SERVICES

rURAL dEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

What can RDA of NEK

do for your community?

The Rural Development Association of Northeast Kansas (RDA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and maintaining an environment of regional cooperation and commitment to stimulate community and economic growth in Northeast Kansas. As you read through this information, please keep in mind projects or needs that your community wants to address and let us know how RDA can be of assistance to you. In an effort to better serve your community’s needs, the Board of Directors and Executive Director would like to encourage your community to call and visit about projects or concerns where you feel we may be of assistance.


Location:

1426 South Old US 75 Highway, Suite B

Sabetha, KS


Contact:

Nancy Gafford

Phone:

785-284-3099

Fax:

785-284-3117

Email:

nancy@rdanek.org

About

Microloan

Applicants

Sought

Small businesses with five or fewer employees can apply for low-interest loans of up to $ 25,000 that may be used to buy real estate, equipment or working capital. The Microloan may also be used as a guarantee in conjunction with financing from a private institution. In order to quality for the Microloan program, a business must:

  • Create new jobs, serving primarily low-to-moderate income persons
  • Complete a business planning course
  • Be willing to take risks

If you would like an application or want to visit with someone about making an application for a Microloan, please contact the RDA office by phone, email, or in person.

Rural

Opportunity

Zones

Rural Opportunity Zones offer one or both of the following financial incentives to new full time residents of Nemaha County:

  • Kansas State income tax waivers for up to 5 years
  • Student loan repayments for up to $ 15,000 over 5 years.

Third Annual RDA

Summer Business Tour

The Rural Development Association held its Third Summer Business Tour on Monday, June 19, in the northern part of Nemaha County. The first stop was Wenger Manufacturing Inc. where John Pierson graciously hosted the group with a tour through the recently constructed Innovation Center and the original plant. Moving to Bern, the group stopped for lunch at Bern Café and Catering where Lynette Strathman shared the history of CJ Foods, presently Alphia. The group enjoyed a tour of the Alphia plant and then visited the Bern Fire Barn and Community Building which were KanStep projects where funding was provided through the Kansas Department of Commerce and the community furnished labor to build the project.


Some participants in the tour were Nemaha County Commissioners Ben Glace, Dillon Keim and Jason Koch, Ernie Beaudet, Kansas Department of Commerce Northeast Kansas Business Development Representative, State Representative Randy Garber and Rural Development Board Members Doug Allen, Cara Baker, David Key, Fern Odum, Kay McCoy, Courtney Schmelzle, Lynette Strathman and Dave and Marjean Zumbahlen. The tour planning committee was RDA Board Members, Cara Baker, Courtney Schmelzle and Lynette Strathman.

New Fork Lift at Recycling Center

         In April 2022, it came to the attention of the Nemaha County Commissioners that the current forklift, possibly from the early days of the Nemaha County Recycling program which began in 1992, was reaching the point where it was requiring more to put into an old machine than was feasible. Through cooperation between Adam Kuckelman, Department of Road and Bridge/Solid Waste Supervisor, and Nancy Gafford, Director of the Rural Development Association of Northeast Kansas, an application was prepared and submitted to the Solid Waste Management Grant Program through KDHE, Bureau of Waste Management, on May 9. The County agreed to provide the 25% required matching funds. They were notified of the award of the grant on July 25. Delivery day was November 15, National Recycling Day, a very fitting beginning for the new fork lift.

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