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Peerless Products Inc. received a SPARK Grant to help with the costs of keeping the manufacturer producing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We applied for $50,247 of reimbursement for items purchased to battle the coronavirus within the Peerless community, but also to do our part in mitigating the spread of the virus in the surrounding communities as we have employees who work here, but live generally within a 45-mile radius of Fort Scott,” said Cindy Davis, the company’s wellness and benefits manager. “We received our grant money about a month ago.”
The Strengthing People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) taskforce is responsible for the statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.
But the largest Bourbon County employer did not wait for help to begin combating the virus.
“In the initial weeks of the pandemic, we had a number of employees volunteer to hand-make face masks for every employee to have five, and then we were able to donate masks out around the local community,” she said. “For a solid month, after purchasing seven sewing machines, our small sewing taskforce churned out over 4,000 cloth reusable face masks!”
” We also implemented contact tracing,” Davis said. ” Supplies for all these methods of mitigating virus contamination were submitted on our SPARK grant application. The Peerless family collectively has viewed this pandemic as a very serious threat to personal health and welfare, but also to the financial welfare of each family supported by the work we do here, AND the economic health of Bourbon county.”
“As the reality of the COVID-19 virus became quickly apparent back in early March, we realized that, as the largest employer in Bourbon County (350-400 employees), we had to jump into action immediately,” she said. ” We kept close watch on the Center for Disease Control and state government guidelines and protocol recommendations, and continue to do so.”
They worked in the plant to reduce the virus.
“If certain steps were recommended, we put things into action here at Peerless as requirements,” she said. “As a business, Peerless has kept in close communication with state and local authorities, as well as with all of our employees regarding actions and protocols.”
“Peerless Products manufactures high-end custom windows and doors for buildings all over the country, high-rise business and apartment buildings, schools, hotels, hospitals, military installations, and more,” Davis said.
” However, when the pandemic accelerated, we pulled our field service personnel off the road, curtailed any travel by our sales force, and began daily temperature taking of every employee or vendor entering our facilities, she said. “Within our plant, our safety and environmental staff, employee wellness, human resources, Peerless culture, top-level management, as well as purchasing staff, sought out tools and supplies and methods to mitigate virus contamination.”
“Signage all around the plant on proper hygiene, procuring large numbers of face masks, extra handwash stations, great quantities of hand sanitizer, gloves, special air purifiers, enrollment of employees in telemedicine as a healthcare option (at no cost to the employee), the arrangement of employee break room seating (indoors and out) and office desks to implement the six feet distancing recommendation, and more were implemented.”
TFI, a foster care and child welfare service, received $50,000 in SPARK funds in Bourbon County for more technology and personal protective equipment in the pandemic.
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, with the statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.
TFI serves approximately 80 children in Bourbon County, according to information provided by Taylor Forest, marketing specialist.
“The SPARK funding TFI received will help serve children in foster care in Bourbon County who have been impacted by COVID-19,” Forest said. “This funding has been used to purchase technology to allow for more remote work, and more telehealth visits when possible, minimizing face-to-face contact. Another way we are using the funds is to purchase PPE for children, families and staff. ”
They received the funding on Oct. 15, 2020.
“Children in foster care experience difficulties on a daily basis, and COVID-19 has added even more challenges” she said. “We’re incredibly grateful for the program and are thrilled that Kansas’ most vulnerable population can have some of their needs met through these unprecedented times!”
The TFI Fort Scott office is located at 710 W. 8th Street, Suite 203, FORT SCOTT KS 66701
To learn more:
See more about SPARK at:
https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/
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A coffee franchise, Scooter’s Coffee Drive-Thru, is opening on Nov. 30 at 5:30 a.m. according to Ashley Copple-Dunn, the Fort Scott Scooter’s manager.
Scooter’s is located at 2402 S. Main in front of the Hibbett’s Store.
Hours will be 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
“Our goal is to offer amazing service, with amazing people, amazingly fast,” said Shawn Bouwen, one of the owners. “We want to provide people the highest quality experience each and every time they come to visit our store.”
In addition to coffees, teas, hot chocolate, smoothies, and blenders the shop offers breakfast burritos, cinnamon rolls, cookies, “a little bit of everything,” Demi Bouwen, another owner, said.
One can see the menu, prices, and nutritional values of the products on the Scooter’s Coffee app, she said.
The website is http://scooter’scoffee.com
They currently have 15 employees, she said, and are still taking applications.
The owners of the franchise areDemi along with her dad, Shawn Bouwen, and his wife, Tracy.
“We really love the demographics here in Fort Scott,” Demi said. “We love to be in a small town where you can be involved with the customer.”
THANKSGIVING GIVEAWAY FOR A
FREE WEBSITE
BY THE KANSAS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
SEE ALL THE DETAILS BELOW TO ENTER!
DRAWING WILL TAKE PLACE NOV. 24TH
AT 3PM AT THE B-WERC
(Bourbon County Workforce & Entrepreneur Resource Center in Downtown Fort Scott)
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The Kansas Small Business Development Center AND Southeast KANSASWORKS are available here locally in the B-WERC, Downtown Fort Scott, daily to assist with any small business & employment needs.
Take advantage of these resources
located in the upper level of the
Kress building at 17 S. Main St.!
Click here for a flyer with B-WERC
hours & more info.
Click here for a listing of all services offered
by the Kansas SBDC!
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Key Industries Inc. has a long history in Fort Scott.
110 years of experience in the workwear clothing industry, to be exact.
Key provides workwear for rugged use at the best value, according to a press release.
Key Apparel originally made overalls for ranchers, and through the decades has evolved to also make worksite, high visibility, and fire-resistant apparel.
For several years they have had a warehouse sale in November.
“Our 2020 Warehouse Sale is back and bigger than ever,” said Kaden Wimmer, Key’s Social Media Coordinator, in a press release.
There will be local health protocols in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Wimmer.
“With the expansion of the warehouse sale, KEY Industries has decided to move the sale to the former Gordman’s location located at 2400 S Main St., Suite 500 Fort Scott,” he said.
The hours are Saturday, Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be closeouts on men, women, and kid’s apparel. Cash, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Credit Cards will be accepted.
“The Annual Warehouse sale has become a Fort Scott community tradition for over a decade,” Wimmer said. “Allowing the community to purchase quality apparel at a discounted price for the holiday shopping season. The warehouse sale brings thousands of community members to Fort Scott for this week-long shopping event.”
“The expansion of the 2020 Warehouse Sale will provide customers with a more extensive selection of their favorite KEY and Polar King gear. Including Work, Office, Flame Resistant, and Hi-Vis apparel,” he said.
The large space also provides customers a larger space to maintain social distancing while shopping at the event, Wimmer said.
“KEY is dedicated to our customer’s health and safety and will take the necessary steps to ensure that the warehouse sale will follow local health protocol,” Wimmer said.
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Local crafts people will have a place to sell their wares at a newly created holiday pop-up shop.