Stafford County Economic Development awarded $162,000 in Community Service Tax Credits for Macksville daycare

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TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Department of Commerce has awarded $4.1 million through the Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP) to support significant fundraising efforts for 30 non-profit organizations across the state.

“Strong, vibrant communities are what draw new businesses, visitors and potential residents to Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “CSP allows locally led initiatives to attract additional capital support – and further expand the economic opportunities in their communities.”

The Community Service Tax Credit Program provides an opportunity for non-profit organizations and public healthcare entities to improve their ability to undertake major capital campaigns involving community service, non-governmental crime prevention, youth apprenticeship and technical training, and healthcare services.

Under the program, the state authorizes nonprofit organizations to offer tax credits to donors that make contributions towards approved projects. Organizations in rural areas with populations less than 15,000 can receive a 70% credit, while communities with more than 15,000 population can receive a 50% credit.

“We know that thriving communities are the foundation of a strong economy, and these awards empower organizations to take on bold investments in the future of Kansas,” Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Matt Godinez said. “From early childhood education to mental health services, these projects will be transformative for our Kansas communities.”

A few highlights from the latest round of awardees include:

  • Imaginarium, Inc., Emporia ($40,500 credits awarded): A new 360 interactive space will provide powerful learning experiences and real-world simulations, specifically for those with special needs and who benefit from low-stress environments but need to learn life skills
  • Wamego Community Foundation, Wamego ($85,050 credits awarded): USD 320 is pursuing a two-year facility lease to launch a high-quality Early Learning Center for newborn children to age 5 to address the urgent need for childcare and support educator retention
  • Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center, Garden City ($162,000 credits awarded): This project will remodel 3,200 square feet of space to include a forensic medical exam room, mental health therapy suites, family waiting area, a children’s activity center and additional office space to enhance confidentiality and support

Tax credits through this program have been issued in Kansas since 1994. Program funds are one of the many tools provided by Commerce that supports nonprofits. To view the complete list of 2025 awardees and their projects, click here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce: 

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses, and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

About the Quality Places Division:

Established in 2024, the Quality Places Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce exists to improve quality of life in communities across the state through various programs and services. The Kansas Department of Commerce understands the immense role played by strong communities in economic development and prioritizes investments in people and communities as major contributors to the overall strength of the Kansas economy. To learn more, click here.

A Town Hall meeting in Macksville on July 29th was well attended with citizens able to ask questions of Executive Director, Ryan Russell about the Child Day Care project. If there are any questions about the Community Service Tax Credits or the Child Day Care project, please reach out to Ryan Russell at ryan@staffordecodevo.com.

News of the Award was also reported in the Great Bend Post: https://greatbendpost.com/posts/ed29083a-fe08-4cd4-b5fc-55e78c7c4606

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Stafford Historical District Survey Gets Underway With Public Meeting Set for February 3rd

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Public Meeting Notice – Feb. 3rd, 2025

A public meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m., February 3rd at the Stafford City Hall.  The agenda for the meeting will be to discuss a historical district survey that will be conducted in February and March in the downtown area.  Anyone with questions about the project or are the owners of buildings in the survey area are encouraged to attend.

THE SURVEY PROJECT

Stafford County Economic Development, in partnership with the City of Stafford and the Stafford County Museum, have applied for an won a $15,000 historic survey grant from Heritage Preservation Fund (HPF).  The survey project will include the completion of a comprehensive survey of an estimated 40 historic parcels, including buildings, structures, sites, and objects in downtown Stafford. The majority of the buildings within the Project area is owned by the city of Stafford or the County Museum. The objectives of the survey include the identification of potentially significant properties that appear to retain both historical significance and integrity. The Project area will be evaluated for eligibility for the National Registry of Historic Places, and recommendations will be made for designation as a potential historic district. The survey shall adhere to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, which include the Standards for Evaluation, Identification, and Registration. The Project will be prepared in accordance with (a) National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Local Surveys; (b) State Historical Preservation Office’s HPF Grant-Funded Survey Requirements (2018) and (c) instructions for KHRI web-based GIS database.

SURVEY AREA

The area includes both sides of Main Street between Stafford Street to Camden Street. It includes both sides of E Stafford Street from Main to N. Prairie Ave. It includes N. Union Ave between Broadway and Stafford. It includes W Broadway on the north side of the street between Main and Union.

SURVEYOR

EOCENE Environmental Group Inc. will be providing the historical survey. Architectural Historian and Surveyor for this project Miranda Black, will conduct the on ground research starting on February 7th.  The surveyor will be in Stafford for a few days taking pictures of buildings, doing research, and interviewing people.  People with ownership of buildings in the survey area are asked to grant access to the surveyor.

 Ms. Black received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Religion and a focus in Cherokee Archaeology in 2018. Upon graduation, she was offered a grant-funded position with Western Carolina University to work on an internship project as the Archaeology Laboratory’s Assistant Curator. As she continued her studies, she received a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Public History with a focus in Historic Preservation in 2019. Ms. Black went on to work as Assistant Museum Manager and Facilities Coordinator for the Shelton House Museum in Waynesville, North Carolina, where she expanded upon her interests in community-based preservation, artifact management, and physical material restoration. Ms. Black furthered her studies by pursuing a Masters of Historic Preservation at the University of Georgia in 2020, participating in multiple service-learning projects and contributing to NRHP nominations. During her time as a student, Ms. Black held various student internships as well as a role as an architectural field surveyor. Post-Master’s coursework, Ms. Black moved to Oklahoma and continued her professional training in cultural resource management as an Architectural Historian.

Oral and written comments will be recorded and become a part of Stafford Economic Development Inc.’s Citizen Participation Plan. Reasonable accommodation will be made available to people with disabilities. Requests should be submitted to Ryan Russell, Executive Director or Stafford County Economic Development, at 620-314-5561 by 5:00 p.m. on January 31st, 2025.

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Invitation to Bid Three (3) Basement Windows

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

INVITATION TO BID

Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library
Stafford, KANSAS

BASEMENT WINDOWS BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR – The scope of work within bid request includes basement window/storms/screens that should match original profiles. Bids will be received by Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library Board of Directors, 108 N. Union St., Stafford, Kansas 67578 until 5:00 PM on September 3rd, 2024 for the work noted above according to plans approved by the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office. This structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Sealed bids will be publicly opened at 5:00 PM on September 3rd, 2024 at 108 N. Union St., Stafford, KS. All inquiries about this Invitation to Bid and requests for copies of the full scope of work/plansmay be directed to Shelly Brensing, Board Member, Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library at 620-546-4826 or sbrensing@sbcglobal.net. Bids will be received on a total bid price basis and will include a sum to cover the cost of all items of the contract, including insurance, materials, and performance bonds. A pre-bid meeting will be held at Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library, 108 N. Union St., Stafford, Kansas on Tuesday, August 27th at 10:00 AM. Contractors interested in attending by Zoom should email sbrensing@sbcglobal.net for a link. Attending this meeting is recommended but not mandatory. Proposals received after the date and time indicated above for opening will be considered late, and therefore will not be considered for award. The Bid will be awarded on the basis of cost and performance; to the Bidder who, in the Owner’s judgment, is the lowest, most qualified, responsible and responsive Bidder. Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids and to reject the Bid of any Bidder if the Owner believes it would not be in the best interest of Owner to make an award to that Bidder. The successful Bidder must deliver to the Owner certificates of insurance, performance and materials payment bonds as security for faithful performance and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the contract. The successful firm will be required to comply with all applicable laws and statutory regulations. No Bidder will in any way, directly or indirectly, discriminate against any person because of age, race, color, handicap, sex, national origin or religious creed. This project is partially supported by the Heritage Trust Fund grant program from the Kansas State Historical Society.

Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library
Scope of Work – THREE (3) BASEMENT WINDOWS


Project Description: Basement windows/storms/screens should match the original profiles.

Building Description: Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library was built in 1905 and is a one-story brick building with a partially finished, full basement. The building has gone through considerable renovations which included fixing the foundation as well as restoring the stain glass windows. The windows need to be repaired so water doesn’t get into the basement and is secured. Repairs to the windows are necessary to secure the future of this community asset.

All work must be done according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

Completion date: June 1, 2025.


FOR ALL THREE (3) BASEMENT WINDOWS/STORMS/ONE (1) SCREEN:

  • Windows/storms/screens should match the original profiles.
  • New glazing, hardware as necessary, and weatherstripping.
  • Caulking as needed at masonry openings.
  • Glass should be clear. A low-E coating is acceptable as long as the least amount of tint is used.
  • Finish: white paint – oil-based primer and 2 finished coats.

Replace the three bucks with very dense, weather-resistant wood like mahogany, cypress,or a manufactured product like Accoya that can be cut and worked like wood. Painted whitefinish.

Repair the three inner windows and install them at the inner end of the bucks, in the samelocation. If repair is not possible, build new windows that match the originals, using materialsas stated above. These would need to be operable in some way, incorporating an awning orhopper style. Painted white finish. If unable to repair the inner windows, remove them, butkeep them on site. Label them with the location and date.

Replace screens with storm windows. Build new outer windows/storms from a very dense,weather-resistant wood like mahogany, cypress, or a manufactured product like Accoya thatcan be cut and worked like wood to build a window/storm sash. These removable stormwindows should generally replicate the look of the existing screens (i.e., width of the sashframes, where they are installed against the bucks) and should be installed against theexterior stops of the bucks. Painted white finish.

Repair or replace one screen, to be used alternately with a storm window, for ventilation, ifneeded. If repair is not possible, this screen should generally replicate the look of the existingscreen (i.e., width of the sash frames, where they are installed against the bucks) and shouldbe installed against the exterior stop of the buck. Painted white finish

View Video For More Detail: https://vimeo.com/984371136

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