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TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that the Kansas Department of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award.
The Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award is a prestigious honor given by the Governor to best-in-class Kansas companies involved in international trade. These businesses are honored as examples of Kansas’ excellence in exporting to countries worldwide.
“Kansas businesses create outstanding products sought around the globe, and we’re proud to share those creations with people worldwide,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award is given to companies that demonstrate unique creativity, innovation and success in this critical sector of the state economy.”
To nominate a business, including your own, click here.
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s International Division and the Kansas International Trade Coordinating Council coordinate the selection process.
“The strength of our exporters is helping fuel the current significant increase in our state’s gross domestic product (GDP),” Commerce International Director Laura Lombard said. “This is the highest award our state offers to exporters. If you know one of these superior businesses, please nominate them.”
To be eligible, companies must be in good standing with the state and currently operating in and exporting from Kansas. Nominations must be received by April 1, 2024.
There are no restrictions on who may nominate a company for the award, and self-nominating is acceptable. For more information on the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award, including past winners and notable anniversaries, click here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for talent to take part in the first Virtual Statewide Job Fair of the year. Hosted by KANSASWORKS, the job fair will be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 21.
“Our state continues to see a surge in job growth as companies look to expand in Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “There are jobs available for everyone that is looking, and our KANSASWORKS team is here to assist all Kansans find employment opportunities at every skill level.”
The Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as employers may request to engage in a video interview.
Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.
Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click here.
About KANSASWORKS:
KANSASWORKS links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services KANSASWORKS is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at KANSASWORKS.com. State employment opportunities can be found at jobs.ks.gov.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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February 9, 2024
The Budget starts with the Governor proposing spending for departments and agencies. The legislature then has hearings and considers the requests with minimal information. Some states like Ohio, will work on budgets for months without working on any other legislation. That does not happen in Kansas. While working on all other topics of bills, legislators also work on the budget. The Governor’s proposed budget is presented the day after the State of the State speech, which is usually the second or third week of session. This process needs to be changed so that legislators have more information and more time to research and consider the spending.
The Senate has the standing committees look at the corresponding departments budget. When working on the Department of Commerce budget, a motion was made to give $28 million of Kansas taxpayer money for the World Cup Soccer Tournament coming to Chiefs stadium. The money will go to a non-profit with no guard-rails on how the money will be spent. The World Cup will have teams practicing in Kansas, some could be as far away as Manhattan. A few of us did not support this spending but it passed out of committee. I did make a successful motion to cut Public Broadcast System (PBS) funding by 10% because the taxpayer funded station pushes their political agenda using tax dollars. PBS has some good programs on cooking, sewing, travel, history, and many other topics. However, a couple of the PBS stations in Kansas choose to push a political agenda without showing both sides of an issue. If they choose to do so tax dollars should not be funding it.
Proposed Pay Increases for the legislature has made national news. It’s a massive increase that myself and others are trying to block. A commission was formed and proposed the increase. I understand there needs to be some increase so that we get legislators from different walks of life who can serve. But the commission’s proposal is over a 90% increase in one year. If the legislature doesn’t take action, the increase goes into effect next year. There was an attempt to go around leadership by pulling the resolution to block the increase out of committee and force a debate on the Senate floor. It needed 24 votes but only received 21.
Tax Cuts were vetoed by the Governor because she refused to sign into law tax policy in CCR 2284 that she calls a “reckless flat tax experiment, taking us back to Brownback years”. How can this be true when several states have this policy, including Colorado, Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina, Utah, and others? “North Dakota looks to follow lead of Idaho, Georgia, Arizona, and Mississippi, becoming [the] nation’s 24th flat tax state,” according to a 9/2/22 Forbes article, “More States To Join The Flat Tax Club.” Let’s be clear, a flat tax is what people are calling a single rate and that is what is being proposed in Kansas. More accurately, Kansas could be considered a dual rate proposal because low income amounts will not be taxed at all. The Governor is wrong that CCR 2284 would be a “failed experiment”. There are red and blue states that have adopted a single rate income tax. Kansas would tax Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) at 5.25 after subtracting $12,300 ($6150 for individual). This subtraction makes it a tax cut for all. It is proven policy, not reckless, not an experiment, and would not break the state – there is over $3 billion in the state coffers.
Remember, over 341,000 low income filers would pay $0 state income tax, Social Security would be exempt from state income tax, there are inflation busters on income taxes and homeowners’ property taxes. Hopefully legislators from all parties will vote for the veto override and put the people of Kansas above politics.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
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New screen for X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) added.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Kansas Newborn Screening Program (KS-NBS) began screening for X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) at the start of the month. The move aligns with the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, which is the national guideline for newborn screening.
“We are very excited to be able to add testing for X-ALD to our screening process,” Janet Stanek, KDHE Secretary, said. “This will have a direct and positive impact on the health and future of our youngest Kansans.”
Nearly 35,000 Kansas babies receive the newborn screening shortly after birth each year. With one small blood sample, 33 metabolic and genetic conditions can be detected. Early diagnosis and entry into treatment has demonstrated evidence of better health outcomes for children. Many of the conditions on the screening panel are not detectable at birth or during routine follow-up visits.
According to multiple sources, it is estimated that one out of every 15,000 newborns is diagnosed with X-ALD. X-ALD is a disease that affects the nervous system and the adrenal cortex. If untreated, X-ALD can impact learning and behavior in boys, with onset typically occurring between the ages of 4 and 10.
The KS-NBS strives to protect and improve the health of all newborns in Kansas. Visit kdhe.ks.gov/NewbornScreening to learn more about the program. More information on tests included in newborn screenings can be found at Babys First Test. For specific information on X-ALD, visit ALD Parents Guide.
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TOPEKA – Kansas Tourism has announced the spring round of applications are open for the Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program. Attraction Development Grants are designed to assist in the development of sustainable travel experiences by developing new tourism attractions or enhancing existing attractions that will spur new visitation and increase visitor spending. A total of $500,000 will be granted during this round. Applications are due by April 1, 2024.
“Tourism is a key element to invigorating local economies,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Through strategic investments in developing new tourism opportunities, we create jobs and increase a community’s appeal as a place to live and do business.”
The goals of the Attraction Development Grants are to spur economic growth, increase visitation to the state, enhance the visitor experience and improve quality of life.
“The development of new attractions offers fresh avenues for exploration and discovery,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “This is one way we can encourage visitors to come back over and over to continually uncover more about Kansas each time they visit.”
For more information about the Attraction Development Grants, click here, or contact Kansas Tourism Grant Program Manager Carrie Doud here.
For a full list of grants offered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, click here.
About Kansas Tourism:
The mission of Kansas Tourism is to inspire travel to and throughout Kansas to maximize the positive impacts that tourism has on our state and local communities. Kansas Tourism works hand in hand with other Commerce community programs to elevate and promote Kansas as a tourist destination. Kansas Tourism oversees all tourism marketing and PR for the state, produces travel publications and advertising, manages state Travel Information Centers, manages both the Kansas By-ways program and the Kansas Agritourism program, approves tourist signage applications, produces the KANSAS! Magazine, and provides financial and educational support to the tourism industry in Kansas through grants, education, and support.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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“Behavioral health generally refers to mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms. Behavioral health care refers to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of those conditions.,” according to the American Medical Association website https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-behavioral-health
JGHealthcare Solutions
Discovery Behavioral Health
Bayside Marin
San Rafael, California
Education
Denning said he has ties to this area because he was born and raised in Nevada, Missouri.
From Denning’s LinkedIn site here is his experience:
JGHealthcare Solutions
Acadia Healthcare
The following is Gross’s experience and education taken from his LinkedIn site.
Experience:
J G Health Solutions · Self-employed .United States
Revelare Recovery · Self-employed
Recovery Ways
Acadia Healthcare
T. J. Denning is the Chief Operating Officer, Joe Tinervin is the Chief Executive Officer and Jonathan Gross is the owner of the parent company JG Healthcare Solutions, according to Denning.
KRI, 4601 E. Douglas Suite 150, Wichita, KS 67218
JG Healthcare Solutions, 619 Garden Street, Golden CO 80403
USDA to Issue $306 Million in Final Payments to Producers Impacted by 2020 and 2021 Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2024 – The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing final Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments totaling approximately $306 million to eligible commodity and specialty crop producers who incurred losses due to natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin issuing these additional payments to eligible producers this week.
“In the natural disaster recovery process, every little bit of available assistance helps offset the financial toll that these catastrophic events have taken on agricultural producers, their families, and their operations,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “With remaining funds after initial factoring, USDA was able to put additional money back in the hands of the producers as we strive for the most fair and equitable distribution of available funds to as many producers as possible.”
Recipients of the additional payment are limited to those producers who received ERP Phase One payments from FSA that were calculated based on crop insurance indemnities. Initially, ERP Phase One payments to producers who were indemnified through Federal crop insurance, were subject to a 75% payment factor. FSA has since determined that adequate funding exists to provide an additional 3.5% ERP Phase One payment to producers who had crop insurance increasing the overall payment factor to 78.5%. These additional ERP Phase One payments are subject to FSA payment limitation provisions as outlined in the ERP Phase One fact sheet.
Because ERP Phase One payments to producers of noninsured crops covered by FSA NAP policies were originally paid at 100%, there will be no additional payments issued to these producers for 2020 and 2021 losses.
The Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, 2021 (P.L. 117-43) provided $10 billion in assistance to agricultural producers impacted by wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms and other eligible disasters experienced during calendar years 2020 and 2021. In 2022, FSA implemented ERP Phase One, which delivered $7.5 billion in payments to commodity and specialty crop producers. For Phase One, ERP used a streamlined process with pre-filled application forms, leveraging crop insurance indemnities or Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) payments on file with USDA.
Separately, through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) Congress allocated approximately $3.2 billion in funding to cover necessary expenses related to losses of revenue, quality or production losses of crops. Enrollment is ongoing for ERP 2022, which covers losses to crops, trees, bushes and vines due to qualifying, calendar year 2022 natural disaster events including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought and related conditions.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
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TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that for the first time since 2015, Kansas saw less than 400 traffic fatalities last year. Preliminary data for 2023 indicates 388 people died in traffic crashes in Kansas, compared to 410 fatalities in 2022. The number of fatalities has been trending down for three consecutive years.
Roadway safety has improved, in part, thanks to the Kelly administration’s 10-year, $10 billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program and efforts to close the ‘Bank of KDOT.’
“Safe roads save lives, which is why I have been relentless about repairing our infrastructure across the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’ll work with the legislature to continue to make those necessary investments, and in the meantime, we must all do our part to reduce traffic fatalities. I encourage all Kansans to buckle up, follow posted speed limits, avoid distractions, and drive sober.”
The simple act of buckling up increases crash survivability by over 45%, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. The Drive To Zero Coalition credits initiatives included in the Kansas Strategic Highway Safety Plan to helping lower fatalities and serious injuries.
“The state’s Safety Plan has resulted in increased behavioral safety messaging and low-cost engineering improvements, such as the designation of four Safety Corridors, communities building safety coalitions, and law enforcement increasing engagement with the public,” said Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed.
Click here to learn more about these safety initiatives.
The Kansas Drive To Zero Dashboard can be found here.
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February 2, 2024
The Disability Employee Act tax credit program expired last year. We tried to continue the program, but the Governor vetoed the extension language in CCR 8. This year the legislature passed CCR 15 to reinstate the program. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously and has been sent to the Governor.
Committee work is still the main focus of session. All bills can be found at www.kslegislature.org. There are several bills that have passed out of committees. It appears leadership is not going to move on any bills until there is a vote to override the Governor’s veto of the tax bill CCR 2284, or it could just be a coincidence that no bills have been brought “above the line”. Above the line is a term used for bills that passed out of committee and are scheduled for debate on the chamber floor with the committee of the whole. The committee of the whole is all of the members of that chamber.
Tax Relief is a major debate in Topeka. There is over $3 billion in the state coffers so how are we going to cut taxes? The legislature passed sustainable tax relief in CCR 2284 that helps fight inflation with a bipartisan vote, but the Governor vetoed it. There will be an attempt to override the veto.
CCR 2284 would provide tax relief for all Kansans. Some people are misrepresenting the fact that it would help over 341,000 low income taxpayers. They would pay $0 in state income tax. For example, a family of four making $29,000 with the legislators’ plan, CCR 2284, would have $0 taxes owed, a relief of $372 from existing law, and a relief of $310 over the Governor’s plan. In current law the family has a $12,000 taxable income after the standard deduction and personal exemptions are subtracted, taxed at 3.1% or $372 taxes owed. The Governor’s plan (SB 377) the same family would have $10,000 taxable income, because SB 377 increases the standard deduction to $10,000 marred filing jointly, but leaves the personal exemption the same; resulting in a tax obligation of $310, a $62 savings from current law. CCR 2284 would have $0 taxable income because there is an additional subtraction of $12,300 for joint filers ($6150 for individual filers) besides the standard deduction and personal exemption subtractions (which is increased in CCR 2284) – a much better deal than current law or the Governor’s plan.
One of the most important features in CCR 2284 is that it continues to increase the standard deduction and personal exemptions to fight inflation, along with a property tax inflation fighter. CCR 2284 and the Governor’s plans decrease property taxes by exemption $100,000 from the K-12 20 mill, but the legislature’s plan continues to increase this value to fight inflation plan. Both plans accelerate the elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and exempt Social Security from income tax. Taxpayers deserve the best possible tax relief and policy that helps fight inflation.
Foreign Adversaries, such as China, must be stopped from owning property in Kansas. I requested legislation to address this and stopping taxpayer money like Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) from being invested in foreign countries that are adversaries of the United States. The foreign investment language passed the Senate, but a few House members blocked it in conference committee last year.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn