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THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING SMALL & SUPPORTING LOCAL!
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Category Archives: Business
New Employment Help Center Opens in Old Kress Building, Grocery Store Will Open Soon
A resource center in the former Kress Building, 17 S. Main is open in downtown Fort Scott.
The center is called the BWERC which stands for Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center.
The first floor is currently being prepared to sell groceries, while the second floor is open for business as a multi-partner center to help with COVID-19 related issues.
Downtown Grocery Store
BAJA Investments LLC, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team and a local farm and ranch food cooperative grocery store will be located on the first floor, according to info from Hoener.
BAJA Investments will manage the grocery store that will open sometime in the second half of December 2020, said Bill Michaud, developer for the business. The store is as yet not named, Michaud said on Nov. 3.
The first-floor space will have shelving, coolers and freezers for
local produce and meat.
This will increase access to healthy food, and make more food available for local food assistance programs, Hoener said.
To view a recent story on the grocery store, click below:
New Grocery Store In Downtown Fort Scott Is Coming
Employment Related Services
Through a multi-partner collaboration of Bourbon County government , Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center www.pittstatesmallbusiness.com, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce http://fortscott.com/, Fort Scott Community College http://www.fortscott.edu/ , Kansas Works http://sekworks.organd BAJA Investments LLC , the hope is to address the urgent COVID-19 related crisis needs in Bourbon County, according to information provided by Jody Hoener, economic director for the county.
The building will be used for distance learning and teleworking and also a place for childcare businesses to become legal and thus help in childcare relief during the pandemic, Hoener noted.
The plan is to give businesses the tools and technical assistance needed for increased online capabilities and the assistance to
obtain the money needed to sustain their business.
There is also unemployment and job-seeking assistance.
Chamber After Hours at E3 Ranch Store
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Holiday Shop Looking For Vendors For Nov. 20
The Creative Sugarplums Holiday Shop is looking for vendors. Many events have been cancelled this year for public health reasons. To help local vendors and businesses The Creative Sugarplums Holiday Shop will be open this holiday season for these individuals to showcase and sale their products. The opening date is scheduled for November 20th and will be located in the space recently vacated by Factory Connection. Anyone interested in becoming a vendor can e-mail momentumtraining@yahoo.com or text (620) 224-8442 for more information.
Thanks,
Emelia Whiteaker
Halloween Parade Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. Downtown Fort Scott
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Chamber Coffee at U.S. Cellular Oct. 29
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Peerless Expands to Iola
Governor Laura Kelly Announces Peerless Products Expansion to Create Over 100 Jobs in Iola
~ Peerless Expansion Represents Largest Job Announcement in Allen County Since 1994~
IOLA – Governor Laura Kelly today celebrated the announcement of Peerless Products, Inc., purchasing a 150,000-square-foot facility in Iola to expand its production capability.
Peerless estimates the expansion will create 100 to 120 new full-time jobs in Iola over the next five years, with a capital investment of $10.35 million.
“Peerless is a fantastic, homegrown Kansas company with a long history in Fort Scott. I appreciate its leadership team recognizing all that Iola and the entire Southeast Kansas region has to offer, and for choosing to expand in Allen County,” Governor Kelly said. “With our engaged team at the Kansas Department of Commerce, my administration will continue to identify new and dynamic business opportunities, build relationships, and support further economic projects in Allen County and across our state.”
Governor Kelly joined Scheduling and Purchasing Manager for Peerless Products Josh Granere, Iola Mayor Jonathan Wells, Thrive Allen County President and CEO Lisse Regher, and Secretary of Commerce David Toland for today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Kansas-based Peerless produces high-performance architectural aluminum windows and doors for new construction, replacement and historical construction for high-rise and institutional buildings. The expansion of its operations will allow the company to begin to diversify its product line by moving into commercial windows.
“I’m honored to help celebrate a significant economic development win for our state—one that marks the beginning of a new chapter for Peerless Products and the workforce in Iola and Southeast Kansas,” Secretary Toland said. “Congratulations to Peerless and to our local partners on making this ambitious vision for growth a reality.”
“With our continued growth in Fort Scott, where we currently have 400 employees, we needed to find additional space for the creation and production of our new G800 product line that we believe will be a leader in commercial low-rise windows,” President of Peerless Products Coby Jones said. “We pride ourselves in being best in class, and we intend to continue and build upon that reputation in Iola.”
The State of Kansas, City of Iola and Allen County partnered to secure the Peerless expansion project, which is the largest job announcement in Allen County since 1994.
The below photos are available for media use:
https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Peerless-1.jpg
https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Peerless-2.jpg
https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Peerless-3.jpg
https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Peerless-4.jpg
Small Business Development Center: In Bourbon County Nov. 2
Kansas Small Business Development Center Offers New Business Support Kiosk to Bourbon County Residents
PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be launching their new Business Support Kiosk to provide no-cost consulting services to small businesses in the Bourbon County area.
The Kansas SBDC Business Support Kiosk will launch on November 2nd inside the Bourbon County Workforce and Entrepreneur Resource Center located at 17 N. Main in Fort Scott, Kansas. The Kiosk will have a mixture of in-person support and daily walk-in video conference support. Support available will include COVID-19 business programs, steps to starting a business, industry research, training seminars, and access to additional SBDC experts across the state.
“We want to give current businesses the tools to build sustainable business models with the capital and resources needed,” said Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Director. “The Kansas SBDC has a track record of supplying small businesses with industry reports, business planning templates, and resources needed for long term success.”
Hoener also stated that having the Kansas SBDC’s certified personnel is crucial for the community’s economy and small businesses moving forward.
“It’s nice helping bring this enhanced service to my hometown,” said Dacia Clark, Assistant Director for the Kansas SBDC at Pittsburg State University. “We want to give special thanks to the City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County for their continued support of the Kansas SBDC program.”
About the Kansas SBDC: The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Pittsburg State University serves as the regional consulting resource for the small business owner. Whether it’s an existing business looking to boost sales or a start-up trying to get off the ground, we provide our customers with quality professional and personal care. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Kansas Department of Commerce, and Pittsburg State University, a majority of our services come at no cost to the local business. Learn more about the Kansas SBDC at http://www.pittstatesmallbusiness.com/.
Rural Business Relief Grants Available Until Nov. 2
A new round of grants for small businesses is available online as of today, Oct. 26, according to Jody Hoener, Bourbon County’s Economic Director.
This is a NEW grant opportunity for for-profit business and she advised applying before the Nov. 2 deadline, next week, she said.
“I haven’t applied for this specific grant and it is online,” Hoener said. “If anyone needs any help though, I would be more than willing to help.” Contact her at jhoener@bourboncountyks.org
“Only small businesses located in rural communities are eligible at this time,” according to the website https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/small-business-assistance/rural-relief-small-business-grants/?fbclid=IwAR32Hywr90-CMVmhziFOfkQGynQQ–i3KqlfYX8Tvz-IH5bOfArVqtx3XGE “Rural communities are defined as having a population of 50,000 or less. A community is defined as the city/town/village where your business address is located. If the business is mobile (a food truck, fishing boat, rideshare driver, etc) please use the address where your vehicle is stored during non-business hours.”
All potential applicants are encouraged to review this FAQ and grant information before applying.
Non-profit organizations are ineligible for the relief funding program at this time but may be eligible for later rounds of funding.
Rural Relief Small Business Grants
Grants range from $5,000-$20,000 to for-profit businesses.
Grants will not need to be repaid. They can be used for:
• Payables to include rent and utilities
• Meeting payroll (to include yourself the applicant)
• Paying outstanding debt to vendors
• Other immediate operational costs
This “round” is open October 26-November 2.
Please see the link below to apply and for more information.
What’s Happening in Fort Scott Oct. 23 Edition
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Chamber Coffee At Exploratorium Oct. 22
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Family of Eight Moves Into the Beaux-Arts Centre
Before March 2020, the Bowman family was quite content living in North Kansas City in a wonderful neighborhood, Lorina Bowman said. “I accidentally came across the Beaux-Arts Centre on Zillow ( a real estate website) and saw a lot of potential. “
The Beaux-Arts Centre, 102 S. National Ave, is next door to the post office.
“When my husband saw it, he was also excited,” she said.
They set up several appointments with the owners to view the property.
” We tried to talk ourselves out of it because the building needs to be updated quite a bit, but every con was able to be twisted into a pro,” she said. They prayed and feel God led them to purchase the property.
The family plans to open a museum with interactive components and call it Exploratorium.
“It’s always been a dream of ours to open a business that would incorporate all of my family’s hobbies and talents,” Lorina said. “The fact that my family is able to live on the top floor while we build the museum is the only way our vision is possible.”
“We will have fun, unique exhibits that all ages will enjoy, such as; Barbie, Model Trains, Lego, and more,” Lorina said. “We will have play structures and other hands-on activities. The building will also include a gift shop and eventually a snack bar. We are most excited about our classroom which is where we will host workshops and clubs to really get the community involved in teaching, learning and exploring new hobbies and talents.”
The Bowman Family is comprised of Johnathan, a computer programmer who works from home since leaving California in June 2017. “He is excited to learn new handyman skills as he tackles different projects in the building,” Lorina said.
Lorina is a stay-at-home mom but loves to make crafts to sell at fairs and is excited to have a full-time gift shop to sell all the creations she’s made over the years, she said.
She’s also happy she can put on events to “appease her overzealous party planning passion,” she said.
Marshall is 15 years old and enjoys creating Electonic Dance Music on the computer and building weapons out of polyvinyl chloride pipe.
Vivian is 13 and loves Harry Potter, Legos, and reading.
Theodore is almost 11 and a master at creating obstacle courses and unique games for his siblings to play, Lorina said.
Lawrence is 9 and can fold origami for hours and keep his family laughing with his humor, she said.
Adelaide is 4 and does her best to keep up with the rest of the family, she said.
The youngest is Harriet, 2, who has the cutest smile and curls, Lorina said.
The timeline for the project is undetermined.
“The timeline really depends on the community,” Lorina said. ” My husband and my dad have been doing a lot of the projects tackled so far. If left to our own devices we could eventually open our doors to the public but it would be years in the making. Why wait that long? “
“With enough community support through funding and volunteer labor we could open as early as next spring and then ALL generations could come together to enjoy our Exploratorium,” she said.
Follow the project on Facebook @ Fort Scott Exploratorium to find out how you can help and see what they have accomplished and what currently working on.