[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6575592,"mediaKeyId","3086669-e1bbf9346c57f7afaedd32dbb253bce8","parentId",3086669,"title","Shasta Power community engagement staff urges residents to complete county survey on proposed Crawford County solar farm","audioSeconds",229,"startMs",1053000,"endMs",1282000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086669-e1bbf9346c57f7afaedd32dbb253bce8&start=1053&end=1282","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086669-e1bbf9346c57f7afaedd32dbb253bce8/thumbnail_1053000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6575592/Pittsburg/Crawford-County/Kansas/Shasta-Power-community-engagement-staff-urges-residents-to-complete-county-survey-on-proposed-Crawford-County-solar-farm","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575592-5db6c0d2e2accbf604316c6728d5b3e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200363&Signature=WYFBsKSZfoUxDSCZvt3jNK-TI6KpXpmaw4gfTHXr9rCfGBmBmsqwxEETT2ok3zSsDvgtDZYXeviq239AUTM3f8eyznynQ52PCZZ03FHb4Kr~d~C67phuJjmRoP1p7EoG1LvfcAAHxyXA6qdAKQbkWLHnNx6397gDQgj7IXZWzGkESSnCfW0~Pk9g1JmUIcuG7B67fl2NESrjMxGjBYtWjF1kCmwK63hUnvvfGYMsFRx8pTGD~w9swnhc9o15uDUBnnchigEqcs8KU~plt5CnJdIp8YhXeyCt-rIWyszfvtyLKcoZJZRqmUepd0RFZnqANTOG1sKq5M7gydYQaP8ODg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Pittsburg, KS","date","2025-04-22T23:17:50.583Z","article","Melissa Rhodes, a community engagement representative for Shasta Power, used the commission’s public‑input period on April 22 to ask Pittsburg residents to complete a comprehensive survey tied to a Crawford County moratorium on utility‑scale solar permits. Rhodes said the company’s proposed solar farm would be a “$500 to $700 million investment” with an anticipated two‑year construction period and an estimated 200 to 250 workers employed during the build.

Rhodes said the county had issued a moratorium while a comprehensive survey is completed; she told the commission and attendees the survey had received about 600 responses to date and encouraged additional responses so the permitting process could proceed. “We are sitting right now in a county issued moratorium until the comprehensive survey is complete,” she said during public comment.

Rhodes also said she has launched the Southeast Kansas Rural Development Association, an economic nonprofit, and invited commissioners and staff to a private tour of Washington School, a childcare center, at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. She told the commission she expects to return to request a letter of support for a grant application to repair the Books Building roof and related work.

No formal commission action occurred on the solar project during the meeting; Rhodes’ remarks were recorded under public input. City or county staff did not provide additional detail on the moratorium or timeline during the public‑comment period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Meeting - 4-22-2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public input at the April 22 Pittsburg Commission meeting, Melissa Rhodes, community engagement lead for Shasta Power, asked residents to respond to a county moratorium survey about a proposed utility-scale solar project, citing a $500–$700 million investment, a two‑year build and 200–250 construction jobs.","taxTitle","Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas","taxId",55171,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6575597,"Pittsburg commission approves $405,000 loan and sales-tax exemption request for Villas at Wellington Springs senior housing",732,2885000,3617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086669-e1bbf9346c57f7afaedd32dbb253bce8&start=2885&end=3617","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086669-e1bbf9346c57f7afaedd32dbb253bce8/thumbnail_2885000.jpg","/articles/6575597/Pittsburg/Crawford-County/Kansas/Pittsburg-commission-approves-405000-loan-and-sales-tax-exemption-request-for-Villas-at-Wellington-Springs-senior-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575597-34d0a9976b42819410075ded888faf43/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200363&Signature=Rwj8H5Uc7Xal6bWjN6~MAG3VpRRYcd7x~2mKogVlIhxbst9Ur-zK-nDvoP2CHP6VxhxIYkPx~0qiR8LoNJhpqm~soHvU7~FO8x86cUTufHd0TwgbYR4Fs19ierTzf6RcmpTZAST99ujp4ZiHloSiwhWXluIUO76Cfx6E~hOOGdQdEpOcUmmWagVfquLMOd-0lVHze07HAaE4XCA5S~QLIsZoLPu7owh6ODBJZc1B6Nmm3bZT-VBSGI~LIrIiYOhpu68GOz6Tr1EMibcu0qk1ZWNTbOG5yFhu5tCBlBTlZ2yO~hVtycbiUMRNQtgtBVBKYSi9WTxRqfmTR9X4RLftjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pittsburg City Commission on April 22 approved a recommendation from the Economic Development Advisory Committee to provide a repayable loan of $405,000 at 1% interest to MBL Development for the Villas at Wellington Springs, a proposed senior independent‑living complex on Bradshaw Way. The commission also approved a resolution determining the advisability of issuing industrial revenue bonds related to commercial/residential facility financing (Resolution 1293).

MBL representative Kim Lingle described the project as a two‑phase development; each phase would include 40 independent‑living units, two community buildings (one per phase) with a full kitchen and a 700‑square‑foot concrete “safe house” tornado shelter. Lingle said the overall project is a roughly $24,000,000 development and that phase 1 would include approximately 40 units, with a mix of market‑rate and units targeted at 60% of area median income.

Why it matters: City staff and MBL framed the package—loan plus a sales‑tax exemption on construction materials—as a mechanism to increase the project’s competitiveness for state and federal housing credits administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). The sales‑tax exemption component was described by staff as a scoring element in KHRC applications.

Funding and terms discussed: The approved loan is structured to be amortized over 20 years with a 7‑year term; staff said the loan would be disbursed at the start of construction and that the developer expects to repay earlier if financing milestones are met. Lingle said the developer has applied for federal and state low‑income housing tax credits and indicated they would reapply if necessary. When asked about rents and affordability, Lingle estimated unit rents would be “under a thousand dollars,” in the range of $800 to $900, depending on interest‑rate and financing outcomes.

Commissioners questioned whether the KHRC application would directly compete with other local applicants; Lingle said the project is applying in a rural‑housing category and would not directly compete with another nearby applicant referenced by a commissioner.

Votes and procedure: The commission moved and approved the loan and the sales‑tax exemption request by voice vote. The loan was described in the staff recommendation as a 1% interest loan, amortized over 20 years with a seven‑year term; the commission’s approval included authorization to proceed with the sales‑tax exemption paperwork as requested by the developer. The commission later approved Resolution 1293 determining the advisability of issuing industrial revenue bonds; staff explained IRBs are a financing tool and do not place taxpayer debt obligation on the city.

The developer and staff said the project would include supportive services, transportation options and on‑site amenities; the proposal noted that about half of independent residents typically do not own a car, so carports (rather than garages) and transportation were factored into site design. The project’s final timing and completion are contingent on tax‑credit awards, financing and construction scheduling.","The commission approved a $405,000 loan at 1% interest to MBL Development to support the Villas at Wellington Springs senior housing project and authorized consideration of industrial revenue bonds; the loan and sales-tax exemption are intended to strengthen the project's housing tax-credit application.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6575602,"Pittsburg economic development team reports $730 million in recent projects; commission OKs contract increases",1242,1545000,2787000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086669-e1bbf9346c57f7afaedd32dbb253bce8&start=1545&end=2787","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086669-e1bbf9346c57f7afaedd32dbb253bce8/thumbnail_1545000.jpg","/articles/6575602/Pittsburg/Crawford-County/Kansas/Pittsburg-economic-development-team-reports-730-million-in-recent-projects-commission-OKs-contract-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575602-9d4761eecedef204486c21a534f331a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200363&Signature=bNfFZFk7TMWGjCuZLI-7RGfRNZFrAUFljLLRnFIGtLkrhPLzVGLTr3zPO9abvURdGh8BZ-JnW-crPntgzJQufasKkf~qnO5RCzfuQjBz68paffYihrhWhnQOXeIg9VULW69W0RchkdASXg5MDrTXFsaK79JiGvq5jYoDS-jNvyF3LMKdSBqtVm9pybRcKLc02pZi6Fni8cmx9RaQFxMciUU1dPljhxzXk9oReVSTrZtWecKbsbRAOwaSRfnmjq-iGyYAxcpfpAK70keK89szOIy1w7HOD2S9lZqDqYbeEfd2Fy3bWW69XbHQanuVLutMg6ysAmyYy2NQ1oiye~7LLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Webb Streeter, presenting the quarterly economic development report on behalf of the city partnership with the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Pittsburg State University, told the Pittsburg City Commission on April 22 that the community’s project pipeline had grown to about $730,000,000, “a $152 million increase since 2023,” which he said equates to roughly a 21% gain.

The report, delivered during the commission’s regular meeting at Pittsburg City Hall, credited diversified private- and public-sector activity for the gains and highlighted projects tied to the Tyler Research Center, new industrial and research facilities, downtown retail openings and grant-supported small-business activity. “What’s even more noteworthy is how diversified that is,” Streeter said.

Why it matters: Commissioners were shown metrics the presenters said indicate household-level gains—median wages and bank deposits rising and an 18% increase in middle-income households—figures the presenters said support recent upticks in sales tax and local economic activity. The report linked research-center investments and partnerships with several incoming projects that city staff and local partners say will generate jobs and tax revenue.

Key projects and figures cited in the presentation included EaglePicher’s planned expansion adjacent to the Tyler Research Center, the KBI facility (described as a roughly $55,000,000 project with $40,000,000 secured for a prove-out facility), equipment and testing capacity added at the National Institute for Materials Advancement (about $500,000 in equipment), and the Wildcat Data Center (Evergy-related work, described as moving toward operation in May). Streeter said EaglePicher’s local footprint is expected to include “50-plus, high-paying jobs.”

The report also summarized smaller-scale and community-focused work: the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) that serves a 13-county region and provides no-fee advising; the FORGE mini-grants program that awards up to $5,000 per business through a third-party review board; and a claim that less than $500,000 in revolving loan fund (RLF) commitments helped leverage more than $36,000,000 in projects in 2024.

Commissioner and staff actions that followed the presentation reflected the city’s ongoing partnership model. The commission voted to amend the contract with the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce—extending the long-running economic development services agreement and raising the annual amount from $55,000 to $65,000 for the coming year. The commission also approved an amendment to the business development and innovation services agreement with Pittsburg State University. Both actions were approved by voice vote after motions from commissioners.

Speakers and questions during the presentation touched on workforce development, literacy-pilot funding (a $321,000 pilot tied to a “blueprint for literacy”), and use of the Tyler Research Center to attract firms and provide workforce training. Presenters said the center’s capabilities were instrumental in recruiting firms and that postdoctoral researchers and student hires are part of the center’s ongoing work.

Commissioners did not request further detail during the meeting’s question period; staff and the presenters stood by for follow-up requests. The commission approved the contract amendments during the same meeting session.

The presentation and contract amendments are part of the city’s long-running economic development partnership model that the mayor and staff said has operated since roughly 2012 and is now in its twelfth year of coordinated services.","At its April 22 meeting the Pittsburg Commission heard a quarterly economic development report citing roughly $730 million in recent project activity and approved annual contract amendments with the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Pittsburg State University.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Shasta Power community engagement staff urges residents to complete county survey on proposed Crawford County solar farm

Pittsburg commission approves $405,000 loan and sales-tax exemption request for Villas at Wellington Springs senior housing

Pittsburg economic development team reports $730 million in recent projects; commission OKs contract increases