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]

Kansas

KDOT requests comments on public involvement plan

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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on the Statewide Public Involvement Plan, Sharing the Future (STF) document. The purpose of the plan is to outline and provide details of KDOT’s public involvement process.

The STF sets forth guidance to KDOT enabling opportunities for public input throughout the transportation decision-making process. This plan may be helpful to the public in understanding KDOT’s processes regarding public involvement efforts and procedures followed. The plan can be viewed at https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/Headquarters/PDF_Files/Sharing-the-Future_220503.pdf.

The approval of STF requires a public comment period, which concludes June 2, 2022. To make comments on the plan, contact Ann Melton at (785) 409-2190, or [email protected]. This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711)
Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

FSHS Prom This Saturday, May 7

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Front from right to left, Abby Altic, Alexa Bukowski, Elli Milburn
Back:  Dominic Bishop, Shekhar Gugnani, Thade Yates.
The Fort Scott High School Junior and Senior Prom will be on May 7th, 2022 from 8:00 to 11:00 PM, at Liberty Theater.   Walk-in will begin at 6:30 that night.


Submitted by Bert Lewis FSHS Student Council Sponsor, Senior & Junior Class Sponsor, Key Club Sponsor, Ed Rising Sponsor,  and Scholars’ Bowl Coach.
Entertainment, Fort Scott

Friday Night Free Concert: Stephan Moses

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Stephan Moses. Submitted.

Stephan Moses will be the guest performer at this week’s Friday Night Concert. Moses is a songwriter vocalist and musician who plays guitar, banjo, and mandolin. He performs a variety of genres and this week’s show will feature Blues music.

 

“Formerly from Kansas City, and currently residing in Nevada, Moses began playing music at age ten, and he knows his way around the stage,” concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Moses has a rich family heritage in music from his grandfather and uncle and hearing their music as a youngster left a strong impression on him. As a vocalist and musician of excellence, we are pleased to welcome Stephan Moses back to the park pavilion. Come out and join us for a great evening of friendship and music.“

 

The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas of Parsons serves as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

 

In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott Community College

FSCC Nursing School to Move Location

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The future FSCC Nursing Department will be located at 9th and Horton, just a block southeast of its current location on Burke Street.
A letter of intent  is signed for Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas to sell the building at 902 S. Horton to Fort Scott Community College.
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
“We plan to move nursing there,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said. “The time-line is to take possession in March of 2023 and begin the program there in August of 2023.”
The future of the former nursing department building on Burke Street is uncertain at this time.
“The board will have to decide, but we are thinking we will sell it,” she said. “We will not be out of the building until summer of 2023.”
 The proposed sale of the property at 902 S. Horton, is for $482,870 which is the appraised value by Bourbon County, according to the letter of intent.
The CHC building at 902 S. Horton will soon be the Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department.
CHC will provide the title to FSCC on March 1, 2023.
CHC will look for opportunities to expand their affiliation with the community college, including scholarships and educational programs, according to the document.

Bourbon County Local News