Economic Development Council
 

Position Statement for Economic Development
*As stated in the 2006 Legislative Agenda for Southeast Kansas, Inc.

Eminent Domain
Eminent domain for economic purposes has been recognized for years in Kansas as legitimate public policy and should continue to be so.

Increased Funding for Workforce Training
Kansas Industrial Training and Kansas Industrial Retraining are two powerful tools for workforce training and the funding for both programs should be increased.

Rural Development
Retail businesses are a key factor to the recovery and survival of rural communities. To continue to support rural entrepreneurs the sales tax exemption and job creation tax credit should be extended to retail businesses within the city limits of communities with a population of 10,000 or less.

Equitable Tax Rates
The tax differential of neighboring states has a detrimental impact on Kansas. Southeast Kansas, Inc. supports a “border tax adjustment factor” that reduces the state sales tax and personal property taxes in counties along the state’s borders.

Increased Economic Development Funding
In order to provide the resources necessary to fund an active and aggressive economic development effort for Kansas, Southeast Kansas, Inc. supports removing the cap on the Economic Development Initiatives Fund to better fund existing as well as new and innovative job creation and/or retention programs.

Eliminate Investment Disincentives
Southeast Kansas, Inc. supports the continued increase in tax credits for personal property taxes on business machinery and equipment

Housing
Housing and economic development are integrally related and vital for sustaining rural Kansas. Housing needs to be addressed from three levels: 1) Sales tax exemption on new construction building materials; 2) Tax credits for infill housing using existing infrastructure; 3) Additional CDBG funding for cities for water and sewer line extensions and rehabilitation. 

Tax Abatement Policies
Currently the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals does not give final approval to a local government’s decision to abate taxes for economic development projects until after the private company has made the capital investment. In order to provide as much certainty as possible to businesses in Kansas Southeast Kansas, Inc. encourages BOTA to reevaluate this procedure.

Broadband For All Kansans
Estimates indicate that broadband is subscribed to by about 30% of households in the US as of January 2005. This contrasts with 92.4% for telephone penetration, according to FCC statistics. If our state is going to compete with other states and other countries, we must get our penetration rate well past 50% as soon as possible. To do so, broadband should be a service supported by the Kansas Universal Service Fund with support coming from all users of the telecommunications network.

Kansas Army Ammunition Plant
While the State of Kansas was an overall winner with the Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s recommendations, Southeast Kansas faces serious economic challenges because of the closure of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. With more than 320 employees and an annual payroll of nearly $13 million, repercussions will be felt throughout the several counties from which the plant draws its employees. While Kansas will see a net gain of more than 2,000 jobs as a result of BRAC, area legislators can help by reminding their peers that Southeast Kansas-collectively the poorest area in the state-will have significant needs to help it overcome the consequences of this action.

Location of a Prison in Woodson County
The location of a prison in Woodson County would benefit the state of Kansas because of its proximity to Topeka and the El Dorado prison facility, both within an hour’s drive of Yates Center. Job creation and stimulus of the economy within Woodson County and the surrounding counties of Coffey, Wilson, Allen, Neosho and Greenwood would greatly enhance the quality of life within the Southeast Kansas Region.