Category: Business

Small businesses here to receive CARES Act funding

Nearly 2,000 small businesses and organizations in Kansas will receive part of $37.5 million in Small Business Working Capital grants, according to Gov. Laura Kelly.

The recipients includes about 67 small businesses and organizations in Wyandotte County.

The grants went to small businesses and organizations that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an announcement.

“Throughout the pandemic, my administration has prioritized the efficient distribution of CARES Act funding to protect Kansas’ economy and ensure our businesses and schools can stay open,” Gov. Kelly said in a news release. “While I’m proud to announce that we have been able to provide relief to almost 2,000 small businesses, there are many more that still need help. Washington has been sitting on a second stimulus bill for months, it’s time to put aside the partisanship and pass this long-overdue aid for the states.”

Kansas businesses with fewer than 500 employees were eligible to apply for SBWC grant funding, made available by Gov. Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce through the federal CARES Act.

Grant funds can be used to pay working capital expenses such as payroll, insurance, rent, mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, and more.

“Through the CARES Act funding, we’ve enhanced our public health response, upgraded our technology infrastructure, made sure children could keep learning, helped businesses stay open and created jobs,” Julie Lorenz, executive director of the Office of Recovery, said. “There are still many unmet needs and with additional federal funding and flexibility, we could deliver more investments to serve Kansans and industries that continue to suffer from the pandemic.”

The SPARK Taskforce and the Kansas Department of Commerce will maintain the Small Business Working Capital grant program, as well as PPE Procurement and Connectivity Emergency Response Grant programs, should more federal CARES Act funding become available.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the Kansas economy, and they keep our communities strong and vibrant,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “We’re glad to have been able to provide critically-needed working capital to nearly 2,000 businesses, but the need for liquidity doesn’t end there. We need to have their backs. The Department of Commerce will always stand ready to assist businesses across Kansas, pandemic or not.”

The online application process for several other SPARK grant programs remain active. Details are available at www.kansascommerce.gov/covidrelief.

About 67 Wyandotte County businesses and organizations received funding, including:

• #ProjectLaing Entertainment L.L.C., $2,500;
• 3 Axis, Inc., $20,000;
• 63 Party Bus, $14,450;
• A Taste of Love – Bakery. $20,000;
• Accent Limousine LLC, $20,000;
• African Designs By Liliane and Amisi Lc, $20,000;
• Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, $50,000;
• Amy Marvel, $20,000;
• Angels of Grace Family Service Center, $20,000;
• Ap Investments of Merriam Inc., $20,000;
• Arrow Rentals kc, $20,000;
• Art’s Mexican Products, Inc., $20,000;
• B LO, $20,000;
• Bonds Advance Training Center, $20,000;
• Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce, $8,925;
• Borberg Pizzeria, Inc., $20,000;
• Brittney Strozier, $6,000;
• Byrd’s Dance & Gymnastics, Inc., $20,000;
• C B INC, $20,000;
• Central Area Betterment Association, $10,200;
• CJ Industries, LLC, $20,000;
• Cleaning Genies KC, $7,000;
• Club 403 Enterprises, LLC $20,000;
• D Rockey Holdings, Inc., $20,000;
• Dragnet Enterprises, $20,000;
• El Tenedor KC LLC, $20,000;
• Evolve Chef, $20,000;
• Excel Lighting, LLC $20,000;
• FRP Agency LLC, $20,000;
• Gina’s Braiding Lounge, $20,000;
• Harlan Global Manufacturing LLC, $20,000;
• Heart of America Food Services, LLC, $20,000;
• HiFLight Athletics, LLC, $10,000;
• Infusion Design, Inc,. $20,000;
• Jarocho LLC, $20,000;
• Kacie Investments LLC, $20,000;
• KC Civic Center LLC, $100,000;
• KC Hutton Road LLC, $20,000;
• KC NBSS Hotel LLC, $20,000;
• KC Presort, LLC, $20,000;
• Kristi’s Academy of Dance and PA, LLC, $18,200;
• Lynn Tape & Label, Inc., $20,000;
• MAC Water Technologies, Inc., $20,000;
• Mi-Rancho Tequila USA, Inc., $20,000;
• Miller Marketing & Distribution LLC, $20,000;
• Monica Griffin-Wright, $20,000;
• My Store III Inc., $20,000;
• Nail Envy Legends LLC, $20,000;
• Nails So Happy Legends LLC, $20,000;
• National Agricultural Hall of Fame, $20,000;
• New Image, LLC, $20,000;
• New West Presentations, Inc., $100,000;
• Nikita Thomas, $20,000;
• Regal Staffing LLC, $20,000;
• Remiez Salon, Inc., $20,000;
• S&W Sports Enterprises, LLC, $20,000;
• Shannon loomis, $10,000;
• Shree Madhava Management, Inc., $20,000;
• Skyline Salon, $20,000;
• Smallwood Lock Supply, Inc., $20,000;
• Sunflower Tow Service LLC, $20,000;
• Tan-39 Rain, LLC, $20,000;
• The learning Curve Group Inc., $20,000;
• The Mockingbird Lounge LLC, $20,000;
• ThermaRoll Leaf, Inc., $20,000;
• Tina M Medina DBA as Wise Writers and Speakers, $20,000;
• Titan Casting, $20,000;
• Valor Professional Solutions LLC, $20,000.

Business West learns of development at annual meeting

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Wyandotte County continues to attract new and expanded development. That was the message that Katherine Carttar and Greg Kindle brought to the annual meeting of Business West via Zoom on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Carttar is director of economic development for the Unified Government and Kindle is president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. They said that so far this year Wyandotte County has attracted $849 million in development. They told of the following projects:

Old Dominion Freight Line. This truck terminal will be at K-7 and Speaker Road in Bonner Springs and will have 300 employees with more than 154,000 square feet of floor space. It will be a $45 million project and include cross-dock and office space. There will also be space on the 11 acres for related retail and commercial development.

Urban Outfitters. This will be on the southeast corner of 118th Street and State Avenue on Kansas Speedway property that NASCAR will sell. The company will have 880,000 square feet of floor space and employee 2,000 persons. Childcare and internships will be available. This will be a $403 million project.

Homefield. This will be at the Schlitterbahn site and offer a youth softball and baseball complex and a synthetic turf training field. Retail and a hotel are planned. The estimated cost would be $330 million.

Woodlands redevelopment. This former horse and dog track will become a development of Scannell Properties. The initial project is estimated to cost $110 million and employ 1,000 persons. It will be a warehouse and fulfillment center. Amazon is committed as the first tenant..

Turner Logistics Center. This company expects to have two of five buildings operational by the end of the year; the cost of the project will be $32 million. It will have more than 590,000 square feet of floor space. Space will be used for warehouse and fulfillment purposes. Construction on the divergent diamond interchange on the Turner Diagonal is also expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Community College Housing. Kansas City Kansas Community College will build 100,000 square feet of student housing which will be part of a larger college master plan. The estimated cost will be $20 million.

Scavuzzo’s Food Service. This is to be built in four phases and will include 266,000 square feet of floor space. Other retail and commercial development is planned. This will be a $115 million project and be built on the former Indian Springs Shopping Center site.

American Royal. This is to include 164,000 square feet of floor space for a livestock expo arena, 250,000 square feet of floor space for a livestock exhibition hall, 5,000 square feet of office floor space and 6,500 square feet of floor space for an Agriculture Education Center. This would be a $200 million investment. This would be in Village West, just west of Legends Outlet.

Bonner Crossing. This would include an e-sports stadium, an amphitheater and retail and residential development. The estimated cost would be $500 million; it would be at the southwest corner of 118th Street and State Avenue.

Kindle said all of this development does not include anything from two traditional sources — General Motors and the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.

Virtual job fair begins today

A KansasWorks Statewide Virtual Job Fair began today and will continue through Thursday, Oct. 29.

The virtual job fair will allow job seekers to live chat with employers from across the state through computers and mobile devices. KansasWorks has organized four virtual job fairs this year, with more virtual job fairs planned later this year.

To register for the Virtual Job Fair, visit https://kansasworksvirtualjobfair.easyvirtualfair.com/.

“COVID-19 continues to be an obstacle for the normal job fair system, but KANSASWORKS is creative and continues to do important work for Kansas,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “I encourage all job-seekers in our state to visit this and future Virtual Job Fairs to find opportunities in their area.”

The Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Local Workforce Development Boards, moved its statewide job fairs online this year to eliminate public health risks associated with mass gatherings, and as a way to continue to provide job opportunities and maintain a ready workforce for Kansas businesses.

“These virtual fairs are producing real results for job seekers and employers in every region,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “We remain committed to economic growth and recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that means helping Kansans find meaningful, rewarding employment opportunities in our state.”

Registration is now required for each virtual event. If job seekers have previously attended a Virtual Job Fair, they are required to re-register for this event with the link provided above.

The fifth virtual fair in September attracted participation from 180 employers and 1,003 jobseekers from across the state.

As concerns for Kansans’ health and safety remain high due to COVID-19, the Department of Commerce will maintain the Virtual Job Fair system for the remainder of 2020. The final fair of the year will be Dec. 8-9.

Beginning with this virtual fair, job seekers can now upload their most recent resume to their Virtual Job Fair account. If you require assistance, contact your local workforce center at 877-509-6757 to schedule an appointment.