Alliance discusses housing, rural outreach and marketing

Housing development, outreach to smaller communities and plans for $200,000 in federal funding highlighted the Thomas County Economic Development Alliance’s July 22 meeting.

Economic Development Director Vernon Hurd said the alliance is assisting two families with applications for the county’s housing cooperative program. One application is expected to receive a decision within the next few weeks.

If approved, the family plans to build northwest of Colby. The project would become the fourth single-family home developed in Thomas County through the program.

Vernon said the program initially appeared to allow developer-owned properties, but the Dane G. Hansen Foundation has clarified that its funding is intended for owner-occupied homes. Proposed duplexes intended solely as rentals are therefore ineligible.

A committee is exploring whether the program could support duplexes in which an owner occupies one unit and rents the other. Hurd said that approach could help seniors downsize while adding rental housing. Barndominiums also do not qualify through the program.

Hurd is also assisting a downtown business owner planning to remodel a building as an Airbnb or apartment. The owner received a Kansas Department of Health and Environment grant to inspect the property for asbestos and other environmental concerns.

The project could later seek remediation assistance and funding through the state’s Community Development Block Grant commercial rehabilitation program.

In other downtown activity, Hurd is working with three businesses on mural projects, including one involving two businesses.

The alliance also plans to increase contact with Thomas County’s smaller communities following questions from county commissioners about work in places such as Gem, Brewster, and Menlo.

Hurd intends to meet with each community’s city council quarterly to identify local needs and potential projects. The alliance has previously helped Brewster pursue Community Development Block Grant funding, but Hurd said it has received few requests from other communities.

He also presented a new monthly activity report for county commissioners. It includes sales tax figures and comparisons with surrounding counties. He plans to add the monthly unemployment rate, which was approximately 3.6% in June.

The City of Colby Sales Tax Fund received $7,006.62 during the month and had a reported year-to-date balance of $2,115,555.04. A planned Midwest Energy project will not require the account to serve as a temporary pass-through because the city’s vendor is expected to handle the payments directly.

All alliance-administered loans were reported as current.

Hurd also discussed a Kansas Municipal Utilities data center and large-load summit he attended in Topeka. The event focused on preparing communities for data centers, manufacturers and other projects requiring substantial electrical capacity.

He said utility infrastructure and equipment costs have risen sharply, creating concerns about future rates and the availability of transformers, wire and switchgear.

Hurd is working with Midwest Energy and other utility representatives to identify Thomas County locations capable of supporting major developments. The review includes electricity, water, sewer, natural gas and rail services.

The information will help the alliance target industries suited to the county’s infrastructure and economy. Board members discussed recruiting businesses that use local commodities or complement existing industries, along with retail businesses and restaurants that could reduce shopping trips to Garden City and other communities.

The alliance continues considering how to spend $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding before a Dec. 31 deadline.

Vernon said the Colby Convention and Visitors Bureau is interested in collaborating on a marketing project but is not currently inclined to reimburse the alliance for expenses such as billboard improvements.

The alliance is revisiting a proposed marketing study. Originally expected to take 90 days, the process could be shortened to 60 days. The final plan would identify Thomas County’s strengths, examine competing communities and recommend ways to reach travelers through social media, geofencing and other advertising.

A scheduled Innovation Center presentation was postponed until August.

The board approved purchasing Pipedrive customer relationship management software for $168 per year. It will help track prospective businesses and previous contacts.

The board also approved the agenda, minutes and financial report for the month ending June 30 before entering executive session.