Author: Biz News Staff

The region’s Rural Mainstreet Index for September shrank to 37.5 from August’s 40.9, the region’s lowest score since the beginning of the pandemic. A score of 50 is considered growth neutral, while anything below 50 is considered contraction. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50 representing growth. The scores are compiled from surveys of bankers in rural areas of a 10-state region that includes Kansas. “Harvest has not really started in our area, but a couple of farmers (who always have to be first) have combined some early corn varieties, and the results suggest that…

Jeremiah Buck, owner of Papa Murphy’s in Wichita, has implemented a “Pay for A’s” program to invest in his young staff’s futures and reward both high school and college students for each ‘A’ they receive in their classes.  The “Pay for As” program, which Buck adopted in 2019, started on a conference call where Buck was finding ways to improve employee retention.  “One of us had an idea on rewarding good students, and we took it and developed it into the Pay for A’s program,” said Buck.  High school staff members who play a part in the program are paid…

A recent survey by HirePaths, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Education, revealed a shift in Kansas parents’ attitudes towards their children’s post-high school education, with a notable 11% drop in those favoring immediate enrollment in four-year colleges and increased openness to apprenticeships and technical schools. Data from the Parent Perception Survey Report 2024 indicates evolving perceptions among Kansas parents. While 84.1% of parents in 2024 still expressed happiness if their child enrolled in a four-year college or university at some point, the immediate push for such a path has lessened. This change suggests a growing acceptance of non-traditional…

TOPEKA, Kan.- Kansas business conditions decreased to 46.5 in August, down from 48.0 in July, according to the monthly Business Conditions Index compiled by Creighton University.  The index is the average of individual scores measuring new orders, production or sales, delivery lead time, employment, and inventories. “The overall index, much like the U.S. reading, has vacillated around growth neutral since December of 2023. Additionally, supply managers remained pessimistic regarding the 2024 outlook with 35.3% of them seeing a recession as the greatest threat,” Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group said.  Regional employment has fallen below 50.0 for…

The University of Kansas has received a $500,000 Forging Opportunities for Research Growth and Entrepreneurship (FORGE) grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce.  The grant will be used to establish new products and programs that help KU entrepreneurs establish their businesses quicker and with lower risk.  The funds will be used to develop a new chatbot for investors, expand the KU Innovation Park, establish two new programs for new KU entrepreneurs and create an “angel network” of investors to increase visibility of potential new businesses coming out of the KU space.  “With this support from the Kansas Department of Commerce,…

TOPEKA, Kan. – Manufacturing activity in the Tenth Federal Reserve district was still declining in August but at a slower rate, according to the latest manufacturing survey from the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. The survey suggests prices for raw and manufactured products are both rising.  After two months of rapid decline, the activity level is beginning to reach close to neutral levels with a composite index of -3, compared to last month’s -13 and June’s -8. While this follows a year of mostly declines, it represents some level of stabilization. “We continue to experience lower business levels than we…

TOPEKA, Kan.- Elanco Animal Health is planning to expand its biologics manufacturing facility in Elwood, Kansas. The expansion is expected to create an additional 70 jobs over the next two years at the facility, costing $130 million with projected completion in 2026. The site is currently used in the production of monoclonal antibody therapies (mAb). The expansion is set to double the facility’s production capabilities in expectation of a new type of therapy being released sometime next year for canine dermatitis, according to a news release from the company. “Expanding the capabilities at our Elwood manufacturing site is a critical…

Kansas State Research & Extension is hosting the first-ever Kansas Local Food Summit in late August. The Summit will help people from across the state make new connections and gain new ideas relevant to a wide range of different food systems interests, including food access, food waste & recovery, food hubs, community engagement, food policy, farm to school, and more. “There is a lot of work to do to address the needs of Kansans for accessible, healthy, local, and affordable food, but we can do more when we work together and dream up creative solutions that fit the unique needs…

TOPEKA–The region’s Rural Mainstreet Index for August shrank to 40.9 from July’s 41.3, the lowest score since November. A score of 50 is considered growth neutral, while anything below 50 is considered contraction. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading above 50.0 representing growth. The scores are compiled from surveys of bankers in rural areas of a 10-state region that includes Kansas. “The sad part is that most of our farmers will lose money or just break even due to poor commodity prices,” said Jim Eckert, CEO of Anchor State Bank in Anchor, Illinois. Kansas Individual Indicators…

TOPEKA, Kan. – East Coast and Gulf Coast longshore workers represented by the International Longshore Association (ILA) may strike if a new agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is not reached before their six-year Master Contract expires on September 20, 2024. The 80-page contract, effective since October 1, 2018, covers 19 sections, including wages, hours of work, benefit contributions, workforce utilization, drug and alcohol programs, grievance procedures, and workforce protection. The USMX released a statement saying “forward progress” is happening. “We would like to reassure our customers and the public that there is forward movement toward resolution of…