Author: Biz News Staff

TOPEKA, Kan.- Kansas business conditions showed an increase to 57.1 in June, up from 51.0 in May, 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 approximately 48% expecting a downturn in economic activity for the remainder of 2024,” Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group said. Kansas employment…

Global aerospace company Boeing confirmed an agreement to acquire Wichita’s Spirit AeroSystems in an $8.3 billion deal, announced on July 1. Dave Calhoun, CEO of Boeing said that this deal is in the best interest of airline customers and employees of Spirit, and by combining the two companies again will lead to the alignment of safety and quality systems, and other incentives and outcomes. “This is an opportunity to bring back critical airplane manufacturing work on Boeing airplanes into our factories – where Boeing and Spirit world-class engineers and mechanics can work seamlessly together, focused on a common mission to…

TOPEKA, Kan.- Communities who partner with the Kansas Department of Commerce on a new recruitment project can receive a $5,000 grant to make direct contact with former residents and invite them to make Kansas their home again. The project, called “Love, Kansas” is a national marketing campaign showcasing Kansas as an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family. “It’s simple: We need more humans in Kansas to keep up with the phenomenal economic growth our state is experiencing,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said in a news release. “The best way to do that is…

Kansas Gas Service customers will know in late October if their utility rate will increase, but there’s still time to comment on the proposed $58.1 million increase. The Kansas Corporation Commission is accepting public comments through August 5. Comments can be submitted on the commission’s website, by mail, or by phone. More information. If the rate-increase application filed by KGS is approved on or before Oct. 25, the average monthly bill for residents in Kansas will increase by nearly $6.71 or (10.41%) for small residential consumers, or increase $9.48 for larger residential customers. Small commercial customers can expect to see…

State leaders are developing the next water plan after hosting six public input workshops around Kansas in late June. The Kansas Water Office, along with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, encouraged stakeholders to share ideas regarding recommendations for funding, possible policy changes, ways to improve state capacity, water management, the effectiveness of the programs, as well as measurable goals and timelines. “We simply can’t buy our way out of these problems,” said one attendee. Julie Lorenz, Principal Consultant at 1898 & Co. said initial goals of the plan is conserve and extend…

By Robert StoneEditor’s note: this is the first in a series of features on Kansas-grown companies and the ways they impact their community. Intentionally founded in a rural community, INA Alert, helmed by the Strecker family is on a mission to prove that small towns can be just as tech savvy as big cities. Founded in Ellinwood in 2010, INA Alert is a technology provider focusing mostly on entry and exit, surveillance, security, and call systems. Since then, they’ve expanded to serve all of Kansas and much of the surrounding four states. By choosing to focus on the values instilled…

The Kansas Rural Mainstreet Index for June shrank to 34.6 from May’s 35.4 because of decreases in farmland prices, hiring index, and exports on agriculture goods and livestock. 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. “Higher interest rates, weak agriculture commodity prices, and sinking agriculture equipment sales pushed the overall reading below growth neutral for the 10th straight month,” said…

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Legislature approved a bill to allow the Kansas Department of Commerce to incentivize major professional sports franchises to move to Kansas in a special session on Tuesday. The possibility of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, or both making a move to Kansas arose after voters in Jackson County, Missouri declined to impose a sales tax increase to make improvements to Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums. “They [Kansas City Chiefs] have a catchment area of six states. There are six states where people literally come in and spend the weekend taking in the Chiefs.…

Update: Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed the bill into law Friday, June 21, 2024. TOPEKA—Kansas lawmakers met in a special session today, approving a bill that cuts personal income tax, but does not include a business tax reduction. The tax cut package reduces income tax rates to 5.2% for married individuals filing together with combined taxable income between $0 to $46,000. Income of $46,001 and above would be taxed at 5.58%. The slight increase in the standard deduction and an expansion of the personal exemption by more than four times means low-income earners won’t pay any income tax. “This will…

EMPORIA- Three Kansas business leaders were inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame [KBHF] during it 2024 Induction Ceremony Thursday.  The ceremony, hosted on Emporia State University’s campus, celebrated historical inductee Mary McCann, as well as contemporary inductees Gene and Yolanda Camarena. The event also recognized the four 2024 KBHF student essay contest winners. Mary McCann, 2024 Historical Inductee The Kansas Business Hall of Fame recognized Mary McCann as its 2024 historical inductee. McCann was the first female certified public accountant in Kansas. Throughout her career, she held leadership positions for multiple organizations, including serving as national president of…