Businesses need data for decision-making, planning, and expansion, otherwise, it’s all just a guessing game. Data-based decision management is a business practice that highlights a pathway to constant, incremental improvement that can enhance the overall performance and efficiency of a business. It lends a consistency to business practices that allows for collaborations and successful forecasts and predictions.
Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, are powerful decision-making tools that give businesses this needed data since they allow the analysis of environmental, demographic, and infrastructure data. Data intelligence compiled from GIS applications can help companies, various industries, and consumers, make informed decisions.
Junction City-Geary Count...
I'm mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” declared the longtime news anchor Howard Beale in the 1975 film classic Network.
A similar debate is raging across the world about the future of work, and there is a lot more at issue than how often to commute. The way of working that is emerging could alter the basic elements of our work life.
A whopping 65 percent of employees said they are looking for a new job, according to a PwC survey;
And 88 percent of executives said their company is experiencing higher turnover than normal.
Read full article.
To address local disparities and help struggling areas thrive, governments at all levels have spent hundreds of billions of dollars over the past 40 years on a range of geographically targeted, or “place-based,” economic development programs — mostly in the form of financial incentives — designed to boost job creation and business investment, incentivize real estate development, or increase property values in specific places. But decades of research have shown that governments have struggled to effectively target these programs to the people and places most in need.
Tax increment financing (TIF), enterprise zones, community development block grants (CDBG), and other program...
Even as state and regional education systems and business coalitions roll out reams of computer, tech and STEM skills certification and boot camp programs, Big Tech behemoths is doing the same. Companies such as Google, Intel, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, LinkedIn and beyond have developed their own academic portfolios in order to fill a need for talent that only promises to keep climbing.
Skeptics might point to such programs as community development sops — the sort of philanthropy-tinged outreach a company does to convey its goodwill and commitment to a region even as it hunts out ever more competitive advantage. But ther...
Despite the slowdown in elective medical procedures prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 has been a banner year for medical device manufacturers. Capital commitments within the sector, according to a report issued in late July by Silicon Valley Bank, are way up.
“Looking at dollars raised,” says the report, “U.S. and European medical device startups raised $4.6 billion in the first half of this year, putting 2021 on pace to eclipse total dollars raised in 2020 ($5.2 billion raised) and 2019 ($4.8 billion raised).” While North American companies continue to dominate, the report notes that European startups accounted for 34% o...
The $222 million replacement of the Merchants Bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Louis reached a milestone in September with the installation of the first of three new trusses. Dating to 1890, the Merchants Bridge serves six Class I railroads and Amtrak in the nation’s second largest rail hub by car interchange volume and third largest by gross tonnage.
Work began in 2018 and, when completed in early 2023, the new double-track bridge is expected to provide an alternative to more congested rail regions like Chicago.
Read full article.
We all know that in the past two years, the only constant for small business owners has been change. Thousands of businesses changed their business model at the onset of the pandemic, introducing new products or services and embracing new channels to reach their customers. Thousands more launched new businesses altogether, spotting untapped opportunities in our collective “new normal.”
Now, as we head into 2022, we see the impacts of the past two years crystallizing and new trends emerging, like the beginnings of the metaverse to changing how we define small businesses and how small businesses operate — online, offline an...
Congratulations on an amazing year of successes, learning opportunities and improvements for you and your business. It’s no easy task running a company, and it can take a toll on you. As the year comes to an end, let’s talk about how to keep you energized in the coming year.
Here are eight New Year's business resolutions to help you achieve just that.
1. Get your business processes down on paper
You have an amazing brain, and it holds a lot of the information your business needs in order for it to run smoothly. You need to put all of that information o...
In Junction City, Kansas, entrepreneurs are an important aspect of our thriving economy. They help spur growth by taking risks on innovative ideas. Through their hard work and dedication, industries are dramatically moved forward. Junction City-Geary County Economic Development Commission (JC-GCEDC) is decidedly pro-business with available support and incentives to help these resourceful, passionate, and optimistic business owners succeed.
Junction City Entrepreneurial Success Stories
Honor Screenprinting & Embroidery
Honor Screenprinting & Embroidery started as an at-home business when owner, Shawn Robison, was preparing for retirement from the Army after 23 years of service. Inspiration to start his business came from a dinner conversatio...
As the U.S. economy continues its recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are encountering an increasingly difficult talent landscape fraught with challenges related to the attraction and retention of the talent upon which their business relies. This is particularly true for the most advanced technical job roles. Amid this environment, companies are relying on their site selection consultants to develop talent-based location strategies that help ameliorate these challenges. Utilizing market data in more creative ways can help companies gain competitive advantage by identifying new pools of accessible technical talent.
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As the U.S. economy emerges from the 2020 recession, the U.S. labor market remains an area of concern for occupiers, investors, and the commercial real estate industry. The impact of the pandemic on the labor market has been sharp and severe, especially within urban areas. Although the economy is now well on its way to recovery, significant challenges remain, including labor supply-demand imbalances and a drop in labor force participation.
A Constant Pain Point
With unemployment benefits having ended for millions of Americans on September 5, it remains to be seen how labor markets will respond. The COVID-19 pandemic sparked the acceleratio...
The world of real estate is making significant strides toward adopting the latest and most innovative technologies. But with more tech comes heightened risk. One of the latest ransomware attacks this year impacted up to 1,500 businesses globally by targeting U.S. IT company, Kaseya. Brazilian meatpacking company, JBS, also experienced a cybersecurity attack that forced the company to shut down operations, which could have been detrimental to its supply chain and to the U.S. food supply. In January 2021, a hacker was able to break into a water treatment plant system (by stealing an employee’s username and password) in a...
In August, Rocki Rockingham was named Chief Human Resources Officer for GE Appliances. Area Development’s editor recently asked her about the company’s strategy to build upon its recent global “Great Place to Work” recognition and to create a workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent.
Area Development: Despite the high unemployment rate created by the pandemic, companies are still struggling to find skilled labor. How does GE Appliances’ workplace culture factor into attracting these workers?
Rocki Rockingham: Having a great culture is critical to attracting talent and our success. This year, 81 percent of employees said GE Appliances is a grea...
Many businesses have benefited enormously from digital sales during the pandemic. Not only did Covid-19 alter consumer buying patterns; digital platforms accelerated online consumption and redefined business models.
The trend has especially impacted companies once classified as traditional freight forwarders that now operate as integrated, third-party logistics (3PL) service providers. Consequently, 3PLs that traditionally are hired to partner with brands have even greater responsibility (and opportunities) to handle all aspects of the supply chain.
Read full article.
The world of real estate is making significant strides toward adopting the latest and most innovative technologies. But with more tech comes heightened risk. One of the latest ransomware attacks this year impacted up to 1,500 businesses globally by targeting U.S. IT company, Kaseya. Brazilian meatpacking company, JBS, also experienced a cybersecurity attack that forced the company to shut down operations, which could have been detrimental to its supply chain and to the U.S. food supply. In January 2021, a hacker was able to break into a water treatment plant system (by stealing an employee’s username and password) in a...
There are those who describe the current, faster-and-faster-moving marketplace as a fourth industrial revolution, and the best entrepreneurship programs are those that help students appropriately speed up and, when necessary, scale up their ideas, from unicorns to innovative business models. Students who enroll at these schools will find themselves at the forefront of innovation and development, and often with an interdisciplinary focus that acknowledges the interconnectedness of today's economy. Perhaps more importantly, they will also get opportunities to enrich themselves and their communities, adding economic and social value through innovation, team building, and leadership.
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Erie, in the far northwest corner of Pennsylvania, holds a few unwanted titles. It is home to the poorest zip code (16501) in the entire United States — the median income in 2019 was just $10,874. It has been declared “the worst city for Black Americans” based on racial economic disparities — and 16% of its residents are African American. The city’s population is around 95,000, about 30% below its 1960 peak. Nearly 30% of the remaining residents live below the poverty line. A 2016 comprehensive plan found 4,700 vacant housing units; half of the city’s residential properties were o...
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today applauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announcement of a $163,617 award to the Kansas Department of Commerce’s International Division through SBA’s competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).
Through STEP, states competitively apply for and receive financial awards to assist small businesses in their state with export development.
“International business is a significant economic driver for our state, which is why one of my first acts as Governor was to reinstate the International Division at the Department of Commerce,” Governor Kelly said. “Thanks to their strong efforts, Kansas is more competitive on a global scale whe...
Junction City-Geary County, Kansas, is home to multiple global manufacturing companies, including biotech, that are using the latest technologies to produce the goods the world needs. Junction City-Geary County Economic Development Commission (JCGCEDC) is taking the time during Manufacturing Month to celebrate these companies for their innovations and employment opportunities that grow our economy. Manufacturing creates careers that are full of opportunity for both advancement and stability.
Manufacturing in Junction City-Geary County
The manufacturers in Junction City-Geary County are leaders in technology and good workplace practices, produce high quality products, and consistently innovate to keep in step with and progress their industries...
Even during the best of times, starting a small business is tough. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it became a quest for survival. While roughly one-third of small businesses were closed amid the lockdowns, many have reopened their doors or launched anew as consumer demand roars back.
Each of the 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S. has its own unique flavor, challenges and path to success. Some never expand beyond a single founder; others could scale to become the next unicorn. Along the way, many founders will face common sets of challenges as they reach new levels of success.
For that reason...
Across the nation, finding well-positioned, developable land with utilities and infrastructure has become almost impossible in some areas. Just about all of it has been scooped up by hungry buyers. Competition for land zoned for industrial/warehouse development is particularly intense.
Owners with any inclination of selling have already done so, or their land is under contract. For the owners still holding onto their land, the question is, what will entice them to finally sell? Buyers would be wrong to assume it’s all about price. The market has reached a remarkable level of efficiency when it comes to pricing, and developers kno...
rior to the COVID-19 pandemic, millennials purchased half their grocery products online, and e-commerce grocery shopping made up 4.5 percent of market share. As of January 2021, that same share is up to 12.5 percent and projected to rise another 9 percent by 2025 — creating a tipping point in consumer buying habits.
While food suppliers have traditionally had the capacity to prepare for seasonal demands, the pandemic has skyrocketed consumer e-commerce and grocery purchases, leaving stores scrambling to pick up the slack and meet today’s unprecedented requirements.
Read full article.
Congratulations. Your business is growing! Revenue is up, and you just launched a new product that is flying off the shelves. The only problem is you need to hire more people and you have no place to put them. You have hired a site selector, and they have found the perfect location — good access to interstates, labor, and everything else you could want. The only concern is the public. The community likes its small-town rural feel and is worried your project will change their lifestyle too much.
You need an economic impact study. Put simply, an economic impact study estimate...
Success as an entrepreneur is difficult to explain. While we immediately think of it as making a tremendous amount of wealth, success doesn’t always mean that. Rather it comes down to defining it on your own terms and directing your life to live by those principles.
Below are 10 entrepreneurs who you might not have heard of, but have achieved their own versions of success and inspire you to do the same.
Read full article.
As the very successful Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” And as a successful entrepreneur myself, I can confirm that you can make your dreams come true if you set your mind to it, persevere, and give it all you got. But, making your business idea a reality doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and a ton of hard work.
So, how do you make your business idea and dream come to life? Let me walk you through it.
Got a solid idea for a product or service? Awesome. Now it’s time to ge...
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas has received Area Development’s Top 20 States for Doing Business recognition for 2021 – the first time in Kansas history the state has made the Top 20 list.
“Our state’s positive economic development momentum is undeniable, and the rest of the country is taking notice,” Governor Kelly said. “This designation – in addition to our record-breaking economic success, our receipt of Area Development Magazine’s Gold Shovel Award, and being named as the top business climate in the West North Central region of the United States – is further proof our efforts are paying off i...
A nationwide pandemic, vaccines, elections and racial unrest have exposed the broad political and societal divides between urban centers and rural places. This has occurred against a backdrop of city residents finding they can work from anywhere, relocating in greater numbers to regions with smaller populations.
What does all this mean to entrepreneurship? NetWork Kansas could be at the forefront of that discovery.
As one of America’s longest-running rural entrepreneurial ecosystems, NetWork Kansas offers a model for collaboration on rural economic development. The now-statewide network of nonprofit business-building resources has proven to be a model for bridging the rural-urban gap in som...
(The Center Square) - At the sixth annual Kansas Governor's Summit on Agricultural Growth, industry leaders will be updated about different sectors of Kansas agriculture and discuss growth outcomes.
Scarlett Hagins, vice president of communications at Kansas Livestock Association, said that agriculture is the largest economic driver in Kansas, valued at nearly $70.3 billion, and it employs more than 250,000 people either directly or indirectly. Direct contributions come from agriculture and food products, and indirect contributions come from farms and agricultural businesses purchasing inputs from supporting industries within the state.
"Cattle ranching and related businesses employ nearly 39,000 people and contribute a...
With so much velocity in the industrial market, it is hard to imagine that a lack of labor, materials, and available real estate could slow down this momentum — specifically, at a time when there is unprecedented demand for new passenger and fleet vehicles. Can you remember the last time your local car dealership or car rental company had little to no inventory?
The disruption of the pandemic impacted nearly every facet of the automotive supply chain, causing a significant impact on how new projects are being developed and implemented. BDO’s annual 2021 Manufacturing CFO Outlook Survey showed that the number-on...
Most businesses have not escaped supply chain challenges over the previous 12 months. When everyone expected COVID-19 to slow demand, it accelerated demand to a point where supply chains were stretched to their limits. But it not just COVID — the winter storm of 2021 reduced Texas’ capacity to refine petroleum, which created a ripple effect for a reduced ability to manufacture nearly all paints. Major manufacturers of cushion foam were also hit by a hurricane, causing multiple industries to temporarily shut down for repairs, which has exacerbated the shortage due to high demand. Currently, many companies, both large an...
Remote work is full of paradoxes and ironies.
Start with that word: “remote.” It sounds like you’re far, far away, speaking into a tin can. But a fair number of suddenly remote workers have never been more present and accounted for.
It also lends itself to the easy joke: “You’re working remotely today? Not remotely working is more like it.”
Then there’s the hackneyed phrase “location, location, location.” Industry hubs are one thing. But the idea of certain places becoming hubs of remote work is inherently backward: If you can work from anywhere, the hub — like some sort of sci-fi concept &mdash...
The doors of the new Junction City High School will swing wide-open for students on August 25, 2021. The 437,000 square-foot state-of-the-art high school is located on the west side of Junction City, Kansas, along the north side of K-18 Highway, and is the culmination of years of planning and perseverance.
“The old high school was at the end of its functional life,” said David Wild, Geary County Schools Unified School District 475 Chief Operations Officer. “The Board of Education commissioned a needs assessment to determine the feasibility of renovating that school. Plumbing, electrical, space, flooring, ceilings, heating and cooling, plu...
The crack of the bat, the cheer of the crowd, the aroma of fresh popcorn on a clear summer evening . . . these tell a tale of baseball familiar to many. Junction City Brigade Baseball at Rathert Field delivers all of this, but the story goes even deeper. The baseball dreams, success, and camaraderie launch from a foundation of rich history, community spirit, tenacity, and quality of life.
Rathert Field — built from limestone quarried right in Junction City — is an architectural landmark and one of the most historic baseball stadiums in the Midwest. Opening its doors in 1937...
In August, Rocki Rockingham was named Chief Human Resources Officer for GE Appliances. Area Development’s editor recently asked her about the company’s strategy to build upon its recent global “Great Place to Work” recognition and to create a workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent.
Area Development: Despite the high unemployment rate created by the pandemic, companies are still struggling to find skilled labor. How does GE Appliances’ workplace culture factor into attracting these workers?
Rocki Rockingham: Having a great culture is critical to attracting talent and our success. This year, 81 percent of employees said GE Appliances is a grea...
An unbeatable drive-time radius with multiple major markets within 600 miles.
2020 Great American Defense Community
This is a national level award that is only given to five communities per year across the entire United States after a tough competition between applicants. This award demonstrates the continuous dedication that Junction City shows in its support of Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division.
Natural Beauty
Home to the largest lake in Kansas with 163 miles of shoreline.
Education
An exceptional state public school system, ranked 15th in the country.
Technical Training
Twenty minutes from one of the top tech colleges in the nation: Manhattan Area Technical College.
Higher Education
Kansas State University, a world-class research institution, is 20 minutes away.
Connected
Five exits off I-70 and an abundance of affordable sites for development.
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