Business Prospects
I spoke with a business in Brown County that is interested in finding funds for a non-profit tourist attraction. I will provide consulting services on a fee basis for the business to develop a business plan. RDA will also research government and non-profit financing opportunities.

I spoke on behalf of Midwest Ag Services, LLC at the Nemaha County Commission on Monday, November 6 regarding a tax abatement application. The application was filed in conjunction with the Industrial Revenue Bond issue that the county previously approved. RDA had been working with Midwest on the cost-benefit analysis in conjunction with the abatement. Nemaha County approved the tax abatement request on November 13. In light of this approval, RDA has received numerous contacts from businesses regarding the processes for tax abatements and neighborhood revitalization.

Three different groups in Sabetha are hoping to build entertainment/recreation facilities. I am hoping to merge two groups into one as they have similar goals.

I have relayed information regarding the proposed CDBG Microloan grants to several different businesses in both counties. There seems to be great interest in the program.

I scheduled a meeting with Larry Carnahan from USDA for Tuesday, November 28. Larry will discussed the Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (REDLG) program with three local businesspersons. The REDLG program is a 0% loan to local utility providers who in turn loan funds to businesses and non-profits for no interest and very low origination fees. The recent Hiawatha Community Hospital project used the REDLG program with Brown-Atchison Electric Cooperative.

Local Government Relations
I attended another meeting with of the Seneca Land Use Task Force. Jeff White, public works director for the City of Topeka, acted as facilitator for the meeting. Jeff lead the group through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis of the city. Each committee member is now assigned to a group of two or three members. Each group is responsible for "defending" one of the five options for using the 114-acre tract in the northwestern portion of Seneca. The final categories include a new swimming pool, a new recreation/fitness center, affordable housing, industrial development, and a new golf course. I offered RDA services to any group that wishes technical/advisory assistance. I emphasized RDA expertise in housing and industrial development – two areas in which RDA is currently working. RDA provided information regarding available funding mechanisms to a few groups.

Mike Clowe from the City of Wetmore invited me to the November meeting of the Northeast Kansas Board of Realtors. We discussed the housing situation in Wetmore and steps that we can take to promote the whole area. The two issues that the realtors cited most frequently when referring to lack of housing development in the area were lack of quality employment and close proximity to metropolitan areas. Quality of life issues were also raised as positive aspects that rural areas must do more to promote.

I discussed w the Neighborhood Revitalization program renewal with the City of Hamlin. They will hold a public hearing on December 12, after which it is expected that the city council will approve the resolutions to enter into the program with Brown County.

I have also begun preliminary work on a potential CDBG application for a new senior citizens center on behalf of Nemaha County. I visited the present facilities on Monday, November 27. The deadline for the next round of Community Facilities CDBG grants is March 15, 2001. The Sewer and Water grants deadline is April 15, 2001.

I met with officials from USDA Rural Development in Lawrence to discuss their rental housing programs. Specifically, I spoke about available options for the Everest Housing Authority project currently under development. I also spoke with Tim Rogers, Rural Development Specialist, about the sewer systems projects that are being developed throughout Brown County. Tim mentioned that he has notified state USDA officials that Brown and Atchison Counties should be considered a priority, as they are among the final counties to implement new EPA regulations.

The application to the State Housing Trust fund on behalf of the Everest Housing Authority is complete. Applications were due on December 1. Awards for the Trust Fund will be announced in January. In the meantime, we will begin preparing applications for State Housing Tax Credits. Applications are due by February 9, 2001.

The Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing (KDOC&H) awarded Nemaha County with a $100,000 Microloan grant through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. RDA prepared the application and applied on behalf of Nemaha County. This award coincided with Brown County’s award for the 2000 round.

Miscellaneous
I attended the regular meeting of the Northeast Kansas Coalition for Economic Development (NEKCRED) meeting on October 26 and November 29. NEKCRED, of which RDA is a member, is planning to focus its efforts on recruiting and developing value-added agriculture facilities to the area. We will begin by working with the 21^st Century Alliance to form a strategy to move forward in the value-added industry. Lynn Rundle, CEO of 21^st Century Alliance, spoke about various cooperatives that 21^st Century helped to create in Western Kansas. He emphasized that it is important to organize a broad coalition of local farmers that are willing to work toward developing a niche product. The initial organization is usually the most difficult as producers tend to be independent-minded and traditional in their planting mechanisms. The greatest challenge will be to organize the producers into one unit that is willing to invest in alternative crops with higher profit margins. The 21^st Century Alliance is a firm in Manhattan that assists with developing in marketing new agricultural products.

I spoke about RDA and grant writing at the Horton Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 2.

I attended a Kansas economic development tools seminar sponsored by the League of Kansas Municipalities. The seminar took place on November 10. Elected and non-elected officials from various municipalities were represented. The presenters described the political, legislative, and administrative procedures and ramifications of economic development tools such as tax abatements, industrial revenue bonds, tax increment financing, neighborhood revitalization, and certificates of participation.

Respectfully submitted,

Scott M. Huizenga
Executive Director