Business Prospects
Initial new business contacts since June 25, 2001: Wetmore, 2; Morrill, 1; Sabetha, 3;

Existing business contact count since June 25, 2001: Sabetha, 4; out-of-area, 3; Horton, 1; Morrill, 1; Baileyville, 1; Seneca, 1;

The State Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) reported that it has received the tax abatement application for Koch & Co. However, there are some items that BOTA needs clarified. Therefore, BOTA has not yet reviewed the application. RDA will make the necessary changes and submit them to BOTA. Within two months, the process should be completed.

Local Government Relations
On Tuesday, June 26, the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing (KDOC&H) informed Everest Housing Authority and RDA that the housing project has been allocated $660,960 in tax credits. The Everest Housing Authority also was recently awarded a $60,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Topeka.

The Kansas Department on Aging approved a $160,000 loan to the Everest Housing Authority through its new Partnership Loan Program. The loan will have a five percent interest rate with a term of twenty years and will fund the remaining finance gap for the housing authority’s senior housing complex project. The application developed by RDA was considered a pilot project as one of the first applications for the new program.

RDA is currently working with the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas on variety of projects including the possible establishment of an ethanol plant in Northeast Kansas. John Thomas, Vice-Chairman of the tribe, has expressed interest in pursuing federal funds as an American Indian economic development project. The tribe would then partner with northeast Kansas producers to establish the plant. RDA hopes to assist the Kickapoo with other federal grant applications that are available to American Indians.

I spoke on July 12th to the Horton Industrial Development Committee about possible building renovation grants. Recent storms have caused a partial collapse of an old downtown building. The group prefers to restore the building rather than tear it down if possible. I am also assisting the HIDC with possible directions for the future.

I attended a public meeting in Reserve on July 16 concerning a potential sewer installation project. There was some opposition to such a project at the meeting. John Ladson from Bartlett and West Engineers was there to answer technical questions. The city has not made a decision. If the city moved forward with the project, RDA would assist in obtaining CDBG funds and USDA Rural Development funds.

I spoke with Harland Schuster, fire chief for the Morrill Fire Department regarding grant opportunities for constructing/repairing a fire station. We are looking into grants and loans from CDBG, USDA, and FEMA.

I attended the July meeting of the Corning City Council. The council is interested in RDA assisting with procuring funds for a new water line system.

I met with the Nemaha County Fire District No. 2 (Corning area) regarding funding opportunities. I described the CDBG program, USDA Rural Development grants and loans, and the United States Fire Assistance program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The City of Seneca authorized RDA to prepare a grant application to the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing (KDOC&H) for its Community Capacity Building Grant program. The program is available to local governments, non-profit organizations, and special districts to help pay for planning activities associated with expansion or major changes in a community. The City of Seneca is applying to seek financial assistance in hiring a land planner for its west end development. At its August 15^th meeting, the city council declared that the hiring of a planner will be contingent upon the receipt of this grant.

Miscellaneous
I attended a Kansas Native American Tourism meeting at Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino in Mayetta. The group, composed of various Native American and economic development agencies, is partnering with an Oklahoma group to increase the tourism in Native American lands in the two states. The group has hired a Dr. Richard Seely, a Washington D.C-based consultant who is seeking federal grant funds to establish the project.

I submitted a preliminary letter of interest for funding from the Three Guineas Fund, a foundation that promotes social justice by expanding access to opportunity for women and girls in education and the economy. RDA is submitting a request for funding a proposed microloan fund for women entrepreneurs. We expect a response from the fund within two weeks.

Respectfully submitted,

Scott M. Huizenga
Executive Director