Category Archives: Business

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

McCoy: Encouraging Small Businesses Through REDI

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Mark McCoy. Submitted photo.

Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. has created a small business development division and Mark McCoy has been volunteering as coordinator in that endeavor since March 15, 2022.

“We want to help entrepreneurs and small businesses in Bourbon County: exploring a business opportunity, expanding a business and knowing how to grow the business,” McCoy said.

“I am happy to work with anybody and we could gather at any location,” he said. ” I work by appointment”

Currently, hours are set for Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the REDI office on the second floor of the Landmark Bank at 200 S. National.

Landmark Bank houses the office of Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.

McCoy can be reached at 620.719.7841 for more information or an appointment.

McCoy’s Business Background

McCoy brings with him a business background of most recently interim City of Fort Scott Manager, until the current one was hired.

Prior to that he has 46 years of business experience owning and operating McDonald’s Restaurants.

His first 27 years he worked in the McDonald’s Corporation in California.

“I operated, supervised and was operations manager, responsible for 13 restaurants,” he said. “Then I worked with owner-operators in business development operations.”

“I worked from ground-breaking to opening, 58 restaurants in California, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska,” he said. “I opened the first McDonald’s in Jamaica.”

 

Robert Harrington. Submitted photo.

About REDI

Rob Harrington is the executive director of Bourbon County REDI.

“He is the economic director for both the City of Fort Scott and  Bourbon County, with a contract with each,” McCoy said.

REDI is currently looking for people to fill a grant writing position and additionally a administrative assistant position.

The Mission of REDI:

“To enable quality business retention, expansion and recruitment in Fort Scott and Bourbon County by coordination of the community assets as well as local, state, and federal grants and incentives,” according to information on the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce website.

Their goal is to facilitate business retention and the growth of employment. To  accomplish this they work with current employers as well as the recruitment of businesses that improve the quality of life for the citizens of the community.

Contact information:

Bourbon County REDI (Regional Economic Development, Inc.)
BEDCO (Bourbon County Economic Development Council)
Rob Harrington, Director
200 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS  66701
(620) 215-0144
[email protected]

Business, Food, Fort Scott

New Bakery in Town: Hamilton’s Bakery

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Teri and Michael Hamilton. Submitted photo.

In early 2020, Teri and Michael Hamilton were looking for a move to a home so they could be a one income family. They lived in the Kansas City area.

“We were looking farther out of the Kansas City area, because it is so expensive to live there,” Teri said. “We were looking for a house to buy, we wanted to live on one income.”

They had friends in the Fort Scott area and fell in love with Fort Scott, she said.

“Both of our moms, a nephew and a sister have moved here,” since their move, she said.

They began the process of opening a bakery from their home, with sourdough bread as their first product.

“I grew up in a bakery,” she said. “But we never did sour dough bread.”

She has been developing the technique of making the specialty bread.

“The process is different from yeasted bread,” Hamilton said. “It’s 30 to 48 hours to get a loaf of bread from start to finish. But it’s so good!”

They opened a new home-based business venture this month.

“Our main product is a really nice loaf of artisan sourdough bread,” she said.

Marketing their product

“We are going to Fort Scott Farmer’s Market, and doing orders online,” Hamilton said.

Farmer’s Market meets at Skubitz Plaza on Saturday mornings from  8 a.m. to noon and Tuesday evenings from 4 to 6 p.m from the first weekend in May, this year it’s May 7, until the last weekend in October.

“We will be there Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings until we sell out,” she said.

To order, send a message to them on their Facebook page:
The Hamilton’s Bakery.
The Hamilton’s Bakery produces artisan sourdough bread. Submitted photo.

Pick-up System

“We have a max capacity of two dozen loaves per day, so sales are limited,” she said.
Here’s how it all works:
Order and pay by noon Sunday for Tuesday pick up.
Order and pay by noon Wednesday for Saturday pick up.
The pick up location is the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market area on Skubitz Plaza.
They currently accept CashApp and cash.
 A large loaf of sourdough bread is $8. medium is $7.
On the horizon
On the horizon for the business is new products which they are developing.
“We want to grow as we go,” she said. “Not get in over our heads. We want to do one thing at a time and do it well, then do something else.”
“We would love to have a storefront bakery in the town,” she said. “But for the time being, we are doing it in our kitchen.”
Recommends HBCAT
The Hamilton’s have been aided in the business start-up by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team.
“They have been so incredibly supportive, I highly recommend them.”
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

KTCCU: Low Interest Rate for Vehicles Are Offered

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Kansas Teacher Credit Union employees, from left: Teller – Lacey Miles, Teller-Elizabeth Thurston, Member Service Officer – Bonnie Boyle, Branch Manager- Bob Hanson Submitted photo.

Spring is here and the pandemic is waning, allowing more travel for Americans.

Some people are purchasing new cars for their travels.

A recent look at auto loan rates on bankrate.com for April 2022 shows the range of percentage rates for vehicle loans is from 2.49 to over 7 percent on average.

A local credit union is offering a low interest loan for autos.

Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, 24 S. National Avenue is offering a 1.99 percent loan for qualified applicants with the best credit scores, for vehicle loans through June 30.

Kansas Teachers Credit Union is located at 24 S. National Avenue in Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

Vehicles must be a 2013 model year or newer and a credit score of 600 up, or no score. Terms can be up to 84 months, based on mileage under 100,000 miles.

“The KTCCU promotional rates then have stair step increases from there, based on individual credit scores and mileage that exceeds 100,000 miles,” Bob Hanson, Fort Scott Branch Manager said. “This promotion also allows qualified applicants the option for no payment for up to 90 days.”

“You do not have to be a member of KTCCU to apply for a loan with KTCCU,” Hanson said. “But if you are approved and choose to complete the loan, you would have to open a KTCCU membership share savings account with a minimum $5 deposit.  It only takes a few minutes,  give identification, complete an account card, and make a deposit.”

To qualify for membership with KTCCU, one of the following conditions must be meet:

  • Be an employee of any Kansas school.
  • Work or reside in Allen, Anderson, Atchinson, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clay, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Franklin, Geary, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kingman, Labette, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Miami, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage, Pottawatomie, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, Woodson, Wyandotte, counties;
  • Reside in the Pittsburg Kansas trade area:
  • Be an employee of KTCCU;
  • Be a family member of a current credit union member; or
  • Be an organization of a current credit union member.

Membership, once established, may continue regardless if the above conditions still apply.

Hanson said new leadership has begun in the organization, of which Fort Scott is a branch.

Elesa Parsons, from https://heartlandcua.org/news/2022/cu-people-on-move-cua-ktccu.aspx

“2022 brought KTCCU a new CEO/President, Elesa Parsons,” he said. “Elesa brings with her an extensive credit union administrative and accounting background. The previous CEO/President Mark Kolarik has retired from KTCCU, and has relocated out of state.”

“The Fort Scott branch of KTCCU was established/opened in September 2008,” he said. “Since opening the KTCCU Fort Scott location has been successful in carrying out the KTCCU mission.      That mission is to be a sound, quality driven organization that provides the most desirable financial services for community members while safeguarding their assets.”

 

Hanson can be reached at

[email protected]   

or phone (620)223-1475 Fax (620)223-1387

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Best-selling authors to visit two Fort Scott attractions

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Roxie Yonkey
Submitted photo.

Two travel authors will be autographing their books Thursday, May 5 from 4-6 p.m. at Hedgehog.INK bookstore, and then on Friday, May 6, from 2-4 p.m. at the Lowell Milken Center, 1 S. Main, Fort Scott.

Roxie Yonkey, Goodland, Kan., author of 100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die, and Amy Piper, author of 100 Things to Do in Lansing Before You Die, Lansing, Mich., will have their books available to sign at both locations.

Submitted graphic.

“I visited Fort Scott National Historic Site in 2018, and am excited to return back to the site and bookstore,” Yonkey said.

“I first heard about the Lowell Milken Center at Kansas Tourism Conference,” Yonkey added. “At the end of the presentation, all of us were at least misty-eyed. I knew then that I must visit. When I visited, I stood in awe of the heroes enshrined within. And their tales keep growing as the center’s programs recruit more storytellers.”

In December 2021, Yonkey’s publisher asked her to write the book “Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.” It will come out in the spring of 2023. Yonkey has been writing about Kansas for over 30 years. One Hundred Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die is her second book

In 2020, both travel writers co-authored, along with several other writers, the book Midwest Road Trip Adventures. That book includes road trip guides for 12 Midwest states.

Additional signings are scheduled throughout the state. Check the schedule at RoxieontheRoad.com/Signings.

We hope to see you in one of these Fort Scott attractions, May 5-6.

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Cut Flowers: Art and Business to Richards

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Calista Ricards in her garden at 1301 S. Horton. Submitted photos.
The Little Flower Farm LLC owner, Calista Richards, sees herself as an artist.
“I love that you can simultaneously be an artist while being completely covered in sweat and dirt,” she said.
She grows, sells and delivers her product, cut flowers, from her home at 1301 S. Horton, as of January 2021.
 “I provide fresh and local flowers in bouquets and arrangements,” Richards said. “The types of flowers change as the seasons change.  You can tell what time of year it is by the contents of my bouquets and arrangements.”
  The flower arrangements are available for delivery within Fort Scott city limits, for purchase at the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market (On Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings), and for pickup on Horton Street at her home.

Directions On Picking Up

“When using Buzz for Blooms (1301 S. Horton) enter the southern driveway and go around the fence until you see a post in a pot with a sign that says Buzz for Blooms,” she said. “If I am not already outside, ring the doorbell found there and I will be out to assist you with your order.  You can even customize your purchase by pointing to things you would like out in the field.  Then, you exit out the northern driveway with your blooms– or future blooms– without ever having leave your car.”
Submitted photos.
About The Entrepreneur
“I graduated from high school in 2020, having been  home schooled  the whole time, and wanted to start a business instead of going to college,” she said. Richards believes college could not teach her what she wanted to know and “can lead to crushing debt,” she said.  “I would not shackle myself with that.”
 “There is nothing like being a part of the community this way,” she said.  “Flowers are bought for every time of life: birth, death, joy, sorrow, great occasions, and no occasion at all.  I want to see all these things and play my little part to bring beauty to all of it.”
The young entrepreneur is involved in the community, since opening her business
She is a member of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, the Bourbon County Garden Club, and  a board member of the Fort Scott Public Library.
In addition, “I have participated in the downtown cleanup and have done numerous fundraisers for the local cancer support group Care to Share,” she said.
Richards wanted to start a business that she could operate out of her home.
“Zoning Section 20-601.05 Temporary Uses states that you may have a business made up of seasonal sales of farm or garden produce, bulbs, plantings, or cut flowers, on an individual’s place of residence and raised by the same individual, provided no structure is constructed for such use,” she said.
Contact info
 
Submitted photos.
Richards is eldest of the six children of Jeremiah and Jennifer Richards.
“I have no employees but I cannot say I have no help,” she said.  “My family has been nothing but supportive and are working so hard so I can live this dream.  I could not have done it without them.”
Bourbon County, Business, Food, Fort Scott

Charcuterie Workshop April 27

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Charcuterie Workshop
Liberty Theatre
Wednesday, April 27th, 6pm
Spots are still available.
Deadline to register: 5pm on Tuesday, April 26th
Sunflower Spreads is a mom & daughter duo who create specialty cheese boards for Manhattan, KS and the surrounding communities. They will be coming to Fort Scott to host this event on Wednesday, April 27th at 6pm.
This workshop includes:
  • In person instruction
  • Everything you need to create your own take home charcuterie box that serves 2-4 people
  • PDF instructions on how to build your own board at home, tips and tricks, how to shop for items, etc.
  • Samples of their favorite cheese
Check out Sunflower Spreads’ Facebook here.
Business, Fort Scott

Twin Mansions Reopens With New Owner/Operators

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Carrie and Marty Elton. Submitted photo.

Marty and Carrie Elton who purchased the two former Lyons Mansions on National Avenue and restarted a restaurant in the southern most one, is now reopening the northern bed and breakfast mansion.

“The name of the bed and breakfast will be Twin Mansions B and B,” Elton said. “Myself and Carrie are the owners and operators. We have decided to re-open to share the historic beauty of the mansions with everyone.”

The business was formerly owned by Larry and Pat Lyons.

Submitted photos.

“We also look forward to helping the community with more interesting and unique places to stay,” he said. “Tourism is vital to small towns and we look forward to being a bigger part of that industry. We will provide traditional bed and breakfast services.”

Submitted photos.

Breakfast( with a discounted rate) will be available at the Dry Wood Creek Cafe, which the Elton’s own and operate in the southern most mansion.

Submitted photos.

“We will provide not only rooms to rent but will have the main floor available for functions as well,” he said. “Our amenities will include all the standard hotel fair as well as manicured gardens, a Koi pond and a pool table.”

Submitted photos.

The address is 742 South National Avenue, Fort Scott, with reservations made through airbnb.com , vrbo.com, bedandbreakfast.com, and many other platforms, he said.

“We have five rooms available, one with an extra bedroom and Jack and Jill restroom,” Elton said.

Prices vary from weekday to weekend and discounted rates are available for business stays. The range is anywhere from $100 a night to $150.

“Myself and Carrie will still be onsite, we have moved to an apartment on the premises,” Elton said.

Business, Government

High Energy Costs Expected to Remain

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KCC alerts utility customers that high energy costs are forecast to continue nationwide due to increased commodity price volatility

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is alerting consumers that energy prices are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future based on current national forecasts. This will likely increase the cost to cool homes and businesses this summer and heat them this winter. Now is the time to take steps to weatherize your home and undertake energy efficiency investments as you are able.

Like many other energy and commodity prices, monthly wholesale natural gas prices have recently increased to levels not seen in the United States since September 2008. Wholesale electricity prices have increased as well.  On April 18, the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) futures price for natural gas climbed to nearly $8/MMBtu (Metric Million British thermal units) for May and June, with prices over $8/MMBtu for the rest of this year and upcoming winter.  For context, natural gas prices regularly traded in the $2-$3/MMBtu range for much of the last decade.

Wholesale prices for natural gas are based on supply and demand and are not regulated, a decision made by the U.S. Congress in the 1980s. Accordingly, these costs are often outside the direct control of energy providers, and are passed through to the end consumer outside of a rate case without markup or profit.  It is important to note that the pass through energy costs are audited by KCC audit staff to make sure customers only pay the actual wholesale energy costs that their utility provider pays, again without markup or profit.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently released its Short-Term Energy Outlook indicating energy price forecasts for the rest of the year are subject to heightened levels of uncertainty from factors such as the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, decisions of OPEC+, and the rate at which U.S. Oil and Natural Gas producers increase drilling in response to higher prices.

The Commission has launched an online resource to provide additional information, help consumers minimize the impact, and find financial and weatherization assistance.  The information is available at https://kcc.ks.gov/consumer-alert-spring-2022

 

Bourbon County, Business, Food, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College

Women’s Business Expo and Luncheon April 27

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Submitted by Kassie Fugate-Cate on

Purple picture with lemons in top left and bottom right corners and "women's luncheon" written in the middle

Fort Scott Community College is excited to bring back our annual Women’s Luncheon and Vendor Expo. This event will take place April 27th on Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day from 11am to 2pm in the Ellis Fine Arts Center.

 

Local vendors will be set up throughout the lobby and meeting rooms of Ellis ready for you to shop! We will also be serving a light lunch of two different wraps, salad, and mixed fresh fruit. We will also have tea, water, lemonade, and coffee.

 

Cost is only $7 per person for lunch. Reserve your ticket or vendor space by emailing Kassie Cate at [email protected] or call 620.223.2700 ext. 5248. Tickets will be available at the door as well.

 

We hope you can ‘squeeze’ some time in for us and enjoy this very springy event wink

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

There is Much Activity in Fort Scott’s Downtown

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Dolly the Trolley in downtown Fort Scott. From VisitFortScott Facebook page.

Fort Scott is moving forward to the future.

At the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet on April 19, the Fort Scott Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison led the discussion on all the activities that are planned for the downtown area. There are many.

This Friday the downtown division of the Chamber is facilitating the community downtown clean-up in preparation for all the activities that will be happening.

Bailey Lyons, chair of the committee, told the attendees there will be curbing and striping on National and Scott Avenues, benches painted and three murals going up, among many of the activities that will be going on.  So far 150-200 volunteers are scheduled to help.

The three murals are 1) along the north face of Angie Dawn’s Boutique on Scott Avenue,

The north face of Angie Dawn’s Boutique will have a mural painted during the downtown clean-up this Friday. The building is located on Scott Avenue.

2) along the south face of the Structure Hair Salon on National Avenue,

A new mural will be painted on the south side of Structure by Margo Salon building on National Avenue.

and 3) along the old cable office building on 2nd Street.

A mural will be painted by local artists from the Fort Scott School District on the side of the old cable company building east of the Fort Scott Public Library.

The third mural is a collaboration of art teachers in Fort Scott, Lyons said. “This is student-driven,  and will be literary-themed.”

To volunteer to help out in this community project, one must sign a waiver from the City of Fort Scott by today,  April 19. This day is also the last day to pre-register to be able to receive a free t-shirt, commemorating the clean-up. Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566.

Fort Scott students and FFA members will be working in the 1-3 p.m. time frame, with the majority of the volunteers working from 3-6 p.m. Workers will be fed supper from a Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Grant with Marsha’s Deli serving the meal.

City Manager Kelly Zellner told the attendees that there are plans in the making for a  canopy at Skubitz Plaza for the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market and also signs that help visitors find their way around town.

He said the city is also working on parking issues downtown that will provide designated parking spaces for residents living downtown, which will clear up spaces for businesses.

The goal is to make the area with a “more comfortable traffic flow for people to be willing to come in and visit us,” he said.

Other info from the meeting:

Papa Don’s and Sharkey’s Restaurants now have a “Toast” app for ordering available.

There is a Civil War Encampment this weekend at Fort Scott National Historic Site.

There are resources available at the Small Business Development Center at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office on National Avenue. Contact Dacia Clark.

Mark McCoy, former business owner and former interim city manager, is available for entrepreneurship mentoring through  Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc., which is located on the second floor of Landmark Bank.

There are e-community loans available through the Chamber of Commerce for help with signage, HVAC, and other business needs.

There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive at Buck Run Community Center on April 20  from 12:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. and April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers are needed for the NICA Kansas Mountain Bike Race for youth at Gunn Park Trails this weekend to set up the infield on Saturday and course materials and parking on Sunday.  To sign up: https://signup.com/go/oFWBuyG.

More stories of upcoming events will be featured on fortscott.biz in the near future.

 

 

 

 

Business, Food, Fort Scott

Bacon Me Crazy Food Truck at Presby Village Today until 3 p.m.

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Bacon Me Krazy Food Truck
Fort Scott Presbyterian Village
2401 S. Horton, Fort Scott, KS
Today11:30am-3:00pm
Then – see below, they will move to Bourbon County Cars and be open from 3:30-7pm!
Join Presbyterian Manor to celebrate Founder’s Day
and their 73-year history of the Christian culture that the organization brings to senior living.
Easy access, just pull through and place your order. Why cook when something special
is in town for the day?
Today from 3:30-7:00pm Bacon Me Krazy food truck will move to the Bourbon County Cars parking lot, located on Hwy. 69 at
1810 S. Main St., in Fort Scott.
They feature a menu that is one of the best in SE KS, featured as the Best Burger and fries you can find, loaded with your hearts desire!
Thank you to our Chamber Champions for all of your support!