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Economic Development Conference Focuses on Resilience

Viewpoint Column by Doug McKinney, NCRPC Executive Director

You know you are in downtown Denver when each evening fire trucks roll by every hour and hints of smoke are in the air at the pedestrian level. I was in Denver recently for a regional director’s conference facilitated by the Economic Development Administration. Forums occurred whereby regions were able to share what services they provide and how development occurs for new or different offerings. The conference is an opportunity to learn from peers.

Some of the most recent NCRPC developments I shared at the conference included nuisance reduction/abatement, housing down payment assistance, food system assessment and unmanned aircraft system research. Notably, NCKCN remains the first and only not-for-profit Internet service provider started and still operated by a regional development organization.

Credit was given to staff, board and partner involvement for all that the NCRPC and its affiliates offer. In addition to the more recent developments, the core services remain solid facets of this regional development organization that was begun in 1972 by active leaders with vision for future collaborations.

Economic resilience was a theme of the conference, especially in light of disaster recovery. Being prepared for disaster — be it cyber, fire or water related — remains important. The ability to recover and build back better when challenges arise is critical for our communities to thrive.

Finally, the Census 2020 is near and vitally important to places and people in Kansas. Communities that prepare and support the count are likely to see beneficial results. Kansas Health Foundation is supporting this with a promotional campaign. The League of Kansas Municipalities has received a grant award from KHF through which it will provide assistance to cities in Kansas to aid in census accuracy. To learn more, visit the website at kansashealth.org/2019/03/12/2020census/.

As always, contact NCRPC for technical assistance with this or other needs. Safe journeys.

This article appeared in the September 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

Project Spotlight: Mankato Housing

Renovation of four loft apartments in downtown Mankato was included in one of the city’s recent housing projects.

Long-time City of Mankato Mayor Don Koester credits a strategic planning meeting 16 years ago with helping the community chart a course to address its housing needs.

“We asked the community what needed to be done,” Koester said. “As a council, we took the ideas and tried to prioritize the biggest needs.”

That meeting was in his first year as mayor and he continues to serve in that role. Housing was among the list of priorities identified.

The community received a boost when it was awarded funds in 2005 through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce. The funding was part of a Comprehensive Development project that included construction of a new multi-purpose community building, park and street improvements, and housing demolition and rehabilitation. The Comprehensive Development Program is no longer offered.

“The housing in that first project was targeted right around the community center,” Koester said. “It made a small area so you could see a big impact. It was very successful.”

The city has since received funding for two additional housing rehabilitation projects through the CDBG Program. In total, the projects have helped rehabilitate 28 homes and demolish 18 dilapidated units.

“Our work is not complete with housing, but it is certainly going in the right direction,” Koester said. “If you can rehabilitate a house and stop it from going downhill, you keep it a viable housing unit for your community. You can stop that cycle of decline.”

The city is now in the process of deciding next steps to address some infrastructure needs.

“Infrastructure goes together with housing,” Koester said. “We are trying to look at things at a big scale for more years knowing that we will enhance what is there (housing) by what we do next.”

NCRPC Housing Director Carol Torkelson has administered all three housing projects in Mankato and credits the community for putting in the work to address housing.

“The City of Mankato committed to saving the existing housing stock and removing dilapidated structures,” Torkelson said. “It is something they could bring to their citizens at minimal cost to the city.”

There are many great things happening in North Central Kansas. The Project Spotlight series features projects around the region to share ways communities have solved challenges. To view more Project Spotlights, visit https://www.ncrpc.org/tag/project-spotlight/.

This article appeared in the September 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

Family Joins Forces to Bring Back Concordia Restaurant

Taco Grande opened in April in Concordia at 1421 E 6th Street.

Nostalgia and a love for tacos led one family to bring back Taco Grande to Concordia.

Chad and Malinda Sallman, Brock Sallman, and Loren and Dena Miller formed SallMill, LLC last year for the purpose of re-opening a Taco Grande franchise in Concordia. The Sallman’s and Miller’s opened a new Taco Grande restaurant in April at its original location at 1421 E. 6th Street.

The owners have ties to the original Concordia restaurant that operated from 1975 until the early 2000s — including Dena who worked at the previous Taco Grande during high school.

“The response to re-opening Taco Grande has been overwhelming,” Dena Miller said. “Concordia and the surrounding communities have supported us since the buzz of re-opening occurred almost a year ago. We as owners work really hard to ensure we are running a business that will sustain itself for years to come.”

The restaurant offers a menu of fast food Mexican cuisine and prides itself on using Kansas beef. Dine in seating and drive through service is available. Future plans are to add convenience options such as online ordering through an app and local delivery. The business has 15 part-time and 4 full-time employees.

This project was made possible with investment by the owners as well as funding from The Citizens National Bank of Concordia and NCKCN-Four Rivers Business Down Payment Assistance Loan Program. Additional local funds for building improvements were awarded from the Get in the Cloud small business grant program administered by CloudCorp.

For more information about the financing programs used, contact NCRPC Business Finance Director Debra Peters at 785-738-2218 or visit www.ncrpc.org/services/business. For more information about the business, find them on Facebook.

This article appeared in the September 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

Two Housing Nonprofits Launched

Although specific challenges and opportunities for housing may vary for communities across the region, most would agree that housing is an important issue to address.

The NCRPC has launched two new housing nonprofit organizations to help play a role in meeting the housing needs of communities in the region.

NCK Housing Opportunities, Inc. serves Cloud, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Ottawa, Republic, and Saline Counties. Four Rivers Housing Opportunities, Inc. serves Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, and Washington Counties. Both were formed in May 2018 and are IRS approved 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

The purpose of each is the following: “To stabilize population in its designated service area in North Central Kansas through assistance with housing opportunities; to maintain existing housing stock and help prevent further deterioration caused by vacancy; and improve economic conditions that help communities thrive.” Simply put, the mission of each organization is to preserve and strengthen housing in North Central Kansas.

“We keep hearing the need for housing assistance in the region,” Carol Torkelson, NCRPC Housing Director and board treasurer of the new nonprofits said. “We want to create programs that fulfill the purpose and mission of the nonprofits.”

The NCRPC has introduced pilot home ownership programs over the past year in various locations across the region.

“The pilot home ownership programs are really our first offering to try to address some of the needs,” Debra Peters, NCRPC Home Ownership Program Manager and board secretary of the new nonprofits said. “Housing rehabilitation is the next thing we want to tackle.”

The new housing initiatives began under the business loan pool that Peters manages, but quickly evolved to the point of needing its own oversight committee. The housing advisory committee will grow as additional programming is added.

Doug McKinney, NCRPC Executive Director, is leading the new nonprofits as board president. NCRPC Executive Board Treasurer Brian Eilert also serves on the board of directors of the new nonprofits.

Currently Four Rivers Housing Opportunities, Inc. offers a Marysville Home Ownership Pilot Program and the NCK Housing Opportunities, Inc. recently expanded its NCK Home Ownership Pilot Program. For more information on either program, visit www.ncrpc.org/services/homeownership.

This article appeared in the July 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

Home Ownership Program Expands to Two More Counties

A program that seeks to make home ownership more affordable for eligible buyers purchasing a home in Ellsworth and Lincoln counties launched in June.

The two-county pilot project of the NCK Home Ownership Program assists home buyers by reducing the barriers of down payments and closing costs. The program offers a combination of a down payment assistance loan of $10,000 and closing cost grant of $2,000 when purchasing a home of $50,000 or greater in Ellsworth or Lincoln County. Funds are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

An award from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan, Kansas, is being used to assist in the creation of the loan and grant pool. NCRPC is providing matching funds. Program administration is led by Debra Peters, Program Manager, and Keegan Bailey, Program Coordinator.

“This initiative would not have been possible without assistance from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Ellsworth and Lincoln County banks, Smoky Hill Development Corporation Executive Director Stacie Schmidt, and Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Kelly Larson,” Peters said.

According to Peters, the primary objectives of the pilot program are to reduce the number of homes on the market by making home ownership more affordable, be a catalyst for first time home buyers, benefit employers in recruiting and retaining employees, potentially reduce time/expense commuting to work, and provide an opportunity for alumni to return to North Central Kansas and enjoy the convenience of living closer to friends and family.

A similar program was offered in Cloud and Mitchell counties in 2018-2019. Ultimately the goal is to expand the NCK Home Ownership Program to other counties in the NCRPC service area. Another pilot home ownership program is also underway in Marysville. For more information about the program, contact NCRPC or visit www.ncrpc.org/services/homeownership.

This article appeared in the July 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

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