NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday on a 3-2 vote approved an agreement with Superior Holding to have a pilot program for hiring incentives for those moving into Reno County to work there.
"They would be providing a relocation incentive to individuals moving here," Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel said at a previous meeting. "They have to be documented that they are moving here by establishing residency, proving that their residency was elsewhere and that they establish residence in Reno County. They would have to provide that documentation to our office. Then, on a quarterly basis, we would provide a report to Reno County to draw down from a set aside fund that would be capped at this point, based on those 50 jobs, at $2500 per job, a total of $125,000, in order for them to then recieve a portion of a match to that on a reimbursement basis."
Doug Wright from Superior Holding said they already have the business need for more people.
"We've used a lot of different means over the last three to four years," Wright said. "This is just another avenue for us to pursue finding talented skills to find people, even some professional people, to come into Reno County and support what we do."
Commissioners made clear that Superior is exactly the type of business they would support such an incentive for, if they were for incentives at all. However, both John Whitesel and Don Bogner, who ultimately voted against the program, had concerns about setting a precedent that other less community-minded employers might seek to take advantage of.
"There's the reality that it's a competitive atmosphere and we can't change that," said commissioner Daniel Friesen, who ultimately voted for the incentive. "We have to stay competitive as a county to stay in the market, keep these job creators happy and lower our taxes. I just would encourage everyone to look at the entire picture here and understand. We're trying to lower taxes by growing our economy."
The pilot program will be in place for two years.
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