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GRAND OPENING 0f Stafford County Marketplace
There will be presentations from multiple organizations who made this project a success!

Wednesday, October 10th
10:00am to Noon

Stafford County Marketplace/White's Foodliner
329 N U.S. Highway 281, St. John






29th Annual Stafford Oktoberfest
Friday, October 5 & Saturday, October 6





St. John's First Annual 






Young Professionals of Stafford County Event
Join us for our first event to kick off a Young Professionals of Stafford County group! We hope you can join us to begin establishing relationships with peers your age.  Events will rotate around the county throughout the year!






Join us for the 5th Annual Giving Tuesday!
The 5th annual #GivingTuesday will take place on Tuesday, November 27th from 11:00am - 1:00pm at the Stafford County Annex located at 210 E. 3rd Ave. in St. John. 






AmeriCorps VISTA Positions Available NOW
​AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring their passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. The most pressing challenges we face as a nation require the most courageous and creative people to address them. An AmeriCorps VISTA member serves as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to advance local solutions. Apply NOW for positions here in Stafford County that provide the following benefits:
  • Living Allowance of $12,300
  • Housing provided for $250/month
  • Time, space and support to test your own business concept
  • AmeriCorps Health Benefit Plan
  • Choose ONE for end of service: 
    • Education Award of $5,775  OR  Cash Stipend of $1,800
  • Attendance at school/online classes permitted off-hours
  • Working at another job permitted off-hours
1. Employment Opportunity VISTA

The Employment Opportunity VISTA for Stafford County Economic Development will work to combat community decline by promoting, researching and developing plans to increase employment opportunities, which is focused countywide. The VISTA member duties will include fund development and community collaboration. The VISTA will build capacity by improving community capacity to create jobs and develop, both of which will help to break a cycle of poverty and decline. The VISTA will also develop a marketing and outreach plan and assist with activities to increase economic growth capacity.

For more detailed information and to apply, visit the My AmeriCorps website.
2. Community Development VISTA

The Community Development VISTA for Stafford County Economic Development will work to engage and combat community decline, which is focused countywide. The VISTA member will research and create strategic planning documents, gather information about current real estate trends, help with the creation of shared workspace and work to increase community support. The VISTA will build capacity by improving community capacity to develop jobs and expand community support, both of which will help to break a cycle of poverty and decline.  The VISTA will also develop a marketing and outreach plan and assist with activities to increase economic growth capacity.

​For more detailed information and to apply, visit the My AmeriCorps website. 
3. Arts-Focused Community Relations VISTA
The Community Relations VISTA will work to build capacity with the Stafford County Economic Development team.  The VISTA will develop a marketing and outreach plan, assist with fund development, and research and document best practices for shared workspace (focused on Gray Photo Studio) in an effort to combat community decline, which is focused countywide.  The VISTA will work to improve community capacity by strengthening and developing the culture around community arts programs in the county.  The VISTA will work with two other VISTAs and overall their efforts will support increasing local jobs, conducting research to identify opportunities around community development and assisting with philanthropic development, which will help to break a cycle of poverty and decline. 

For more detailed information and to apply, visit the My AmeriCorps website. 

 





2019 Central Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
ANY 7th - 12th grade student in Macksville, St. John-Hudson or Stafford may participate in this competition on February 6, 2019 in Larned! Mark your calendars!





2019 Destination Bootcamp Registration Open
JON SCHALLERT’S DESTINATION BUSINESS BOOTCAMP®
REINVENTING BUSINESSES INTO CONSUMER DESTINATIONS
Destination BootCamp is for business owners, retailers, entrepreneurs thinking of starting a business, or a community leader interested in learning the strategies of creating a Consumer Destination. This intensive training is for business owners who want to accelerate their learning curve, receive in-depth instruction, strategies, and specific tactics on how to become a dominant Destination Business that can pull consumers past your competition. When you return from Jon’s BootCamp, you will be light-years ahead of your competition. You will not only know what to change in your business to become a Destination, but you will know what to do next, and you will have the tools to get there.

In March 2018, Economic Development sent Kevin and Michell Welch from The Welch Farm in Macksville to Destination BootCamp.  EcoDevo has the capability to pay registration for ANY Stafford County business to go out to Colorado.  If you're interested, please contact our Program Director Ashlee at ashlee@staffordecodevo.com.

2019 Destination BootCamp Dates:

January 29-31
February 19-21
Graduate BootCamp March 12-13
April 9-11
May 21-23
September 10-12
October 1-3
October 22-24

For more information, please visit the Destination BootCamp website here.





Housing Available

$25,000 Down-Payment Assistance Program
**TWO slots left**


EcoDevo/The County of Stafford still have slots available for the down-payment assistance program for new home construction.  This program was made available through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.  The grant funds received will allow for four families to construct a new home and receive the down-payment assistance.

There are three house plans available to choose from.  All include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two car attached garage and a full unfinished basement with roughed in plumbing and egress windows for two additional bedrooms. 

Click to read our original informational blog post.  continue reading → 




Assistance Programs

Click on the photo to learn more!

 





Aspiring Business Owners & Current Owners:

Stafford County is designated as a NetWork Kansas E-Community.  An E-Community cultivates an entrepreneurial environment by connecting startups and small businesses to a network of resources who offer business-building expertise, education, and economic resources at low or no cost to the business owner.


What can the E-Community Program do for me?
Have you ever thought about starting a business? Do you own one already? Being an entrepreneur comes with many challenges; and many rewards. Stafford County Economic Development is here to help you tackle some of the challenges so that you can reap more rewards.

Click to  learn more → .





 
If you missed our recent monthly radio segment with Steve Webster on 1590 KVGB, click here to be directed to our website page where the replay is located.

Our radio program is aired on the fourth Thursday each month beginning at 11:30am on 1590AM KVGB and 97.7FM!





 
| -  Stafford Chamber of Commerce  -  |




Upcoming Coffee Hours:
  • Friday, October 5: (9:00-10:30am) with Country Yard Service @ the Stafford Senior Center
  • Friday, October 12: (9:00-10:30am) with Minnis Chapel @ Joan's Cafe
  • Friday, October 19: (9:00-10:30am) with Golden Belt Telephone @ the Stafford Senior Center
  • Friday, October 26: (Currently no sponsor for coffee)
Let Jamie Kreutzer know if you're interested in hosting a coffee hour!
(620) 664-0224




Member Spotlight:
Rama Operating Co., Inc.

 

101 S. Main
Stafford, KS 67578
(620) 234-5191



 
Midwest Energy provides several walk-in customer service offices and drop box locations for your convenience. All walk-in locations are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except during holidays. The Stafford County walk-in location is at 
220 N. Main Street
Macksville, KS 67557

If you would like to find out more information about Midwest Energy call our toll free number, (800) 222-3121.

Report gas leaks immediately to 1-800-222-3121 so we may dispatch a crew to investigate.

Visit their website here.


 
Farmer Clinic
802 W. Broadway
Stafford, KS 67578
(620) 234-6826


Both Farmer Clinic locations in St. John and Stafford are open from
9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Check out the website here for a list of services!






Business Space Available!
110 S. Main Street  -  Stafford, KS 67578

Rent = $250/month + 45% utilities

If interested, please contact Jamie Kreutzer ​(Chamber President)
(620) 664-0224   OR   sfcofc@att.net



Other Upcoming Events on the Calendar:
Mon., Oct. 1 - 7:00pm  Macksville City Council Meeting
Tues., Oct. 2 - 7:00pm  St. John City Council Meeting
Wed., Oct. 3 - 8:30am  Stafford County Commission Meeting
Mon., Oct. 8  -  Offices Closed | Columbus Day
                        7:00pm  Stafford City Council Meeting
Wed., Oct. 10 - 8:30am  Stafford County Commission Meeting
                       10:30am Grand Opening of Stafford County Marketplace
Tues., Oct. 16 - 7:00pm  St. John City Council Meeting
Wed., Oct. 17 - 8:30am  Stafford County Commission Meeting
Mon., Oct. 22 - 7:00pm  Stafford City Council Meeting
Wed., Oct. 24 - 8:30am  Stafford County Commission Meeting
Thurs., Oct. 25 - 11:30am  Focus on Stafford County Radio Program on KVGB 1590AM & 97.7FM
Sun., Oct. 28 - 7:00pm  Hudson City Council Meeting


Thanks for Subscribing!
 
Eco Devo wants to extend a hearty 'thank you' to all of our wonderful readers. You've made Stafford County shine, and we want to keep that going! If you're not a regular just yet, visit Eco Devo's website or Facebook page for discussion on our latest projects and successes.
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Copyright © 2018 Stafford County Economic Development, All rights reserved.


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