in southeast Kansas to provide technical assistance for the
development of business plans needed to secure capital and increase the chances of successful
ventures. Southeast KANSASWORKS is the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) that serves 17
counties in southeast Kansas, including Bourbon County. Southeast KANSASWORKS contributes to
economic growth and business expansion by ensuring the workforce system is job-driven, matching
employers with skilled individuals.
For more information about services provided at the Center for Economic Growth, please contact Rachel
Carpenter by emailing [email protected]
Find us on social media! On Facebook, Instagram and Twitter #healthybbco
Background of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team:
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy
Kansas Community. Its mission is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity,
promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic
growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and
inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for
economic success in any industry and in all cities.
Contact information:
Jody Hoener, President and CEO
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc
620-215-2892
[email protected]
Rachel Carpenter, Program Coordinator
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc
620-215-2562
[email protected]
Mary Hunt, Interim Operations Director
Southeast KANSASWorks
Desk: 620-232-1222
Cell: 620-670-0006
Website: www.sekworks.org
Dacia Clark, Assistant Director, PSU SBDC
[email protected]
785-445-2537
Lindsay Madison, President and CEO
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
(620) 223-3566
Continue reading The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team to Award $49,000 in Grants
Chamber Coffee/Ribbon Cutting hosted by Structure by Margo on August 24
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to the Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting Thursday, August 24th at 8am hosted by Structure by Margo located at 19 S National Ave. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing.
Structure by Margo is a full-service salon that consists of Owner/operator and stylist Margo Davis, stylist Lucas Runyon, stylist Jordyn Huff, stylist/nail technician Apachelynn Severance, and esthetician Avery Dorsey. They offer cuts (barbering included), color, chemical, shampoos, waxing, skin care, special occasions etc. Structure not only aims to provide exceptional professional services to the Fort Scott Community, but also wants to help recent cosmetology graduates find a salon home.
Chamber members and guests are invited to Chamber Coffee events each Thursday at 8 a.m. to network, make announcements, hear about happenings in the community as well as learn about the host business or organization.
Cohn’s Cafe to Open in Repurposed Historic Temple Building on September 1
Tracy and Kathy Dancer purchased the Scottish Rite Temple at the Bourbon County Tax Sale in January 2022.
Since the purchase of the historic building in downtown Fort Scott, the Dancers opened a Mercantile and Market at 110 S. Main in February 2023 and in the next few weeks will be opening a cafe in an adjoining room.
“The shop is called Mercantile and Market and Cohn’s Cafe,” Kathy said. “It was run from 1926 to 1948 by Sidney Cohn and his wife as a cafe, in the exact space.” The cafe is adjacent, south, to the mercantile.
For many years, the space was used for fundraisers for Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs.
This week, they will have a reservation only preview, no walk-in patrons, from August 22-26.
The grand opening to the rest of the public is September 1.
The preview this week is to train new staff.
“This will be to train new staff on the menu,” she said. “To give our staff a chance to adjust things before we open. This is practice so when we do our grand opening, we will be prepared.”
There are 10 employees, not counting Tracy and Kathy.
The business phone number is 620-418-6209.
Hours are 8 a.m to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with cafe table service.
From 2-6 p.m. (during the mercantile hours)one can order take-away food and drinks.
On Sunday the cafe will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Customers will be able to call or text for reservations,” Kathy said. “We will also accept call-in orders for grab-and-go from the cooler.
Customers will be able to pick up these orders until 5:45 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.”
The cafe will use locally sourced ingredients to make fresh breakfast and lunch dishes: quiche, crepes, bakery items, salad, soup, sandwiches, and other featured meals, plus drinks.
The meats, eggs, and veggies are lined up from local suppliers and the menu will be adjusted based on seasonal availability, she said.
On the horizon for the cafe are syrups made from local orchards and additionally a tea service.
“It will be a pot of tea that comes with scones, biscuits, and tea sandwiches,” she said. “We will be starting a tea pot collection for our tea service.”
People will pay for the meal in the mercantile section, much like a Cracker Barrel Restaurant.
Following a conversation with a downtown resident, the cafe will be selling milk, eggs and bread from a cooler she purchased.
HBCAT Grant: Organized By Karis
This is part of a series featuring the grant recipients of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center For Economic Growth in their latest grant cycle.
The Heathly Bourbon County Action Team Grant Program is funded by the Patterson Family Foundation and is a collaborative effort through partnerships with the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State and Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
This grant cycle, they awarded grants to nine area businesses.
The grant award ceremony is August 23 from noon to 1 p.m. at the HBCAT office, 104 N. National.
To learn more: GRANT CEREMONY: bit.ly/3qikzOq
Kris Poyner opened her business, Organized by Karis, in February 2023.
“I have always had a passion for organizing and cleaning,” she said. “I wanted to help people who can’t do it themselves.”
She provides organizing of closets, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, etc. weekly cleanings, bi-weekly cleaning, monthly cleaning, one-time cleans, move-out cleans, and move-in cleans.
Contact email is [email protected] and phone number is 620-704-9547
“I am going to use the grant money to buy better equipment so I can provide the best quality of services to my clients,” she said.
Young Entrepreneur: Devlin Cole
This is part of a series featuring young entrepreneurs in our community.
Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.
To view the prior story: Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor
If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]
Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.
Devlin Cole, 15, started a leather works business about a year ago, called DRC Leatherworks.
He hand stamps and hand cuts leather to make bookmarks, rings, bracelets, key rings.
His grandmother, Vicki Waldron, owner of ViCon, a sewing business, and he both got interested at the same time, and he works out of her shop on Maple Road, rural Fort Scott. His sister, Mackenna, has encouraged him in his business, he said.
“I started sewing when young,” Cole said. “I like hands-on personalizing and being a craftsman on something that is personal.”
He is currently creating a stock pile of leather work articles for the Children’s Business Fair on September 30.
“I used (his leather) bookmarks at school, when reading and friends noticed and ordered a few,” he said.
At a recent band event, some of his friends helped Cole select a name for his business and he has been working on pricing, business logo and a business email.
Belts are $10, keychains and pendants are $5, bookmarks are $7, rings are $3, and bracelets are $4.
“That is the prices I have thought of at the current moment not 100% sure on the belts due to leather costs but the rest is pretty set in stone,” he said.
At a recent Children’s Business Fair workshop, he developed a busniness plan and got all his ideas on paper, he said. Next was cash flow and payment options.
He will be selling, along with other young enrepreneurs, at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on September 30.
Young Entrepreneur: Benjamin Shead
This is part of a series featuring young entrepreneurs in our community.
Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.
To view the prior story: Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor
If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]
Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.
Benjamin Shead,13, has an online tutoring business.
“Some classes I have guided other students in are geometry, Latin, sixth grade math, formal logic, algebra 1 and 2,” he said.
“Most of my clients contact me through Facebook,” Benjamin said. “I also take students when my sister’s (Katy Shead) schedule is too busy.”
“I started tutoring when my sister’s schedule was getting packed with students,” he said. “This showed me that I enjoyed helping other people in their educational trouble areas.”
“I tutor so that I can revisit material that I enjoyed learning but am no longer being taught,” he said. “Tutoring gives me the ability to experience a class again, this time on a deeper level, the level of teaching the material. I also enjoy finding new ways to explain a concept and tutoring gives me a purpose for the exploration of these ways.”
“One subject I really enjoy tutoring is Formal Logic,” Benjamin said. “It is awesome to learn how to explain proofs by comparing them to a hidden treasure or something else that the student understands better than proofs.”
“While it is a lot better for kids to be tutored, if they need it, across the school year, I sometimes help kids in last-minute cramming sessions for math and logic finals,” he said. “These sessions provide a last-minute review, and it gives kids confidence to try their best on this last assignment.”
Benjamin lives just outside the Fort Scott city limits with his sister, Katy and parents Mark and Haley Shead.
Benjamin submitted this photo of him working on a math problem called a collatz conjecture.
Here is his explanation of collatz conjecture:
“The collatz conjecture is a theory about mathematics which is believed to be true but no one has been able to prove yet,” Benjamin said. “It states that if any odd whole number is plugged into the formula (3n+1)/2, if any even number is divided by two, and every number is plugged back into one of these formulas, a formula will eventually reach one.”