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Tourism and economic development officials report growth, highlight projects and state-level funding uncertainty
Summary
Finney County tourism staff reported a $143 million leisure-and-hospitality economic impact in 2023 and staff from the Finney County Economic Development Corporation outlined industrial and distribution projects, while noting uncertainty about some state programs and housing grant metrics.
County tourism and economic development offices updated commissioners on visitor-economy metrics and several local development projects, and flagged state-level program uncertainty affecting future projects.
Roxanne (tourism staff) presented a third‑party economic impact study for 2023 showing Finney County’s leisure-and-hospitality economic impact at about $143,000,000, supporting roughly 1,679 total jobs and generating about $13,900,000 in state and local tax revenue. The report estimated $55,000,000 in wages supported by the sector and noted Finney County’s share of bed‑tax revenue (lodging excise) is at 6% compared with surrounding jurisdictions. Roxanne said the office is up‑to‑date on marketing and staffing changes, listed upcoming sporting events including an NJCAA Division I championship in May and a KCAC national championship in April, and noted the tourism office has recently reorganized staff roles.
Lana Duvall, president and CEO of the Finney County Economic Development Corporation, reported progress on several projects: additional work at Northwest Industrial Park with an expected development agreement and closing soon, ongoing assistance on a new detention facility, a truck‑wash development preparing a development agreement, and a distribution project in the Western Kansas Corridor expected to close this week. Duvall also said there is concern among local developers about possible changes at the state level that could affect the Kansas affordable housing tax credit and certain business attraction/expansion programs.
Commissioners and staff discussed the moderate income housing (MIH) grant program; Duvall said the county’s recent applications have not always scored clearly against smaller projects that nonetheless received awards and described frustration with the apparent lack of transparent scoring metrics. She noted a previously awarded MIH project in the county is slated to begin construction in April and that tax-credit awards already issued are not in immediate jeopardy. The board also discussed a half‑cent sales tax authorization bill that had advanced out of a Senate committee; commissioners encouraged outreach to state legislators to support local considerations.
No formal board action was taken on the reports; officials asked staff to continue outreach, follow upcoming legislative developments and return with updates as projects advance.
