Allen County commissioners will decide soon whether to increase support for the Economic Development Program that operates under auspices of Thrive Allen County.
The program began in 2013, with the county, Iola and Iola Industries each contributing $15,000. The total increased to $60,000 — $20,000 from each body — the following year and has remained at that level. Now, with expenses increasing each year, the request of each entity for 2018 is $27,000.
Larry Manes, committee member from Moran, and Bill Maness, recently appointed economic development director for Thrive, gave commissioners an appraisal of 2016 activities.
FROM THE report:
“Allen County’s economy had a mix of successes and setbacks in 2016.
“As in years past, … (the county’s) industrial community is the envy of many, but it is still hurting from the loss of Herff Jones and continued difficulty in finding a buyer for the building, along with the impact of low energy prices nationally,” which affects Gates, Catalyst, Precision and Superior Products.
“On the positive side, locally-owned industries in Humboldt — B&W Trailer Hitches and Monarch Cement — continue be a growth driver for the county as a whole, along with major employers Gates Corporation and Russell Stover Candies in Iola.”
As for retail businesses, Iola lost McGinty-Whitworth and Town and Country in 2016, and Ulrich Furniture earlier this year.
Even so, “the county continues to have a strong retail ‘pull’ factor. … Downtown Humboldt is beginning to see a resurgence … following investments in infrastructure by B&W and Monarch in partnership with the city.” Two new restaurants will open later this year in downtown Humboldt.
“Action is needed to recruit the next generation of small business owners to purchase those (whose owners are) seeking to retire.”
Housing long as been a concern throughout the county, without enough moderately priced dwellings to fill the needs of wage earners.
Attracting major industry is beset by the county and area not having a labor pool to meet demand, which could be changed by an uptick in affordable housing, Manes said.
“On the bright side, the Regional Rural Technology Center, a joint venture between school districts at the former Diebolt Lumber facility, is a major step” in dealing with labor needs.
AT THE top of the list of accomplishments in the last year has been construction and opening of Eastgate apartments on the old hospital site. Just this week completion of a financial aid package — $180,000 from the county, $170,000 from Iola Industries and no-cost utility extensions by Iola — will prompt G&W Foods to start construction of its grocery south of the apartments by May 1.
Completion of the Lehigh Portland Trails in June 2016 covering 2.5 miles of crushed limestone paths and another eight miles of single-track trails immediately proved popular and added another tourist attraction.
Thrive continues to respond to requests for proposals from industries planning to relocate or build anew, four in 2015 and two in 2016. Manes pointed out the Kansas Department of Commerce alerts the local group to more but many don’t fit in locally, because of labor force, lack of suitable site or building and their transportation needs, four-lane highways and rail.
