Category Archives: Business

Bourbon County, Business, Youth

Young Entrepreneurs: Prizes and Grants

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An info banner at the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market last Saturday.

The Fort Scott Farmers Market showcased some young business people on September 30.

“Most of the children that had booths had attended at least one workshop at Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (office) before Saturday’s event,” said Dacia Clark, Pittsburg State University’s Small Business Development Center.
The SBDC partners with HBCAT in Fort Scott.
“We held two different workshops (for the young entrepreneurs) before Saturday,” she said. “One was about business planning and just introducing business terminology to the kids and the other workshop talked about pricing and expenses.”
“We ended up having 20 kids participate on Saturday and gave out $340 in prize money,” she said.
 1st Place received $50, 2nd Place received $25 and 3rd Place received $10.
There were four different age groups: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-16 year-olds.
5-7 Age Group
1st Place – Adelaide Bowman
2nd Place – Judah Whitson
3rd Place – Ethan Nilges
8-10 Age Group
1st Place – Jonathon Howard
2nd Place – Camren lamb
3rd Place – Asher Whitson
11-13 Age Group
1st Place – Gunner Keylon
2nd Place – Anabelle Nilges
3rd Place – Isabelle Nilges
14-16 Age Group
1st Place – Natalie Lehman
2nd Place – Luke Lehman
3rd Place – Devlin Cole
There is the possibility of another Children’s Business Fair at Fort Scott Farmers Market next spring, she said.
For more information or to become involved with the Children’s Business Fair, please email Rachel Carpenter at [email protected]
FortScott.Biz Grant Recipients Tell of  Plans
Several children received $50 grants from a fortscott.biz reader who wished to remain anonymous.

The subscriber who had been reading the Young Entrepreneur Series on fortscott.biz this summer was touched by the efforts of the children and wanted to support each young entrepreneur’s business.

This is what he wrote:

“I always stop at the local kids’ lemonade stands. When I was growing up in Fort Scott, I remember the postman buying a cup of lemonade from me. For some reason that stayed with me.

“Selling Grit Magazine door to door, making birdhouses and selling them door to door, having a Tribune newspaper route back when you paid for your batch of papers up front, delivered them, and then collected monthly. If anyone stiffed you, you were out the dough. All of those things were great life lessons for me growing up in Fort Scott. That’s why I really like your program of highlighting young entrepreneurs”

The Young Entrepreneur Series features youth under 18 years old who have a business in product or services.

To recommend a young entrepreneur in our community, please send contact info, email, or phone number to [email protected]

 

The following are the recipient’s comments about how the grant was spent:

Devlin Cole, 16,  sells handmade leather crafts at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30.

“I’m purchasing more supplies for my leather crafts, Devlin Cole said. “I’m very appreciative for the money. Thankfully there is someone wanting to do that for kids wanting to make a name for themselves.”

Malachi Whitson, jewelry maker, at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on September 2023.

“I  bought different things for my jewelry business,” Malachi Whitson, age 10, said. “It was a big boost. I’m so glad he did it, it helped a lot.”

Camren Lamb shows a placard explaining where he spent his Young Entrepreneur Grant. He had a booth for his artwork and guitar playing at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on Sept. 30, 2023.

“The funds went directly to Answers in Genesis 2024 Vacation Bible School Program Kit,” Melanie Lamb, Camren’s mom said. “It will be used over and over. Camren’s first priority is to do it at youth homes and places with children in need. But he also plans to collaborate with kids near his age to do the program here in Fort Scott.”

Camren, 10,  also purchased four Samaritan’s Purse and Bible Workbook Kits, his mom said.

Asher Whitson, a young entrepreneur, makes cards and decorative art.

Asher Whitson, whose business is Art by Asher,  spent his grant money “to help a single mom and the rest towards buying new items for his business,” Maria Whitson, his mom said.

Judah Whitson at his shop at the Fort Scott Farmers Market, September 2023.

“Judah gave a little to help the single mom (his brother Asher also did this) and he saved the rest to buy a cow,” Maria Whitson, his mom said.

 

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber After-hours Hosted by Union State Bank at Empress Event Center,October 12

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Join us!

Chamber After-hours

hosted by Union State Bank

at Empress Event Center!

Thursday, October 12th, 2023

5:15 to 6:30pm

Empress Event Center

7 N. Main St, Downtown Fort Scott

Parking in both the front and back of building.

5:15 to 5:45pm ~ Social & Networking, Refreshments & Spirits

5:45 to 6:15pm ~ Program

6:15 to 6:30pm ~ Wrap-up/Questions/Social

Free to attend!

Registration requested for planning purposes, click here to register.

Click here for the Facebook event, please help spread the word!

The event will feature Guest Speaker/Consultant

Toby Joplin on a Simple Model

Business Strategy for Future Success!

About the Program:

How is 2024 going to be better for your business than 2023? If we keep on doing what we have always done, we will keep getting what we have previously got – only if we are lucky! Retailers like Sears & Roebuck, Blockbuster, Radio Shack and many others have proven that past success is no guarantee of future success, regardless of the size of your business. And if we want better results in the future, we need to change what we are currently doing. It would sure help if we knew what the future holds. The best way to predict the future is to create it. While some things like the economy and interest rates are outside of our control, we have much more influence and agency over our future results than we realize. Would you like to know how to improve the results from your business in 2024?

At the Chamber After-hours on October 12th, Dr. Toby Joplin, who teaches the capstone business strategy course at the University of Tulsa and is the founder of the Joplin Consulting Group will explain a simple plan to help your business achieve its goals in 2024. Dr Joplin has been helping companies be more successful for over 25 years. He has helped companies from Kansas City to Fort Worth. He has helped companies from as small as start-ups to as large as $15 Billion in annual revenues – and nonprofit organizations too. (Your company’s revenues probably fall somewhere between $0 and $15 Billion.) Dr Joplin can help you too. On October 12th, Dr J, as he is affectionately referred by his students, will explain a simple model that you can follow to make 2024 your best year ever.

We hope to see you there!

FUN Event ~ Tasty Refreshments

Great Message ~ Well worth your time!

Don’t forget to RSVP by clicking here,

or just call or email us at the Chamber!

620-223-3566

[email protected]
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
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Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County, Business

Perry’s Open an RV Campground in Bronson

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Thaddeus and Kelly Perry have added another business in Bronson.

Kelly and Thaddeus Perry, owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store and a new campground. Submitted photo.

Perry’s Park RV & Campground, opened October 1 at 702 Pine Street in Bronson, which is on Hwy. 54 that runs through the small  town in western Bourbon County.

“We purchased a big chunk of land here in Bronson from the corner of Pine Street to the city limit signs on the west side of town, it’s a lot,” she said. “We can mow it for the rest of our lives and do nothing; instead, we wanted to do something to use the land.”

So they devised a plan.

“A few RV hookups made sense to us,” she said. “It will hopefully give back to our business for several years and generate tax revenue for the city and county and hopefully more visitors to the area.”

“We can only hope campers will stay here, buy their grocery goods here, and eat at our local Chicken Shak while in town, and for the hunters they can easily get their deer processed a block away at the Bronson Locker! It’s a win for all of us in my opinion.”

“We have a great little community that has good-hearted people,” she said. “Those people have friends and family that often visit the area for hunting, fishing, ATV or rock climbing, and with the new state park announcement in Iola and the construction on Hwy. 7 and of course the Wolfe Creek project, we anticipate the four little spots we have staying full… or at least that’s our hope.”

“We currently have 4 hookups for RV’s,” Kelly said. “Each hook-up has a sewer, water, and electric 30amp/50amp/110v at each site. Wi-Fi within walking distance. Trash pick up. Full grocery, beer, ice, deli, and diner on-site. Pull through parking. We are still in the process of adding the firepits, and picnic tables per site as well. The last portion will be the playground and BBQ Grill area for the campers.”

“We have nightly and monthly rates available,” she said.

The cost is $40 per night,  $175 per week, and  $475 per month.

“We have an ADA-compliant unisex bathroom inside of our storefront 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday for the visitors to use if needed,” she said. We will eventually have a full coin laundry facility on-site for campers and the community. However, that will be a few years because we simply have a lot on our plate at this time.”

 

A new sign tells passersby that the new campground has opened in Bronson. Submitted photos.

“We specifically worked with small businesses to build the RV Park to feed back into the local economy using Bandara Stone for our rock; Brandon Krebs with Rocking K Construction for groundwork, Matt Kelly with Kelly Electric for the hookups, Eric Stewart with C&S Contracting for our plumbing, and Adam Arnold and Cory Chandra with Deep Roots Lawn Care for all the final touches.”

To reserve a spot, contact the Kelly’s at: 620.939.4300.

Business, Fort Scott

New Boutique Comes to Downtown Fort Scott

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Ed Townley paints the front of the new store at 12 N. Main.

Susan Townley has been in the boutique business in the Overland Park and Olathe area near Kansas City for over five years.

Susan Townly works on displays in the family’s boutique, Be The Light at 12 N. Main.

She and her husband, Ed, own the former Country Cupboard Store at 12 N. Main, which they purchased from the Renard family.

They are been making the space their own since purchasing the building in December 2021 with sanding, painting, new lights, and some new carpet in areas. The antique wooden floors and ceiling tiles are features, along with some glass showcases.

Ed and Susan have done all the work themselves.

The name of the boutique is  Be The Light.

“The name Be The Light is based on suicide awareness and on the Bible verse Matthew 5:14-16 which states – 14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven,'” Susan said.

Tyler Candles are featured at the store.

Her specialty is Tyler Candles, from Tyler, Texas, her hometown. But they also repurpose furniture and have lots of collectibles and vintage finds for sale.

“Going to Canton, Texas when young, the boutique world is not like anywhere else,” she said. “I wanted to bring it up here.”

A vignette displays some of the items for sale at the boutique.

“We see Fort Scott being a destination point, and believe the city is heading toward growth,” Susan said.

Seasonal items are for sale at the Be The Light Boutique.

“We’ve collected three to four years for this move,” she said. They will also sell seasonal items and a little clothing.

Some collectibles are for sale and can be viewed in antique showcases at the boutique.

“I’m from Texas and we make trips to Texas for markets looking for ideas and inspirations,” she said.

Some neon lights are for sale at the boutique.

Be The Light will have its’ grand opening on November 2.

Then they will be a part of the Fort Scott Holiday Open House Shopping Event on November 9-11.

Following the Christmas Parade on November 30, they will have a spot for children to visit Santa in the store.

That parade starts the Christmas on the Bricks event weekend, Dec. 1-2.

The boutique will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The Townleys also own 11 N. Main, across the street,  that they have rented out.

Be The Light has a Facebook page and an Instagram page.

The phone number is 913.406.2998.

The logo of the business. Submitted graphic.

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

SPECIAL Saturday Chamber Coffee hosted by Kansas Rocks Recreation Park Saturday, Sept. 30

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ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK’S
CHAMBER COFFEE
Join us for a SPECIAL Saturday Chamber Coffee hosted by

Kansas Rocks

Recreation Park

Saturday, September 30th

8:30am-10:00am

2051 130th St.

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a special Saturday Chamber Coffee Saturday, September 30th at 8:30am to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Kansas Rocks Recreation Park (KRRP). The Coffee will be hosted by KRRP located at 2051 130th St. near Mapleton in northwest Bourbon County. Coffee and donuts will be available as well as short rides on the trails in provided vehicles with park volunteers for attendees.

Kansas Rocks Recreation Park is a 4×4 off-road park with camping facilities. KRRP now has 35 miles of trails for 4-wheel Drive Jeeps and other off-road vehicles, mountain bikes, hiking, and UTV’s. Currently the park features over 60 shared mountain bike trails and over 380 acres of trails to explore via hiking. The park sells season passes, day passes, and hosts special events throughout the year. For more information on the park, visit ksrockspark.com or follow their

Facebook page.

When traveling to the park from Fort Scott, attendees should go west on Highway 54 for 10 miles, north on 125th St. for 6 miles, east on Tomahawk Rd., and north on 130th St., following the signs to the park entrance.

For KRRP to plan refreshments and rides, attendees are asked to RSVP before September 27th, click here to register! Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.

 

Click here for their Facebook page!

 

We hope to see you there!
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members
shown below!
FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
620-223-3566
Facebook  Twitter
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Bourbon County, Business

New Cleaning and Organizing Service: Rayma’s Clean Team

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Rayma Ridge is the owner of Rayma’s Clean Team. Submitted photo.
Rayma Ridge, 31, opened her new business, Rayma’s Clean Team LLC in June, 2023.
She provides the area between Bronson and Fort Scott with cleaning and organizing services
“Through discussion with other community members, I recognized the need for residential housekeeping services,” Ridge said. “I have been doing some form of housekeeping/ organizing for friends and family members since I was about 14 years old.”
This got her thinking.
“With many years of experience and having recognized the local demand, I decided to get my LLC and start my own business,” she said. “I began with a small amount of clientele, but I was blessed to fill my books quickly! I have the best clients!!”
Currently, she has one employee in training, she said.
Before and after cleaning of Rayma’s Clean Team. Submitted photos.
Contact info: phone: 620-224-6839
Like/ follow on Facebook, where Ridge includes highlights of some of her favorite cleaning products.
She is located in Uniontown.
Before and after cleaning by Rayma’s Clean Team. Submitted photos.
Business

Volunteers Paint Light Poles on Skubitz Plaza

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Associated Wholesale Grocers, also known as Value Merchandisers, Fort Scott, contacted the Good Neighbor Action Team about work projects needed in the community.

The AWG volunteers paint the light poles in front of the Fort Scott National Historic Site on Skubitz Plaza. All photos submitted.

Associated Wholesale Grocers, also known as Value Merchandisers, Fort Scott, contacted the Good Neighbor Action Team about work projects needed in the community.

Saturday, September 23, volunteers painted the light poles as Skubitz Plaza, in front of the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Submitted by Craig Campbell, with the Good Neighbor Action Team.

Art, Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

The Artificers In October

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October is almost here! Check out the calendar below for all the

classes and events happening this next Month!
October Classes Here!

Master Artist

Brandy Evans

Mixed Media Sculpture

Brandy is a self-taught artist specializing in tiny taxidermy.

Her creations capture her love of antiques and her whimsy sense of humor. Her one of a kind creations have been sold worldwide and she has inspired others to explore their own artistic ability and desire to create. She enjoys a loyal following on Etsy, FB and IG and her Pocket Full of Heirlooms brand is known around the world.

Master Artist Classes!

We have one class Brandy Evans will be teaching October 7th!

Join us for a tiny taxidermy class at The Artificers!

Learn mouse taxidermy from our friend, Brandy Evans, of Pocket Full of Heirlooms. Participants will take a home their own taxidermy mouse creation.

Cost $165; includes feeder, mouse, taxidermy blocks props, scalpel, gloves, and step-by-step instruction.

This class is nonrefundable and non-transferable. Class is ages fourteen and up! We can’t wait to see you there!
Sign up Here!

Fall is Here!

so take some of our fun fall themed classes in October!
October Classes Here!
Check out all of our awesome classes here!
Bourbon County, Business, Jobs

Home Clean Home Adds More Employees

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Casey Bradbury, owner of Home Clean Home. Submitted photos.

Casey Bradbury, founder/owner of Home Clean Home, started her cleaning business  over five years ago

“For the first few years family and friends would step in and help me when needed,” Bradbury said.

Last year she started adding more employees.

“Chelsea Davied has been with me for a year now. Kiley Foster and Jessica Colopy started about 2 months ago,” Bradbury said.
Home Clean Home offers both residential and commercial cleaning.

The business services all of Bourbon County as well as Nevada, Missouri, and surrounding areas.

Cleaning services are also provided to the southern suburbs of Kansas City upon availability.

“The best thing about my job is knowing that we can impact families’ lives in a positive manner,” she said. “Our goal is to provide extra peace of mind at the end of your day!”
“One challenge I face, that I like to view as more of a positive, is potential scheduling conflicts,” she said. “We work hard to build trusting relationships with our clients to better navigate these scenarios when they arise.”

 

Chelsea David and family. Submitted photo
Kiley Foster and family. Submitted photo.
Jessica Colopy and family. Submitted photo.

The business can be found on Facebook at HomeCleanHomeBB, Instagram at homecleanhome_cleaningservice, and her number is 620.644.2534.

“Please contact us with any inquiries that you may have,” she said.

Casey Bradbury and her family. 2023

Bourbon County, Business, Fair

Bourbon County Fair Association awarded $5,000 from Heartland

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Pictured from left to right: Heartland REC Communication Specialist Doug Graham; Bourbon County Fair Association board members Mark Brillhart, Laura George, Wilma Hibdon and Mitch Crystal.

Bourbon County fairgoers will have an enhanced experience next year thanks in part to a $5,000 grant from Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative.

 

The Bourbon County Fair Association was one of six organizations to receive a $5,000 award from Heartland’s Concern for Community grant program this month. The Fair Association’s funds will be used to purchase three additional easy-access metal picnic tables for the pavilion and additional speakers for the show barn.

 

“As a cooperative, we understand that our success is directly linked to the well-being of our communities,” said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO. “We’re proud to support projects like this that will make a lasting difference in the lives of our members.”

 

The Concern for Community program provides grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects throughout the Heartland service area, which covers parts of 12 counties in eastern Kansas.  Capital improvement projects are those that involve investment in structures or equipment that will last for many years.

 

As a non-profit, member-owned cooperative, Heartland issues capital credits to members each year, but sometimes those capital credits go unclaimed. Because those monies were intended to be returned to the communities from which they came, Heartland’s Board of Directors decided to use those unclaimed funds for community grants and started the Concern for Community program in 2019.

This year, six applications out of 28 received were approved for funding by the Heartland board.

 

The other projects selected for funding are as follows:

 

  • Linn County Historical Museum in Pleasanton was awarded $5,000 for numerous repairs and improvements.
  • Restore the Four was awarded $5,000 to help repair the roof of the small animal building at the Crawford County Fairgrounds outside Girard.
  • Stark 1888 Event Committee was awarded $5,000 for repairs and upgrades at the Stark community ballfield.
  • USD 101 Erie was awarded $5,000 to assist with construction of a new animal science building in the high school.
  • USD 346 Jayhawk-Linn was awarded $5,000 for lighting and sound equipment at the high school auditorium in Mound City.

 

Applications were accepted in the month of July and selected by the Heartland Board of Directors in August. Heartland plans to reopen applications in summer 2024 for the next round of funding.

About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes consumer-members in 12 counties, including Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.

Heartland REC traces its roots back to three original rural electric cooperatives: Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company, Sugar Valley Electric Cooperative Association, and Sekan Electric Cooperative Association. Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company joined with Sugar Valley in 1975 to form United Electric Cooperative; United Electric Cooperative joined with Sekan Electric Cooperative Association in 1996 to form Heartland.

 

 

 

Business, Government, Kansas, Youth

Shared Services for Child Care Providers Is Launched

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Governor Kelly Announces Launch of Shared Services Network for Child Care Providers

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today the launch of a new partnership that will create savings and streamline services for child care providers across Kansas. The Kansas Department for Children and Families, Child Care Aware of Kansas, and five community-based organizations are partnering on the Shared Service Network to streamline administrative costs for providers and free up time for programs to focus on providing high-quality child care.

“For many Kansas kids, quality child care is essential for them to have a solid start to their developmental growth,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “This network will provide child care professionals the resources they need so they can focus on young Kansans in their care.”

By participating in the Shared Services Network, child care providers benefit from services that cost less and are often more efficient than what the programs could do on their own. A wide range of services are available to reshape child care, including:

  • Group purchasing plans;
  • Advanced business software to manage enrollment and billing;
  • Shared administrative staff;
  • Support for hiring staff and finding substitutes; and
  • Personalized professional development.

“By working together, child care providers can save money and invest more in key parts of early childhood education, like better pay for their staff, high-quality curriculum, and other supplies needed to operate a child care business,” said Laura Howard, Secretary Kansas Department for Children and Families.

The five community-based organizations that have been selected to implement the Shared Services Network will have the responsibility for delivering services to participating child care programs that result in cost savings.

“Shared Services represent an innovative approach to making the business side of child care work,” said Kelly Davydov, executive director of Child Care Aware of Kansas. “We have a unique opportunity to realize cost savings for participating child care programs so that they can earn more or reinvest in other aspects of their business, like high-quality curriculum for the young children in their care.”

Shared Services Networks will be provided by the following organizations:

  • Northwest Kansas Innovation Center: Serving 29 counties in the Northwest and North Central areas of Kansas.
  • Child Care Aware of Kansas: Serving 39 counties in the Southwest and South Central areas of Kansas.
  • Community Children’s Center: Serving 16 counties in the Northeast area of Kansas.
  • Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas: Serving 17 counties in the Southeast area of Kansas.
  • The Family Conservancy: Serving five counties in the Kansas City area.

For more information, visit Shared Services Network – Child Care Aware.

To learn more about Child Care Aware of Kansas and how you can join us in ensuring access to high-quality child care for all families, visit us at www.ks.childcareaware.org.