NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Lauren Storm with the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce works on retention and expansion of existing businesses in the community. One of those businesses that is working hard to expand is Superior Boiler.
"Superior Boiler is a great example of a partnering business, and especially in the manufacturing field in our community," Storm said. "One way that they have gotten creative and that we've been able to partner with them is to work with the city and the county to create a Reno County relocation incentive program. It's a program that incentivizes workers to move into Reno County from outside of the county. At this point, we do have a couple of their employees that have taken advantage of these matching funds that the county will use from their economic development reserves and then accrue matching funds from the company. We've even had partnering businesses jump on board with that in those recruitment efforts to provide gift certificates and vouchers to welcome those people into the community."
Another business looking to hire is Collins Bus.
"Ever since their acquisition by Forest River Inc. last year, they have hired 60 new employees since February," Storm said. "They're also a company that hires well above the prevailing average wage, and also act very collaboratively in the community and realize that one of the highest commodities in the workforce field for manufacturing is welders, but not all welders have the same skillset or discipline and not all companies require the same thing. Both Superior and Collins have worked collaboratively in order to even recommend, if there's a welder that comes in with a skillset that they might recommend to one of our other great manufacturers, then they can send that skillset that way to help to kind of rise the tide for everyone."
It's important to continue to improve the quality of life for these new people as they come to town, too.
"Companies aren't just vetting the numbers, the size, the cost, the production, the workforce, but also the place," Storm said. "What are these employees going to do and how are they going to feel living here? And we care very deeply about that in our community. And the way that we are going to find success is by accruing everyone that also cares about developing that to make this the best place to live in the state."
If you have further questions about retention and expansion, call Storm at the Chamber at (620) 662-3391.