Other Kansas News From Outside The Metro

[WstateU]

Didn't see this coming.

KWCH - KMW to invest $105 million in Sterling, create 250+ jobs



This is a hell of a win for Rice County and the city of Sterling.

I gotta wonder if Gene's company didn't have some pull. If Genzada Pharmaceuticals hits it big, watch out... it could be a game-changer for southcentral Kansas.

See Dr. Gene Zaid | Genzada Pharmaceuticals | Hyatt Life Sciences | JACAM Chemical Company at Startup Grind Wichita

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Newman, Garden City CC expand collaboration to battle Kansas education desert

The aim is to alleviate southwest Kansas' higher-education desert while also keeping them near home to enter the professional workforce.

That's what is behind a collaboration between Garden City Community College, a 2-year school, and four-year Newman University based in Wichita.

The schools are working beyond their two-decade startup effort to offer elementary education degrees to Garden City students and expanding to degree programs in business, agribusiness and nursing. The city and business community benefit by having a better chance of keeping young adults in the area, said Jessica Bird, Newman's dean of the School of Education and Social Work.

"They are ecstatic, excited, and I think they see this as a way to strengthen the community and retain talent," said Bird, who lives in Garden City. "Brain drain is a real thing and anytime a student leaves here, there's a really good chance they are not coming back."

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke at Garden City last month about the expansion of the program.

"I'm grateful to the leadership at both entities for their pursuit of filling the higher education gaps in our state and offering young Kansans the opportunity to achieve their dreams," Moran said.

No doubt this is a big issue in a lot of areas. There are some good opportunities though in western Kansas now and in the future in the right fields. I'm connected into a certain segment of the construction industry through work and I can tell you that we're involved in a lot of activity out in SW Kansas especially. Some very large projects in the Garden City, Dodge City and soon to be Greensburg areas. I think there's been talk of finding some office space out there to have someone dedicated to SW Kansas who can more closely help navigate and be on site as well as potentially grow our sphere of influence out there. Most of this would be in the agribusiness sector but there are opportunities I believe in the future for more growth out there.

On a personal level, as someone who is from a small town and would like to see growth, I think if these communities out there, and elsewhere, can retain some of the best and brightest that good things can happen. I hate when I travel and end up driving through some small, dead town that you can tell once had good life and an active main street. But jobs naturally flow into the larger cities and kill off smaller communities. If I had the fund to do so, I would love to be able to invest in some kind of industry that you could place out in some of the more rural areas of the state and give good jobs to areas that could desperately use them. If I ever play and win the lottery, I may do just that.

[SubGod22]

Decided to see what I could find on a couple of projects I mentioned in the Golden Shovel post.

Ingredients Network - Hilmar Breaks Ground on Production Facility in Dodge City, Kansas

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. broke ground today on the site of its future state-of-the-art cheese and whey protein processing plant in Dodge City, Kansas. The new facility is expected to create 250 new jobs and represents more than $600 million in capital investment.

Hilmar Cheese Company is one of the world’s largest producers of high-quality American-style cheese and nutritious whey products with customers in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1984 by 12 local dairy farm families in the Central Valley of California, Hilmar added a production facility in Dalhart, Texas in 2007. The privately owned company currently employs more than 1,500 local residents of those two locations.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Senator Jerry Moran, Dodge City Mayor Kent Smoll, Chairman of the Ford County Commissioners Chris Boyd and many other officials and community members. Hilmar’s board of directors, executive team and employees were also on hand to celebrate.

“The Hilmar project is a game-changer for southwest Kansas in terms of job growth, opportunity and lifestyle benefits for those living in Dodge City and surrounding communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration is focused on ensuring prosperity reaches all parts of the state, and I couldn’t think of a better company to join us here. Welcome to Kansas!”

“We are excited about this partnership with Dodge City,” stated David Ahlem, President & CEO of Hilmar Cheese Company. “This community has a local and skilled labor force, a supportive and expanding agricultural region, and an excellent transportation network. It is a great location to invest in the future.”

“Kansas is a growing dairy state and a prime location for Hilmar Cheese Company’s new processing plant,” said Senator Moran. “Hilmar Cheese recently participated in my Conservation Tour in western Kansas, and they will be a great partner in creating new jobs and bolstering Kansas’ dairy generational dairy farms while remaining committed to sustainability.”

Hilmar Cheese Company has adopted the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment and goal to achieve a Net Zero dairy industry by 2050. The Dodge City facility will incorporate the latest technology and advancements in conservation and sustainability. A state-of-the-art instrumentation and control systems will minimize the water needed to keep the plant clean and minimize energy usage. Recycled water will be used further in processing protein, to clean the facility and equipment, and to reclaim waste heat. The equipment will utilize the latest technology, such as upgraded spray nozzles for more efficient cleaning. The process will reuse rinse water. The latest equipment, instrumentation and automated controls technology will reduce overall energy use.

The Burlington chip plant broke ground last September.

Emporia Gazette - 'We want to stay in the area': Burlington breaks ground on new chips manufacturing plant

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, along with Coffey County commissioners and leadership from Secure Semiconductor Manufacturing, broke ground on a new 30,000 square foot facility Friday afternoon. The facility will be located just north of the Coffey County Airport on U.S. Highway 75.

SSM is a microelectronics manufacturer who will primarily supply semiconductor components for EMP Shield and other semiconductor manufacturers across the United States as part of a $1.9 billion investment that includes a partnership with Flint Hills Technical College and area high schools to provide the necessary training for potential employees. Gov. Laura Kelly announced the project in February.

SSM’s $20 million investment into the region is projected to create 64 jobs, and along with producing semiconductor components, the company will also provide rapid prototyping for other manufacturers across both U.S. defense and private sector applications.

“We’ve been through a lot with COVID and we’ve seen what happens when our supply chain is some place outside the United States, said Moran, during his keynote speech. “We’ve paid a price for that.”

Moran said the project is a win for Coffey County and the State of Kansas, as well as the families that will raise their childrens in the region.

“Economic development and job growth in Kansas matters every place in our state, but especially when it happens in a rural place, it’s even more special,” he said. “Part of my job is to do everything I can to make sure that rural Kansas has a future, and the efforts by local folks, county commissioners and economic development, make the difference.”

EMP Shield plans to have four production lines operating in approximately 235,000 square feet of facilities in the new industrial park that will produce thousands of chips per week. Its suppliers will manufacture necessary components and prepare the final products for delivery. The facility will create more than 1,200 jobs averaging $66,000 annually.

I love seeing more rural areas get wins like this.

High Plains Journal - Blue Sky Farms breaks ground on Edwards County dairy

Blue Sky Farms officials broke ground for the Twin Circle Dairy near Lewis Kansas, April 26. The dairy is expected to be home to nearly 25,000 cows and construction should be completed in 2025. Currently Blue Sky Farms has six dairies in Texas and another location where heifer calves are developed. More farm locations provide feed for the cows and heifers, as well as a harvest and hauling business. Watch for more information from the groundbreaking event and speakers in future issues of High Plains Journal and online at www.hpj.com.

Not much info on this one, but it's my understanding that they're planning on building a facility on par with High Plains Ponderosa.


I believe that Hilmar Cheese is expected to have their facility up and running this fall. High Plains Ponderosa should have their most recent barn finished by the end of the year. Blue Sky is ambitious but they're probably looking at being complete by summer of '25.

[SubGod22]

I'm putting this here because even though it involves Newman University, its focus is on SW Kansas.

Audacy - Another sizable federal grant for Wichita's Newman University

Newman University in Wichita has been awarded a $2.1 million Research and Public Engagement Development (RPED) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant will enhance educational access and workforce development in the southwest part of Kansas.

Newman University President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., MPH, believes the award is a “game-changer" for the region.

The grant will strengthen several of Newman's four-year degree offerings in Southwest Kansas, including agribusiness, business, education, nursing and the soon-to-launch sonography program. This expansion is being driven by collaborative partnerships with Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College and Seward County Community College.

Newman says it wants to create stronger connections with area high schools and local employers through the development of internships, cooperative education programs and clearly mapped career paths.

A major focus of the grant is enhancing comprehensive support services to ensure student success from recruitment to career placement. This includes improved advising, financial aid assistance and career development initiatives. The grant will fund four new dedicated staff roles: project coordinator, access coordinator, student success specialist and workforce/community liaison.

Funding from the grant will provide technological enhancements, like smart classrooms and a laptop loaner program. It will also establish paid internship stipends for students to gain work experience.