Business Prospects
RDA met with new businesspersons from Sabetha and Hiawatha. We provided state and federal tax and permit information. We also offered to help with business plans and projections that will be needed to obtain financing.

Two other Sabetha companies inquired about the Enterprise Zone and other local and regional incentives for their expansions. RDA helped them to apply for the incentives through the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing (KDOC&H). We will soon meet with the Sabetha Industrial Development Corporation and the City of Sabetha regarding tax exemptions/ abatements and other incentive that the city offers.

The Eastern Kansas Economic Development Group (EKEDG), a Certified Development Company (CDC) wishes to offer the Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans program in Brown County. The 504 program offers loan guarantees and direct loans for fixed asset purchases such as buildings and equipment. Currently, EKEDG serves Nemaha County while Mo-Kan Development, Inc., another CDC, is designated as the provider for Brown County. I drafted a letter of support to SBA for EKEDG’s effort on behalf of RDA.

I met with the Horton Chamber of Commerce and the Horton Industrial Development Committee (HIDC) to discuss RDA services and potential partnerships and ideas.

Local Government Relations
Scott traveled to Topeka with Shannon Scott, Secretary/Treasurer of the Everest Housing Authority. There we met with Fred Bentley of the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing (KDOC&H) to discuss Housing Tax Credits, the State Housing Trust Fund, and Interim Development Loans to finance the proposed multi-unit senior housing complex in Everest. We also met with Chris Imming from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. An FHLB Loan will be necessary to provide the gap financing for the project. Union State Bank of Everest is a member of the FHLB. RDA recently began work on the state financing applications for the Everest project.

I met with the Robinson City Council. After explaining our services, Robinson inquired about the ability of RDA to administer a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that the community received years ago for housing rehabilitation. The grant has been closed out and there is currently no administrator other than the city clerk. I informed the council that because I am certified as a CDBG administrator, that is a service that RDA can provide.

I met with the Seneca Land Use Planning Task Force regarding two pieces of land within the city. The task force is charged with recommending uses for the land presently occupied by the golf course and an additional 114 acres in the northern portion of the city. The group is seeking a "facilitator" to guide them through the planning process. I will attend the meetings on a regular basis as a consultant on technical matters such as land use ordinances, financing options, research assistance, etc.

Richard McClanathan, Hiawatha City Administrator, asked if RDA could perform an income survey for an upcoming CDBG grant application. The survey would initially be sent through the mail. Eventually, some door-to-door surveying may be required. I quoted an initial bid of $5075 to perform all aspects of the survey. This includes postage, administration, printing, and hiring and supervising part-time personnel to conduct a door-to-door survey of Hiawatha.

I attended a city meeting in Hamlin on Tuesday, September 12. Galen Lay of Bartlett and West Engineering had performed a feasibility study concerning a sewer system installation in Hamlin. Based on current projections, it appears that the project is feasible but "borderline." Lay again encouraged the city to ensure that a great majority of households are in favor of the project so that future payments will be ensured from all citizens. The most recent count showed only 2 or 3 households opposed to the project while 22-25 households were willing to sign statement proclaiming their moral and financial support to the project.

Miscellaneous
I spoke at the Brown County Genealogical Society meeting on Thursday, September 21, 2000. I am currently researching potential grants that the Society could use for future projects.

I attended a micro-enterprise workshop sponsored by KDOC&H in Hutchinson. There was information on basic microloan lending and some information on the CDBG Microloan program specifically related to the State of Kansas. I spoke with Debbie Beck, CDBG Microloan specialist, about Nemaha County’s application.

I was named Secretary of the Northeast Kansas Resource Coalition (NEKRC), a group of non-profit/social service agencies that serve the area.

I attended the "Managing the Workforce Challenge" seminar that was sponsored by the Northeast Kansas Coalition for Regional Economic Development (NEKCRED). RDA is a member of NEKCRED.

The RDA child care committee met for the first time on October 10. This committee to determine how RDA can assist or organize an effort to expand childcare availability in Brown and Nemaha Counties. We will begin the process by coordinating our efforts with the Northeast Kansas Community Action Program (NEKCAP) to the maximum extent possible.

Respectfully submitted,

Scott M. Huizenga
Executive Director