DRONE VIDEO OF LOCATION
Regional Demographics
Seward County
Development Corporation
Eli Svaty
Executive Director
620-655-2036 eli@swks org
City of Liberal Rusty Varnado
City Manager
785-205-9500
rusty.varnado@cityofliberal.org
Local Contacts
Economic Development
Seward County
Development Corporation Raquel Arellano Director of Entrepreneurship
925-409-8872
raquel@swks org
Liberal Area
Chamber of Commerce
Rozelle Webb CEO
620-624-3855
raquel@swks org
Administration
Seward County April Warden County Administrator
620-482-5509
awarden@sewardcountyks.org
City of Kismet Rod Lewis Mayor
620=629=0014
rodlewis991@gmail.com
Planning, Zoning, and Building
City of Liberal
Keith Bridenstine
Building and Code Director
620-626-2262
keith.bridenstine@cityofliberal.org
Seward County Albert Gallegos
Planning and Zoning Director
620-626-3394 agallegos@sewardcountyks org
City of Liberal Arlene Rosales
Permit Technician
620-626-2261
arlene.rosales@cityofliberal.org
Seward County Hillary Franco
Permit Technician
620-626-3392
hfranco@sewardcountyks org
PEAK – Promoting Employment across Kansas: $750 application fee
Company retains 95% of the payroll withholding tax of PEAK jobs
Company must provide adequate health insurance coverage for full time employees and pay at least 50% of health insurance premium
PEAK eligible jobs, must meet 100% of the county median wage
Must create a minimum of 10 new PEAK eligible jobs, with in the first 2 years Company must ask for a PEAK proposal, through the business incentive questionnaire, working with the Regional Project Manager, prior to applying for PEAK.
Application and Application fee of $750 must be submitted, before PEAK eligible jobs can be counted.
Non-eligible industries include: gambling, religious, retail trade, educational services, public administration, food services and drinking places, unless applying as an international or national headquarters of administrative/back office facility
HPIP- High Performance Incentive Program: $750 application fee
A tax credit for capital investment, with a 16-year carry-forward, equal to up to 10 percent of the eligible investment that exceeds $ 1 million in Douglas, Johnson, Shawnee and Wyandotte counties; $50,000 in Leavenworth county Exemption from sales tax for eligible capital investments/services
A potential workforce training tax credit up to $50,000 per year on training expenditures above two percent of the company payroll Priority consideration for other assistance programs offered through Commerce, and KMS
Company must complete and submit an HPIP Project Description, prior to the project being committed to Company must pay above average industry wage
Invest in training/skill development equal to 2% of payroll, or participate in a state training program
Company must provide adequate health insurance coverage for full time employees and pay at least 50% of health insurance premium
Non-eligible industries include: agriculture, mining, construction and retailing.
Industries that are not manufacturers, at least 51% of revenue must be generated from sales to Kansas manufacturers, and/or out of state commercial; and/or governmental customers
Work Force Training – KIT/KIR: $500 application fee
Grant funds to help offset the costs of training for employees
KIT – training for new employees, hired after the KIT start date
KIR – training for current employees on new processes, technology, equipment; company must have a dollar for dollar match
Positions being trained must be paid an average wage that meets or exceeds the county median wage
Company must provide adequate health insurance coverage for full time employees and pay at least 50% of health insurance premium
Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC) and Welfare to Work Tax Credits
Encourage employers to hire job seekers who face the greatest barriers to employment for up to a $2400 federal tax credit per qualified hire.
Kansas Works Registered Apprentice Program
Available funding: Sponsors can be reimbursed for a portion of the RTI (Related Technical Instruction) per apprentice
International Trade Assistance
Assist Kansas companies with their global market development needs and exporting efforts
Local Development Programs
Property Tax Abatement
Businesses that purchase or expand property for the purpose of: a) manufacturing articles of commerce; b) conducting research and development; or c) storing goods or commodities which are sold or traded in interstate commerce may qualify for property tax abatement with proper approval of the City or County governing body, with final approval from the State Board of Tax Appeals. Certain uses financed by Industrial Revenue Bonds may also qualify for property tax abatements (This has to be approved by the State prior to the issuance).
Industrial Revenue Bonds
In Kansas, IRBs are issued by cities, counties and the Kansas Development Finance Authority. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds to private investors are made available to enable creditworthy companies to purchase land and pay the costs of constructing and equipping new facilities or the costs of acquiring, remodeling and expanding existing facilities.
Community Improvement District (CID)
Property owners may petition the City Commission to create a Community Improvement District (CID) for projects exceeding $200,000. Applicants may request special property tax assessments within the district, special sales tax up to 2% within the district or a combination of both. All property owners within the proposed CID must participate in the petition. Upon creation of a CID, revenue generated by these sources is available through a pay-as-you-go account. A CID can exist for a maximum of 22 years.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a real estate redevelopment tool applicable to industrial, commercial, intermodal transportation area and residential projects. TIF uses the increases in real estate tax revenues and local sales tax revenues to retire the bonds sold to finance eligible redevelopment project costs (K.S.A. 121770 et seq.) or to reimburse the developer on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP)
This plan is intended to promote the revitalization and development of certain areas within the City of Liberal in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and improve economic conditions which impair and arrest the sound growth of the community for the residents of the City The City will offer property tax rebates for certain improvements or renovation of the property with the designated areas in accordance with the provisions of K S A 12-17, 114 et seq
Façade Improvement Grant
The City of Liberal offers development assistance in the form of 50/50 matching grant money for commercial businesses and property owners located within the City of Liberal, Kansas City grants will be for outside façade improvements, parking lot improvements or sidewalk replacement on the exterior of the business
