A Community Food Survey sponsored by the North Central Kansas Food Council will end July 31.
There is still time for those currently living in the 12-county region (including the counties of Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Ottawa, Republic, Saline, and Washington) to participate. The survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCKFCSurvey.
Paper copies of the survey are also available in public places in many cities in the region. Common locations for paper surveys include city halls, courthouses, libraries, and county extension offices.
According to NCRPC Assistant Director Emily Benedick, the survey will help determine local food trends in consumption, availability of fresh food choices, and the current food system needs of each county and the region. “We hope residents in the region will take a few minutes to complete the survey either online or in their communities and ultimately help shape their local food system,” Benedick said.
The survey is part of a broader regional food system assessment already in progress for the region. For more information about the NCK Food Council or the survey, visit www.ncrpc.org/nckfoodcouncil or find them on Facebook.
This article appeared in the July 2018 NCRPC Newsletter.
Any entity pursuing government contracts—including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Grantees—must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).
In this Federal database at SAM.gov, users can register to do business with the U.S. government, update or renew an entity registration, check status of an entity registration, and search for entity registration and exclusion records. Registration at the official SAM website (www.sam.gov) is free. Do not be confused by look-alike web sites or companies offering to register on your behalf.
Recent changes have been made to enhance system security and deter fraud. SAM.gov has partnered with Login.gov to implement multi-factor authentication for registered SAM.gov users. Effective June 29, 2018, when users go to SAM.gov and log in, they will be asked to create a Login.gov account. During initial Login.gov registration, users will be asked to enter an email address. Be sure to use your existing SAM email address to create the account. Access to a working phone number (mobile or landline) is also needed to register as Login.gov will send a security code.
To learn more about the recent changes occurring with SAM.gov registration, click here.
Remember, there is never a charge to register at SAM.gov. For questions or assistance, contact the community development staff at the NCRPC.
This article appeared in the July 2018 NCRPC Newsletter.
Tootleville Park is an important part of the City of Miltonvale.
A park is a vital part of many communities. Miltonvale, a town of just over 500 people located south of U.S. Hwy 24, has made many park improvements over the years. Those efforts received a boost when the community was awarded Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under the 2015 Special Round category.
The $350,000 award, coupled with more than $35,500 in local contributions, allowed the city to complete a major park improvement project. This, however, was not the first time the community invested in its park. Approximately 10 years ago volunteers built the “Tootleville Playground” area with the help of more than $100,000 in donated funds. A disc golf course came later. It has become a top course in Kansas with an annual tournament. The city has also renovated a Works Progress Administration (WPA) fountain and added a RV Park using foundation and other local funding sources. The CDBG project helped the city replace band shell seating, construct accessible walkways, construct a veteran’s memorial, improve drainage, install fencing for an existing volleyball court, and construct a picnic shelter and a parking area.
According to NCRPC Assistant Director Emily Benedick, Miltonvale’s approach to solve a community need is still relevant even though the CDBG Special Round of funding no longer exists.
“They may be a small rural community, but they find ways to continuously make improvements throughout the city in order to ensure the best quality of life possible for their residents,” Benedick said. “When cities are able to prove that they can help themselves with or without grant funding, it only improves their chances of receiving grant funds.”
According to Miltonvale City Clerk Darla Bebber, the park is a hub of community activity. This summer it is the location of three free movies and a farmer’s market. It is also popular for weddings, photography, disc golf tournaments, festivals, and RV Park.
“The community is proud of the park and utilizes it extensively as well as out of town visitors,” Bebber said.
Miltonvale is home to a long list of WPA structures, many of which are located in the park. The city plans to continue its park improvements.
“On the horizon we hope to renovate the scout cabin and grill and clean up the creek wall area (all WPA structures). It’s all a part of our history and the hard working people that made this park come to life,” Bebber said. “We are also working on markers that will give the history of the park, Miltonvale and the WPA projects.”
There are many great things happening in North Central Kansas communities. Periodically we plan to feature projects from 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 July 2018 NCRPC Newsletter.
A business with a presence in Salina and the region since 1972 has new owners. Earlier this year Scott and Meghan Bird purchased Design Central located in downtown Salina.
Design Central specializes in selling office furniture and offers a complete line of commercial interior design services throughout Kansas. The business has interior designers on staff to provide furniture solutions and design layout assistance for new construction as well as remodeling projects of existing facilities. The business primarily provides services for corporate/office, educational—including schools and libraries, and healthcare settings.
Design Central is located at 152 S. 5th St. in downtown Salina.
Previous owner Suzanne Hokett, who has more than 30 years of experience, has operated the business since 1982. She continues to manage the day-to-day operations.
The new owners are both Kansas natives. Scott grew up in Burlington and graduated from the University of Kansas and Meghan Bird grew up in Overland Park and graduated from Kansas State University.
This project was made possible with funding from First Bank Kansas, NCKCN-Four Rivers Down Payment Assistance Loan Program, the seller, and investment by the owners.
For more information about the financing programs used, contact NCRPC Business Finance Director Debra Peters at 785-738-2218 or dpeters@nckcn.com or visit www.ncrpc.org/services/business. To learn more about the business, visit www.designcentralks.com. For more information about upgrading a space or the design services available, contact a designer at 785-825-4131 or aageorge@designcentralks.com.
This article appeared in the July 2018 NCRPC Newsletter.
REV-E3, located in Jewell, KS, was created with the vision of reducing electronic waste (E-waste) in rural areas. It recently marked completion of its first year in business.
While E-waste continues to be a primary focus, the business has expanded its services to include broader information technology services—including data destruction, equipment sales, refurbishing, and repair. Lee McMillan and Tony Salcido are owners. The business has another full-time employee.
“We assist clients through the life of their electronics from helping to purchase new, to repairing as issues arise and finally to recycling end of life products,” McMillan said.
The business helps keep E-waste from households and businesses out of landfills and dispose of it safely. According to McMillan, REV-E3 refurbishes what it can before tearing items down for recycling—essentially extending the life of the electronics.
While many landfills accept E-waste, some are limited on how much and what types they can accept. McMillan suggests checking with your local landfill on its E-waste policies.
The company has recently started an initiative to partner with cities and counties to offer community cleanup/E-waste drives. In the past year the business has also started to work with E-waste coalitions in which multiple counties participate.
“Working with the E-waste coalitions is great for us and it also saves them the expense of having to haul items away,” McMillan said.
REV-E3 was recently awarded funds through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment Solid Waste Grant Program to purchase trailers and equipment that will allow the business to double the amount of E-waste it can collect by having larger storage capacity. NCRPC Community Development Representative Nichole McDaniel assisted the business with the KDHE application.
“The grant award will allow us to expand our service area and better utilize our time, equipment and resources,” McMillan said.
This article appeared in the May 2018 NCRPC Newsletter.
The North Central Kansas Food Council (NCKFC) will continue the next phase of its regional food system assessment this summer. The emphasis will be community engagement through surveying, outreach, and focus groups.
The first phase of the regional food system assessment focused on quantitative data. This summer’s phase will engage local growers and producers, members of civic groups, government entities and others to ensure a comprehensive look at what is happening with local foods in the region and the current food system needs of each county. Ultimately the NCKFC plans to use the information from the summer’s outreach to help plan an implementation strategy for each county and the region.
According to NCRPC Assistant Director Emily Benedick, guidelines for selling produce commercially and the expense of licensing can be a challenge for small local producers growing specialty crops for a living.
“The NCKFC wants to help increase support for local growers,” Benedick said. “We hope that through the research conducted through the regional food assessment we will be able to collect the necessary data and trends of the region to help connect producers not only to each other to form local collaborations, but to also connect producers to interested consumers as a revenue stream.”
The NCKFC will begin surveying in June. The survey will help determine local food trends in consumption and availability of health food choices. It will be available online and through paper copies in public offices around the region. Focus groups will begin this summer and continue through the fall.
Each county also has a County Advisory Council that will be instrumental in the regional food system assessment. County Advisory Councils are still being formed in some counties. If you are interested in getting involved, contact the NCRPC at 785-738-2218.
The NCKFC was developed in 2017 as an initiative of the NCRPC and Live Well Saline County and is assisted by Advancing Rural Prosperity, Inc. (ARPI) through its joint partnership with the NCRPC to advance food system development in North Central Kansas.
The council is once again collaborating with Leon Atwell of ARPI and consultant Kolia Souza, who is affiliated with the Center for Engagement at Kansas State University, to complete this phase of the regional food system assessment.
A new member to the NCKFC team this summer will be Emily Reno, who will join the NCRPC through the Dane G. Hansen Foundation & K-State Research and Extension Community Internship Program. Reno will assist with surveying and focus groups.
Watch for more information about the survey beginning in June. To learn more about the NCKFC, like them on Facebook or visit www.ncrpc.org/nckfoodcouncil.
This article appeared in the May 2018 NCRPC Newsletter.
A new program that seeks to make home ownership more affordable is now available to home buyers purchasing a home in Cloud and Mitchell counties.
The two-county pilot project of the NCK Home Ownership Program will assist current and future residents by reducing the barriers of down payments and closing costs. The program offers a combination of a 0% down payment assistance loan of up to 10% of the purchase price ($10,000 limit) and closing cost grant of up to 2.5% of the purchase price ($2,500 limit) when purchasing an existing home in Cloud or Mitchell County. Funds are available on a first come, first served 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. The NCRPC will provide program administration led by Debra Peters, Program Manager.
“This initiative would not have been possible without assistance from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Cloud and Mitchell County banks, CloudCorp Executive Director Ashley Hutchinson, and Solomon Valley Economic Development Director Heather Hartman,” Peters said.
Increasing quality of life for residents through home ownership and reducing the number of homes on the market are two project goals. According to Hartman, the launch of the NCK Home Ownership Program in Mitchell County gives her organization another tool to help employers.
“We are always searching for ways to help our employers retain quality employees and home ownership is another piece of the puzzle,” Hartman said.
Hutchinson expects the program will have many benefits in the two counties where the pilot is being launched—and regionally if the program meets expectations and is able to expand.
“The Home Ownership Program is an additional recruitment tool to attract young professionals to North Central Kansas, complimenting the existing Rural Opportunity Zones,” Hutchinson said. “More home ownership means more kids in schools, a broadening of the tax base, and healthier, happier families.”
This pilot project will test the demand for such a program. Ultimately the goal is to expand the program to other counties in the NCRPC service area that also fall within the Dane G. Hansen Foundation service area. Another pilot home ownership program was launched in Marysville in February to test demand for a similar program in the remaining NCRPC service area counties. For more information, contact Debra Peters at 785-738-2218 or dpeters@nckcn.com or visit www.ncrpc.org/services/housing/#homeownership.
This article appeared in the May 2018 NCRPC Newsletter.
Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Rural Voices winners!
First Place Video Entry: Sydney Johnson, Beloit Junior-Senior High School, Beloit, KS
First Place Written Entry:David Lutgen, St. John’s Catholic High School, Beloit, KS
View the winning video and read the winning essay below.
Rural Kansas… If I Were in Charge
By David Lutgen
Rural Kansas is a great place to call home. Growing up in Beloit, Kansas, has taught me the values of family, hard work, dedication, thankfulness for my blessings, and giving back to others. I love the small town atmosphere where neighbors are friendly, people know and respect each other, and it is a safe place to raise kids. There are many other positive aspects of rural communities in Kansas; however, changes are needed in order to maintain, or, more importantly, to allow these communities to grow. It is necessary to keep up with the times and be willing to make changes. An unknown author said, “Old ways won’t open new doors.” I believe a good place to start would be to attract young families to rural communities. Without increasing and revitalizing the population, these rural communities will die out.
The current housing market deters young people from moving to rural communities. It is not feasible because it is unaffordable for most. I would start by making affordable housing available. In addition to building affordable homes, it would also be beneficial to repair run-down homes, as well as clean up areas in need of refurbishing. This would not only make more housing available, but would enhance the appearance of rural communities, making them more attractive to potential residents. In 1973, a group of people from a rural community in Texas realized a growing need in their community. Their neighbors’ homes were in disrepair, and the homeowners could not afford to fix them. These individuals volunteered their time and skills to help their struggling neighbors. They realized the good their work was doing and its potential. They began an organization called Rebuilding Together to repair and rebuild homes that had fallen into disrepair. Rebuilding Together is now a nationally recognized non-profit housing organization. Organizations such as this would create an improved rural environment. I would create a volunteer home-repair organization for those who would be willing to help others who are not physically, or financially able to make repairs on their own. People who work in their community also take pride and ownership of it. An attractive housing market would encourage growth and revitalization in rural Kansas.
If affordable housing were available, it would be easier to recruit start-up companies or those seeking to expand. Companies such as Sunflower, Carrico Implement, and Agco have had a positive role in attracting young families to the Beloit, Kansas, community by providing employment to a large percentage of residents in Beloit. Other examples of employment that I would promote would include: construction (building new housing developments), civil service jobs, financial institutions, and restaurants. With that being said, big chain stores such as Walmart would devastate rural Kansas. Kenneth Stone, a researcher at Iowa State University did a study on the effects that Walmart had on local businesses in rural Iowa. The study compared thirty-four rural Iowa towns that had Walmart stores nearby to fifteen Iowa towns that did not. Populations in these towns ranged from 5,000 to 40,000 persons. The results concluded that some small towns lost up to forty-seven percent of their local retail trade after ten years of having Walmart stores nearby. I would be strongly opposed to allowing businesses such as Walmart to take up residence anywhere near a rural area that is wanting to grow. A business such as Walmart would put local stores out of business, which would have the opposite effect of building up small towns.
Hospitals and/or medical clinics are also key components to a thriving rural community. Not only do they provide employment, but also healthcare close to home. People shouldn’t have to travel long distances to receive medical treatment. Some people may argue that traveling long distances is worth it for quality healthcare. Yes, Mayo Clinic may provide better healthcare than a rural hospital; however, rural hospitals are vital for everyday and emergency needs. Take for example, eighteen-month-old Edith Gonzalez. Edith had a grape lodged in her throat and tragically died in her desperate parents’ arms. Edith’s parents could not reach medical treatment before she passed away, as there was no hospital in their rural Texas county. The problem was simple, yet there was no solution. According to the American Hospital Association, there are about 5,700 hospitals in the country, but they tend to be unevenly distributed–only thirty-five percent are located in rural areas. According to the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, researchers at the University of North Carolina have determined that there are 640 counties across the country without quick access to an acute-care hospital, roughly twenty percent of the nation’s 29,000 residential areas. Tragic situations such as this are very preventable with healthcare close to home. Since the rural environment may not be appealing to many doctors, I would promote a student loan forgiveness incentive for young doctors fresh out of medical school to practice in rural communities. This would be a win-win situation for both rural communities and young doctors. Rural communities would have the opportunity to have healthcare, and young doctors could receive a great start to their career, while not having to worry about their student loans.
Schools are also a priority. Parents should not have to worry about their children receiving a quality education. We can’t produce leaders of tomorrow if we don’t give them a quality education today. I would increase funding for grade schools and high schools to ensure all children receive a quality education. Also, perhaps there could be an incentive for college students to work in a rural community after graduation, if jobs were available to them.
Local shopping and recreational activities also boost the rural environment and economy. Many people shop on the internet or commute long distances to shop. I would encourage competitive pricing in local businesses to entice people to shop locally, keeping money in the community. I would also promote new local business by providing a tax-free incentive for new business owners. Entertainment also plays a role in rural areas. For example, Beloit, Kansas, has a community movie theater, new water park, Chautauqua Park, Isle of Lights during the holiday season, bowling alley, and community concerts. Restaurants are also important to a community. More people than ever before are eating out. Why not bring in quality, affordable eating establishments and keep the money in town? Activities such as school and church functions, county fairs, festivals, barbeques, car shows, parades, farmers markets, and fundraisers also contribute to a small town atmosphere. Recreational activities and restaurants make rural life enjoyable.
A young generation rejuvenates rural communities. A thriving rural community is built around its people. The sense of family, rural atmosphere, and small town values are attractive to young families; however, there is always room for improvement. Rural communities must be willing to change in order to grow. If I were in charge I would provide affordable housing, quality jobs, healthcare, and schools as they are all key components in bringing young families to rural Kansas. Young families are the future of rural Kansas.
Works Cited
Stone, Kenneth “Impact of the Walmart Phenomenon on Rural Communities.” Iowa State
University. Iowa State University. Web. 12 Oct. 2017.
Williams, Joseph “What Happens When a Town’s Only Hospital Shuts Down.” US News and
World Report. US News and World Report, 8 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2017.
About the Contest: The Rural Voices Youth Contest is sponsored each year by the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC) to engage high school seniors in North Central Kansas in thoughtful reflection on rural Kansas and to promote a discussion among citizens based on their insights.
The next contest deadline will be November 15, 2018. Further details will be announced and registration for the 2018-2019 Rural Voices Youth Contest will begin in September 2018.
Students spent time at Waconda Lake with a Wildlife Biologist from Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
After a successful first year of the Career Exploration and Leadership Program for 7-9th grade students in Mitchell County, planning has begun for the summer 2018 program.
“We have students who enjoyed the program so much they are already asking about it for next year,” Heather Hartman, Mitchell County Community Development Director and member of the program planning committee, says.
Hartman says the program was a great way to show students career options close to home.
“Small communities need to realize how important it is to get these kids interested when they are young,” Hartman says. “We were amazed at what was accomplished with very little investment. It may seem daunting, but I encourage others to jump in and start planning.”
The Mitchell County program came about after Jeff Travis of USD 273, Eric Burks of NCK Tech, Heather Hartman, and NCRPC Director Doug McKinney attended a forum sponsored by the Kansas Department of Education in December 2016 featuring Pine Bush, New York, and their approach to career engagement and re-attraction of young persons.
The local planning committee discussed overall themes and goals for establishing a local program—the main requirement being to have “hands-on” experiences—and then hired staff to develop the content.
“We were able to hire Cris Adams of USD 273 who worked with that age of students, which was helpful because he had a feel for the types of activities that would work,” Hartman says.
Stephanie Litton, USD 273 Counselor, was also a big part of the program and served as a student guide along with Adams.
Scheduling was one of the biggest challenges in planning. Ultimately the committee decided to offer the program Monday through Thursday for three consecutive weeks in June from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students could sign up for one, two, or all three weeks.
Students explored applied agriculture, wildlife biology, food creativity, health care, business technology, graphic design, worldwide advertising, civic leadership, robotics, as well as entrepreneurship.
“We wanted to expose students to things they normally wouldn’t see,” Hartman says. “This included classes they could take right here at NCK Tech and also careers they could choose close to home.”
While youth entrepreneurship curriculum exist, Hartman says the Mitchell County program developed its own content and curriculum. Leadership was integrated into each week as well.
“We as a planning committee knew we were passionate about showing kids something new and were thankful when we had staff step up and help,” Hartman says. “Our business community was excellent and really helped out with allowing tours and speakers to interact with these students.”
The cost was $10 per week or $25 for all three weeks. Students received t-shirts and the program offered scholarships.
The Mitchell County program was made possible through local support and a small investment from the Rural Business Development Initiative (Formerly Tax Credits), which the NCRPC administers.
Requests of up to $1,000 to help support the establishment of youth summer learning/entrepreneurship programs throughout the region will be considered. Contact NCRPC for more information about the Rural Business Development Initiative.
National Weatherization Day 2017 is October 30. In recognition we are featuring how one local Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) client was positively impacted by the program.
Improvements to a North Central Kansas home made through the Weatherization Assistance Program have made a big difference for one homeowner.
Living on a limited income following a family death made it difficult for this elderly homeowner to keep up with necessary home repairs. Having lived in the home for more than 45 years, the resident’s primary concern when applying for the Weatherization Assistance Program was the home’s furnace.
Ultimately the application for assistance was approved and improvements were made to the home. In addition to a new high efficiency furnace, the home also received insulation and air sealing measures. Previously the attics had only 3 1/2” to 6” of insulation and no sidewall insulation.
Utility bills for this North Central Kansas home were drastically reduced after energy efficiency improvements were made last spring through the Weatherization Assistance Program.
The project was completed in March 2016. Since that time, the homeowner has been amazed at the difference these improvements have made. The house is no longer drafty, utility bills have been cut in half, and there is now a credit on the homeowner’s level-payment system.
For more information about the Weatherization Program the NCRPC administers in a 42-county area in Kansas, click here.
A Community Food Survey sponsored by the North Central Kansas Food Council will end July 31.
fills accept E-waste, some are limited on how much and what types they can accept. McMillan suggests checking with your local landfill on its E-waste policies.
The NCKFC will begin surveying in June. The survey will help determine local food trends in consumption and availability of health food choices. It will be available online and through paper copies in public offices around the region. Focus groups will begin this summer and continue through the fall.
A new program that seeks to make home ownership more affordable is now available to home buyers purchasing a home in Cloud and Mitchell counties.
Improvements to a North Central Kansas home made through the Weatherization Assistance Program have made a big difference for one homeowner.
