Other Kansas News From Outside The Metro

[pogo]

Heard about the lay offs yesterday from a daughter that works there. She survived the cut probably in large part she is taking courses to finish her degree requirements plus she has been a line supervisor for multiple lines within the company. But leave no doubt she was very anxious about the process as were my wife and I.

[SubGod22]

Since a lot of people love this place, this would be news and a first for Kansas.

WBJ - Mega-convenience store chain Buc-ee's seeks incentives for KCK travel center

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, will consider approving $13 million in tax incentives to develop what would be the state's first Buc-ee’s travel center.

On Monday, the UG Economic Development and Finance Committee recommended approval of a development agreement with Buc-ee’s to build the travel center at 601 Village West Parkway, just south of the Kansas Speedway. The UG will review the development agreement on Thursday.

Buc-ee’s plans to build a 74,000-square-foot travel center with 120 gas fuel pumps and 12 electric-vehicle charging stations on about 25 acres.

Do they know something we don't about a new Chiefs home going in?...

[SubGod22]

Bad news for Emporia.

KAKE - Tyson Foods ending all operations in Emporia in February

Tyson Foods has announced it is ending all operations in Emporia, a move affecting more than 800 employees.

KVOE reports Tyson confirmed the plant closure to city administrators and sent a letter to employees saying the current operations will end on or about February 14.

Tyson VP of Beef and Pork Operations Ernesto Sanchez said the decision to close the Emporia plant is part of “the company’s business strategy to operate more efficiently.” Around 200 of the more than 800 local employees will be shifted to Tyson operations in Holcomb. The rest will be able to transfer to other places in the Tyson system, according to KVOE.

Those 200 are going to be moving clear across the state to keep jobs with Tyson. I'm not sure where other Tyson locations may be for the other 600 impacted by this. Holcomb is west of Garden City.

[RoyalShock]

There is a small Tyson facility in Hutch.

[SubGod22]

Kansas Commerce - Governor Kelly Announces Flora Food Group Investing $90M, Creating 100 New Jobs in Hugoton

Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that Flora Food Group, a global food company, has purchased a manufacturing facility in Hugoton. This capital investment of around $90 million and the expected creation of approximately 100 new jobs over the next several years will elevate the workforce in Stevens County.

“This investment by Flora Food Group demonstrates my administration’s commitment to ensuring economic development and opportunity across Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I look forward to the success of this partnership between Flora Food Group and the Hugoton community.”

The facility will be the hub for Flora Food Group’s creams and cream cheese products for the United States, Canada, and the rest of the Americas region over time. Its existing New Century facility will continue to serve as the U.S. hub for Flora Food Group’s butters and spreads products. The intention is to bring back a fully operational facility and jobs to the Hugoton community.

“Strong and goal-oriented partnerships are key to bringing opportunities to all 105 Kansas counties, and that is precisely what this investment represents,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Local and state officials worked together to find a company in growth mode that would be a good fit for the community. The Flora Food Group is the perfect match for Hugoton – and the state.”

There is a lot of growth and activity in southwest Kansas when it comes to these sorts of things. There are a number of large dairies that are operating and growing, as well as more being built as we speak. Add to that the Hilmar Cheese facility near Dodge City that I believe officially goes operational in January and now this Flora Food facility. I also know that there are a number of other active jobs or new facilities planned out there around these industries in western Kansas.

I also know that finding the manpower to build/construct these facilities can be hard at times because it's western Kansas and there's just so much going on and expected to go on out there.