May Newsletter 🌸

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Come Home Reverse Scholarship Program

The Golden Belt Community Foundation is recruiting young professionals to return home to Central Kansas. The “COME HOME” Reverse Scholarship will provide funds to assist with student loans for individuals choosing to live or work in Stafford, Pawnee, Rush and Barton Counties.

Plan to attend a short informational meeting on Tuesday, May 7^th at 5:30 p.m. at the Stafford County Courthouse Annex in St. John.

Learn more and apply at www.goldenbeltcf.org/scholarships or call them at (620) 792-3000.

Mark your calendar!

- Friday, May 24th at 10:00am -

2019 Start-Up Central Kansas

**GOING ON NOW!
MARCH 20 - MAY 8**

Develop an empowering entrepreneurial mindset that looks for ways to turn obstacles into opportunities.

Start Up Central Kansas is a certificate program based on the Kansas Ice House
Entrepreneurship Program that develops an entrepreneurial mindset and skills like
critical thinking, communication, problem solving and other key assets crucial for
success in business and life.

The program combines classroom presentations with video interviews and case studies featuring modern day examples of entrepreneurs who have triumphed over adversity by embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. Each lesson includes discussion topics and assignments that encourage real-world
application of the concepts.

Save Your Labels Program

Shopping at White's Foodliner? Save your Best Choice brand labels off of products you buy! Make sure the barcode is included in the label you turn in. Then what? Turn them in to Stafford County Economic Development a 501c3 Non-Profit that's eligible to earn cash back for the labels you've turned in. 1,000 of these labels totals $30. You might say that's not very much, but if 50 families a week purchased 25 Best Choice products for 8 consecutive months, those labels would add up to $1,200! That's $1,200 towards a county project!

Please drop your labels by the Economic Development office at 210 E. 3rd Ave., at the City Office, or at White's Foodliner in St. John. There will be labeled drop-off containers at each location. Your label saving is greatly appreciated!

AmeriCorps VISTA Paid Positions Available

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. WSU 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.

2. WSU 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.

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!

Other Upcoming Events on the Calendar:

Wed., May 1 @ 6:00pm | Start Up Central KS in St. John
Mon., May 6 @ 7:00pm | Macksville City Council
Tues., May 7 @ 7:00pm | St. John City Council
Wed., May 8 @ 8:30am | Stafford County Commission Meeting
6:00pm | Start Up Central KS in St. John
Mon., May 13 @ 7:00pm | Stafford City Council
Wed., May 15 @ 8:30am | Stafford County Commission Meeting
Tues., May 21 @ 7:00pm | St. John City Council
Wed., May 22 @ 8:30am | Stafford County Commission Meeting
6:00pm | Start Up Central KS begins in St. John
Sun., May 26 @ 7:00pm | Hudson City Council
Mon., May 27 | Memorial Day
Tues., May 28 @ 7:00pm | Stafford City Council
Wed., May 29 @ 8:30am | Stafford County Commission 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 F acebook page for discussion on our latest projects and successes.

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