Our Mission:
To promote economic and population growth throughout the County by assisting our local businesses, engaging in community activities, and promoting Stafford County as a great place to live, work and play!

Stafford County Economic Development is accepting bids for the construction of four houses.  
 
Construction drawings were developed in cooperation with KSU College of Architecture, which is in the process of building the protype house using Structural Insulated Panels.    Stafford EcoDevo has secured funding to build four more of the same design.  While we want to keep the floor plan the same, we are open to value engineering the architect’s plan to improve cost efficiency.    In particular, the specifications for the concrete pad, HVAC, the construction method for the walls, and the exterior cladding may be altered.   If you propose changes with the plans, please specify what those changes are.
 
The locations for the build would be SE corner of 1st and Monroe in St. John for 2 houses, 213 S. Broadway in St. John for one house, and 305 N. Main in Hudson for one house.
 
What we are looking for is a complete price for each house (or the sum of the four houses), to include the site work on a vacant lot, construction of the house itself, connection to utilities, and driveway.    
 
Interested contractors should indicate when you are available to being construction, and how long you estimate it would take to complete construction?   Proposals are due to Stafford County Economic Development offices by Friday, October 16, 2020 at 3 pm, either in hard copy at 311 Broadway, St. John, or by email at cdunn@staffordecodevo.com

Job Opportunities at Workspace 311

A new employment opportunity has opened in St. John at Workspace 311 if six to 10 workers are found to fill the positions as customer service representatives for DRAIVER. ​The Kansas based company is headquartered in Overland Park and is looking to have a work center in St. John that would host these customer service representatives. 

There are full time and part time positions available and 4 day work weeks are possible. The pay is $12/hr to $17/hr plus bonuses depending on performance and experience. There is plenty of room for advancement and evaluation for raises every 6 to 12 months. 

Download attachment and fill out application. If a scanner or printer is needed to complete and submit the application, please come by 311 Broadway St. in St. John.
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Rental Housing Application 

We are building 5 rental homes that will be available by January 1st, 2021. These will be 3 bed 2 bath homes that are new construction all electric and ultra energy efficient. Kitchen appliances are included and there is a washer/dryer hookup in the house. Rent will be $600/month. Attached are the rental applications, if you have any questions please contact Carolyn Dunn at cdunn@staffordecodevo.com or come by Workspace 311 in St. John. 
Click to view a video of what we have to offer here in South Central Kansas!

Focus on Stafford County
​- July 2020 - 

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There are solutions to the rural Kansas housing crisis

A lack of affordable housing is found in almost every corner of the United States, be it in populated metropolitan areas or small, rural towns. Despite a strong focus and success rate of economic development measures, St. John is not exempt from this fight for enough safe, affordable, and stable housing for residents.

​Affordable housing is a keystone piece of maintaining small-town communities. In smaller towns, the effects of unaffordable housing on middle-class residents in addition to lower-income populations is even more apparent.

Click here to learn more about the current housing project that EcoDevo has partnered with KSU's Department of Architecture on.
Workspace 311 Remote Work Training Program Now Available

Remote work offers a plethora of job opportunities that aren’t otherwise available in our area.  Stafford Eco Devo has partnered with FlexJobs to provide interested Stafford County residents with a year member to their online job board that lists thousands of vetted remote work opportunities. 


Click here to read more on program details and to take our assessment. 
Entrepreneurship Class Concludes

​Stafford County Economic Development announces the completion of this spring’s Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI) class that provides the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program to ignite the entrepreneurial mindset and cultivate an entrepreneurial culture. 
 
Ice House redefines entrepreneurship as more than an academic discipline, reaching far beyond the concept of traditional business creation and small business management. Entrepreneurship is a mindset; a framework for thinking and acting that can empower anyone to succeed. It is a mindset that can empower ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary.

​Click here for more details.
Start Up Central Kansas/Ice House Entrepreneurship Program

​The Stafford and Pawnee County Economic Development offices have partnered together to bring you an 8-week certificate course centered around the entrepreneurial mindset. This course provides practical entrepreneurial lessons through first-hand experiences of successful, real-life entrepreneurs. Based on the book, Who Owns the Ice House, this curriculum consists of video interviews and case studies along with individual assignments, assessments, and discussion topics. 

Click to learn more and register.

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