Incentive

Dodge City commissioners approve a new sales tax incentive for a new restaurant. The developers of an IHOP requested to become a Community Improvement District. The incentive allows the business to charge a one-cent higher sales tax to help pay for the development. Although the incentive won unanimous approval, some Dodge City commissioners voiced concerns about whether the franchise really needed the financial help. Dodge City's mayor said there has been a struggle to bring businesses to the area.

The public will decide if a proposed hotel in downtown Wichita should receive tax incentives from the city. The special vote will happen February 28th. Wichita council members could have taken back the incentive, which they approved previously. Instead they voted to put the issue before voters. Americans for Prosperity pushed for the special election after it collected enough signatures during a petition drive to prompt a public vote. The group wants to prevent the hotel project from getting the tax incentives.

The Wichita City Council approves an incentive for a new apartment project downtown. Developers of The Lux Apartments at 1st and Market asked for $21.5 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds. The development will be in the old KG&E building, which has been vacant since early 2011. The bonds will help finance work to renovate the building into a "multi-use" facility with commercial, retail and residential space. The project is not receiving a property tax exemption, but there will be a sales tax exemption on purchases financed by the bond.

As Hawker Beechcraft workers consider their next proposed contract, the community is paying attention.  "It's a big vote.  Everyone in Wichita is watching you," said former aircraft worker Ed Mutchler. People are watching to see how much the company would get from the state if workers vote yes.  The governor worked out an incentive deal that uses tax dollars to keep the company from moving to Louisiana if the union approves it.  "The Hawker workers make good money but they're going to let it fall on their neighbors shoulders to help bail them out," Mutchler said.

Sedwick County approves a forgivable loan for Tect Power, Incorporated. The company makes turbine engines and other aircraft components. It's located at 2019 Southwest Blvd in Wichita. Tect Power has operations all over the country and Canada.  Here in Wichita it plans to spend $2.7 million to expand operations. The county approved a $25,000 forgivable loan for the company. The City of Wichita is expected to do the same. The company currently employs 15 people in Wichita.

Wichita City Council members vote 4-3 to approve an incentive for a new development near Kellogg and Maize Road. The developers behind the Bowllagio asked for the creation of a Tax Increment Financing, or TIF district. The incentive allows property taxes generated from the project to help pay for land improvements. City leaders say the TIF district in this case is different from past TIF districts. They say it requires all money to be used for greater public good. In this case, it will be used to improve drainage in the area surrounding the Bowllagio development.

A new call center is coming to Wichita and it's bringing hundreds of jobs with it.  Starwood Hotels and Resorts plans to open a call center in Wichita later this year.  However it's still waiting on Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita to approve an incentive package. The customer service center would go in on East Harry, in the location where Office This used to be. Steve Bacci owned three businesses at that location, but had to move two of them. "There are a lot of tenants who had to relocate, who had to find new office places within the Wichita area, office out of homes," said Bacci.

The Wichita public school system is offering a one-time early retirement incentive for certain employees. It's part of working out a budget that needs to cut $30-million. The incentive will include a waiver of up to 12 months of health plan coverage premiums (medical, dental and pharmacy). The benefit ends at the conclusion of 12 months OR when a retiree begins to draw the USD259 bridge OR when a retiree turns 65 - whichever comes first. In order to be eligible, an employee must:     Be an active licensed/certified Wichita Public Schools teacher and/or administrative employee     Have 83 or more KPERS points OR are 62 years of age with 10 years of service     Not be drawing Wichita Public Schools bridge payments     Be less than 65 years of age     Be one of the first 200 to accept the offer by 4:45 p.m. on April 20 and retire at the end of the 2010-11 school year Those eligible to consider the early retirement incentive will be notified directly by Mary Whiteside, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

The Wichita City Council approves giving Hawker Beechcraft a $2.5 million incentive.  The money is a part of a larger state incentive package worked out last December.  The state, city and county came up with $45 million in funding to keep Hawker from moving its operations out of Wichita. The state will provide $40 million in incentives. The city and county are each supposed to chip in $2.5 million.  In return, Hawker is supposed to employ at least 4,000 workers in Wichita through 2020.  However the company could actually employ 3,601 people before having to pay back any of the money.

If you need an incentive to stick with your exercise resolution-how about having to pay each time you miss working out? That's the brainchild of two recent Harvard graduates.  Sign up for gym-pact, and each time you miss, your credit card is billed $5. The money is later given to those who stick with their workouts. The founders took a class in behavioral economics and say losing money is a better incentive than winning money. It may be what you need. Read more about it here .

A new call center is coming to Wichita and it's bringing hundreds of jobs with it.  Starwood Hotels and Resorts plans to open a call center in Wichita later this year.  However it's still waiting on Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita to approve an incentive package. The customer service center would go in on East Harry, in the location where Office This used to be. Steve Bacci owned three businesses at that location, but had to move two of them. "There are a lot of tenants who had to relocate, who had to find new office places within the Wichita area, office out of homes," said Bacci.

Sedgwick County Commissioners voted against a tax incentive for a development in west Wichita.  All of the commissioners voted down a TIF district for the Bowllagio project at Kellogg and Maize.  The Bowllagio is supposed to be an entertainment area including a bowling and training center, restaurants, hotels and shopping. Commissioners say there are too many questions about the project. They are also worried about hidden costs and whether the project will benefit the county.

Wichita City Council members vote 4-3 to approve an incentive for a new development near Kellogg and Maize Road. The developers behind the Bowllagio asked for the creation of a Tax Increment Financing, or TIF district. The incentive allows property taxes generated from the project to help pay for land improvements. City leaders say the TIF district in this case is different from past TIF districts. They say it requires all money to be used for greater public good. In this case, it will be used to improve drainage in the area surrounding the Bowllagio development.

Dodge City commissioners approve a new sales tax incentive for a new restaurant. The developers of an IHOP requested to become a Community Improvement District. The incentive allows the business to charge a one-cent higher sales tax to help pay for the development. Although the incentive won unanimous approval, some Dodge City commissioners voiced concerns about whether the franchise really needed the financial help. Dodge City's mayor said there has been a struggle to bring businesses to the area.

The Wichita City Council approves an incentive for a new apartment project downtown. Developers of The Lux Apartments at 1st and Market asked for $21.5 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds. The development will be in the old KG&E building, which has been vacant since early 2011. The bonds will help finance work to renovate the building into a "multi-use" facility with commercial, retail and residential space. The project is not receiving a property tax exemption, but there will be a sales tax exemption on purchases financed by the bond.

If you use Frontier Airlines for your travel, here's something you'll want to know.  Frontier says if you don't book directly with the airline, you may be sorry.  It will penalize you by not giving your seat assignment until check-in, you'll face more fees and get fewer frequent flier miles. The goal is to provide an incentive to book directly with Frontier, which saves the airline money.  Read more about it here .

The Wichita City Council and Sedgwick County Commissioners approved an economic development grant for NetApp this week. The grant includes $418,000 from the city and county each over the five year period. The online storage and data management company announced in August that it is doubling its Wichita workforce. NetApp currently employs 450 people at its Wichita facility. The company is adding another 400 workers. The development grant will be paid in installments based on when people are hired.

Numbers show Wichita-area new home sales in May increased by 12-percent from April.  Local builders are optimistic about the news.  They say incentive packages may be helping the increase. A block party hosted by the City of Buhler isn't child's play. "We haven't had any (new homes) built here in the last year or so, so (we) kind of want to get more people in here," Realtor Richard Ediger said. The Prairie Park development served as the back-drop for the city's new housing incentive that includes a tax rebate.

Developers reveal the first tenant for a new retail development planned for Garden City. The city says home improvement store Menard's will be the first store to come to the 400,000 square foot shopping district. The store should open in Spring of 2013. The 162,000 square foot store would anchor the first phase of the project. A developer from North Carolina is behind the project. Developers asked the city for incentives, citing the project as creating jobs and attracting new business.

The Wichita City Council sets a public hearing for April 10 on incentives for a new development near I-135 and 47th St. S. Council members voted 6-1 on the request which could establish a Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, district for the Southfork development. The incentive would allow developers to use property tax revenue generated from the project to help pay for land improvements. Developers want to turn the lot into new retail and business space. While the council approved a TIF district for the project last year, it was rescinded in February after the Sedgwick County Commission voiced concerns and requested some changes, including its location in a flood plain.