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Pratt County staff outline limited federal and state aid options after windstorm; industrial revenue bonds discussed
Summary
County staff reviewed federal and state programs available to businesses and homeowners after last week’s storm, said the disaster was not large enough to trigger a governor-requested disaster declaration for Pratt County, and flagged industrial revenue bonds and a local economic-development housing incentive as possible recovery tools.
Heather, a county staff member, told the Pratt County Commission that she has been contacting state and federal agencies about assistance for residents and businesses damaged in last week’s storm. “I reached out to the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Farm Service Agency, the Small Business Administration, and USDA Rural Development,” she said.
Heather said several programs may be available to businesses with uninsured losses, and that the Farm Service Agency’s Farm Storage Facility Loan Program — administered out of the Concordia FSA office — is intended for replacing hay or grain storage. She added that some low-interest loan programs through the Small Business Administration and USDA Rural Development could be options for eligible businesses.
Wayne Bell, identified in the meeting as the state director of the SBA, has expressed willingness to meet locally, Heather said; the county’s damage “was not large enough in size for the governor to request assistance for Pratt County,” she said, which limits eligibility for some disaster programs. Heather also reported she remains in contact with a business that asked the county to explore industrial revenue bonds, noting IRBs are a financing mechanism that can allow rebuilding with potential sales-tax exemptions.
Heather said she has requested more detail from the agencies and will continue to follow up with both affected businesses and the commission. She also notified commissioners that Representative Hoffman has offered help connecting the county with state and local resources.
The Pratt Area Economic Development Corporation (PAEDC) was said to be developing a housing incentive program; Heather said a portion of PAEDC funds may be set aside to help finance future multi-unit rental housing (not owner-occupied). The PAEDC group will also consider whether job retention should qualify as an eligible use of assistance for businesses affected by the storm.
Commissioners asked no formal policy questions during the presentation. Heather described the situation as a “holding pattern” pending additional agency guidance and pending a separate meeting between two parties that could affect action by the City of Sawyer.
Why it matters: county officials say some federal and state programs may help small businesses and farmers recover, but the lack of a larger disaster declaration limits access to certain federal disaster assistance. County staff will pursue loans, grants, and financing tools and report back to the commission.
