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Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback told an audience at the Leavenworth County Development Corporation’s annual meeting Friday that the state has its work cut out for it when it comes to economic growth.
Using themes similar to those mentioned in his recent State of the State address, Brownback said in order to prosper, the state needed to become competitive. Brownback mentioned the need for the state to step up its preparation of young people, including providing opportunities for both college preparation and technical education and vocational training.
He also mentioned his plan to cut the state’s income tax rate as well as introduce a “small business kicker,” which would eliminate personal income taxes for limited liability companies and those enterprises organized under Subchapter S of the federal tax code. Brownback said he hopes that those measures will help raise Kansas’ profile to potential companies.
While the next few years are likely to be difficult because of budget cuts, he said he hopes those changes could serve as a catalyst for broader improvements statewide.
“If you can get growth taking place, a lot of your other problems go down,” he said.
And one of the best opportunities for growth in the state is right here in Fort Leavenworth, according to Brownback.
“We get a lot of military retirees now, that’s a lot of expertise,” he said. “They’ve gone through all the ranks, they’ve gone through all the programs, they like Kansas they’ve been here and they have contacts.”
Brownback suggested pursuing housing developments tailored to those populations and establishing incubator systems for new small businesses as steps that could be taken locally to promote military personnel to retire in Leavenworth County.
Spurred by a question, Brownback also suggested that the county try to extend the high-speed Google fiber that is being installed to serve Kansas City, Kan., to the post.
“That’ll make it more attractive, more of an asset,” Brownback said, especially as the Pentagon faces smaller budgets.
For their part, LCDC Executive Director Steve Jack said LCDC already works with the state on economic development projects. He said under the best circumstances, those relationships work both ways.
“It’s a balance between investing in our infrastructure and our highways and our schools and at the same try to relieve the burden of taxes and regulation on the business community,” Jack said.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback told an audience at the Leavenworth County Development Corporation’s annual meeting Friday that the state has its work cut out for it when it comes to economic growth.
Using themes similar to those mentioned in his recent State of the State address, Brownback said in order to prosper, the state needed to become competitive. Brownback mentioned the need for the state to step up its preparation of young people, including providing opportunities for both college preparation and technical education and vocational training.
He also mentioned his plan to cut the state’s income tax rate as well as introduce a “small business kicker,” which would eliminate personal income taxes for limited liability companies and those enterprises organized under Subchapter S of the federal tax code. Brownback said he hopes that those measures will help raise Kansas’ profile to potential companies.
While the next few years are likely to be difficult because of budget cuts, he said he hopes those changes could serve as a catalyst for broader improvements statewide.
“If you can get growth taking place, a lot of your other problems go down,” he said.
And one of the best opportunities for growth in the state is right here in Fort Leavenworth, according to Brownback.
“We get a lot of military retirees now, that’s a lot of expertise,” he said. “They’ve gone through all the ranks, they’ve gone through all the programs, they like Kansas they’ve been here and they have contacts.”
Brownback suggested pursuing housing developments tailored to those populations and establishing incubator systems for new small businesses as steps that could be taken locally to promote military personnel to retire in Leavenworth County.
Spurred by a question, Brownback also suggested that the county try to extend the high-speed Google fiber that is being installed to serve Kansas City, Kan., to the post.
“That’ll make it more attractive, more of an asset,” Brownback said, especially as the Pentagon faces smaller budgets.
For their part, LCDC Executive Director Steve Jack said LCDC already works with the state on economic development projects. He said under the best circumstances, those relationships work both ways.
“It’s a balance between investing in our infrastructure and our highways and our schools and at the same try to relieve the burden of taxes and regulation on the business community,” Jack said.
