Entrepreneurship Archives - Page 2 of 6 Voice For Liberty

Making Wichita an inclusive and attractive community

09

Feb

Making Wichita an inclusive and attractive community

There are things both easy and difficult Wichita could do to make the city inclusive and welcoming of all, especially the young and diverse. In its questionnaire for candidates for Wichita mayor and city council, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce asked this: "How will you work to make Wichita an inclusive community where all will feel welcome, particularly the young and diverse talent we need to help attract more young and diverse talent?" There are a few very easy things Wichita could do to appeal to millennials -- I think that is one of the groups the Chamber addresses…

26

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Kansas is not an entrepreneurial state

The performance of Kansas in entrepreneurial activity is not high, compared to other states. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation prepares the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. According to the Foundation, "The Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity is a leading indicator of new business creation in the United States. Capturing new business owners in their first month of significant business activity, this measure provides the earliest documentation of new business development across the country." As shown by the data, Kansas ranks low in entrepreneurial activity. This is true when Kansas is compared to the nation, and also when compared to a…

29

Nov

By Bob Weeks

Wichita economic development items

The Wichita city council has been busy with economic development items, and more are upcoming. At the November 25 meeting of the Wichita City Council, on the consent agenda, the council passed these items. Approved a sublease in a warehouse. This action was necessary as the incentivized warehouse pays no property taxes due to a subsidy program. Given tax costs and industrial building rents, this policy gives these incentivized buildings a cost advantage of about 20 to 25 percent over competitors. That’s very high, and makes it difficult for existing buildings to compete. This lease is for 40,500 square feet…

05

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Again, Wichita policies are fluid

Wichita city hall promises policies that are clear, predictable and transparent, except when they're not. On July 22, 2104, a presentation to the Wichita City Council sought to assure the council and public that a proposed jobs fund created with money collected by the proposed sales tax would have policies that govern the spending of funds: "GWEDC - Finds businesses to expand, recruit, follows established policies for retention/recruitment." But there's a problem. It's difficult for governments to establish policies that will satisfy everyone. How do we know today what we'll need five or ten years down the road? When governments…

Union Station TIF provides lessons for Wichita voters

02

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Union Station TIF provides lessons for Wichita voters

A proposed downtown Wichita development deserves more scrutiny than it has received, as it provides a window into the city's economic development practice that voters should peek through as they consider voting for the Wichita sales tax. Next week a Wichita real estate developer will ask the Wichita City Council to approve a package of incentives for the redevelopment of Union Station in downtown Wichita. The proposal contains many facets that citizens need to understand. Additionally, the city's handling of this matter is something that voters will want to keep in mind as they make their decision on the proposed…

Kauffman index of entrepreneurial activity

23

May

By Bob Weeks

Kauffman index of entrepreneurial activity

The performance of Kansas in entrepreneurial activity is not high, compared to other states. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation prepares the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. According to the Foundation, "The Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity is a leading indicator of new business creation in the United States. Capturing new business owners in their first month of significant business activity, this measure provides the earliest documentation of new business development across the country." As shown by the data, Kansas ranks low in entrepreneurial activity. This is true when Kansas is compared to the nation, and also when compared to a…

31

Mar

By Bob Weeks

Kansas newspapers against the children

A Kansas newspaper editorial illustrates that for the establishment, schools -- the institution of public schools, that is -- are more important than students. An unsigned editorial in the Garden City Telegram proclaimed "Another attempt to undermine public schools materialized last week in the Kansas Statehouse." (Legislators turn to ALEC for poor plan on schools, March 25, 2014.) What was in a bill that so worried the Telegram editorial writers? According to the op-ed, the dangerous provisions are "expansion of charter schools, overhaul of teacher licensing and tax breaks for private school scholarships." To the Telegram, these ideas are "radical"…

02

Jan

By Bob Weeks

In Wichita, more tax for more transit?

In 2014 it is likely that Wichitans will be asked to pay an increased sales tax, part of which would fund the existing bus transit service, as the system is not sustaining itself. Another part of the increased sales tax might expand the service. Wichitans ought to think twice before voting to spend additional taxpayer funds for either reason. In fact, Wichita ought to consider spending less on public transit, and look to the private sector to provide transit that people want to use, and which meets their real needs. Transit is expensive. To be more precise, government-provided transit is…

02

Dec

By Bob Weeks

Cessna, another Wichita company asking for tax relief

This week the Wichita City Council will consider granting economic development incentives to Cessna Aircraft Company. The incentives are in the form of property (ad valorem) tax relief, implemented through the city's Industrial Revenue Bond program, as described by city documents: Since 1991, the City Council has approved issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds ("IRBs") totaling $1.2 billion to finance expansion and modernization of Cessna Aircraft Company ("Cessna") facilities in Wichita. The City Council also authorized 100% ad valorem tax exemptions for all bond-financed property for periods of up to ten years. The city does this for economic development, which in…

27

Nov

By Bob Weeks

Wichita won’t consider this, I’m sure

As Wichita considers continuing taxing everyone to pay for a transit system that few people use, and as Wichita considers taxing everyone even more to pay for a bigger transit system that only a few additional people will use, here's an example of something that I'm sure is not under consideration: Privatization, entrepreneurship, and diversity.