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Our Mission
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GARDEN CITY AREA
2014Maxine AtkinsonARC Real Estate Inc.
Lynn BallingerConstituent Services Representative for Congressman Huelskamp
Della BrandenburgerAmericInn Hotel
Roy DixonHighlands Livestock Service Lona DuVallFinney County Economic Development
Mark HindeSouthwest Development Services, Inc.
Steve KarlinGarden City Public Schools
Nicole LucasDowntown Vision
Robert McDowellFarm Bureau Financial Services
Judy NusserColdwell-Banker, The Real Estate Shoppe
Randy PartingtonFinney County Administration
Lon PishnyPishny Financial Services
Steve DyerGarden City Area Chamber of Commerce
Myca BunchGarden City Area Chamber of Commerce
Steve [email protected]
Myca BunchVice [email protected]
Sylvia LiraOffice [email protected]
Mary WilsonAccounts [email protected]
Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce1511 E. Fulton TerraceGarden City, KS 67846
Office: 620.276.3264Fax: 620.276.3290www.gardencitychamber.net
Improve the quality of life, aid in cconomic growth and development, represent the business community on legislative issues and promote cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Government Affairs Committee
Local GovernmentKansas Government
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GARDEN CITY AREAState OfficialsKansas Governor Sam Brownback
Lt. GovernorJeff Colyer, M.D.
Secretary of CommercePat George
Secretary of RevenueNick Jordan
Secretary of TransportationMike King
Secretary of LaborLana Gordon
Secretary of AgricultureDale Rodman
Kansas Adjutant GeneralMaj. General Lee Tafanelli
Superintendent of KS Highway Patrol - Lt. Col. Ernest Garcia (Ret.)
Secretary of Administration, Office of RepealerJim Clark
Kansas Securities CommissionerJosh Ney
Secretary of Health and EnvironmentDr. Robert Moser
Secretary of KS Wildlife, Parks and TourismRobin Jennison
Secretary of KS Dept for Aging and DisabilityShawn Sullivan
Secretary of KS Dept of CorrectionsRaymond Roberts
Secretary of KS Deptartment for Children & FamiliesPhyllis Gilmore
Kansas State SenateSenator Larry Powell39th District2209 Grandview Drive EastGarden City, KS [email protected]
Kansas House of Representatives
Representative John Doll 123rd District (R)2921 Cliff Pl, Garden City, KS [email protected]
Representative Bud Estes119th District1405 Elbow BendDodge City, KS 67801
Representative John Ewy117th District (R)727 Roughton, Jetmore, KS 67854
Representative Don Hineman118th District (R)116 S. Longhorn RoadDighton, KS [email protected]
Representative Russ Jennings122nd District (R)PO Box 295Lakin, KS 67860
Finney County Commission Roman Halbur District 1
Dave Jones District 2
Duane Drees District 3
Clifford A. Mayo District 4
Larry C. Jones District 5
Randy PartingtonFinney County Administrator
Garden City CommissionDan FankhauserMayor
Roy CessnaVice Mayor
Chris LawCommissioner
Janet DollCommissioner
Melvin DaleCommissioner
Matt AllenCity Manager
Chamber Board of DirectorsKeith Collins, Chair Advance Merchant Services
Keysha UrieLewis, Hooper & Dick
Deanna Mann, Garden City Community College Todd DauberGarden City State Bank
Brian WeberWeber Refrigeration
Kenne WhitsonSt. Catherine Hospice
Mark NelsonAmerican State Bank
Stephanie BognerMBA Real Estate
Mark HindeSW Developmental Services, Inc.
Michelle StegmanCity of Garden City
Della BrandenburgerAmericInn Hotels
Maxine AtkinsonARC Real Estate
Erich SchaeferGolden Plains Credit Union
Robert SperlingR&M Enterprises
Ryan CornettGarden City Wholesale Supply
Holcomb City CommissionGary Newman, Jr.Mayor
Greg Cox
Mark Richmeier
Rob McCallister
Brian Rupp
Scott Homer
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports programs that encourage people to relocate to Western Kansas through the following methods:
• The continuation of connecting employers with an available and ready workforce.
• Utilizing alumni networking resources for recruitment.• Focus on stronger marketing and opportunities with our students within
our elementary and secondary educational systems.• Creation in statute of the “Investment in Kansas Employment” (IKE) Economic Development Program.• Shifting from a “tax-credit” economic development strategy to a
“cash-equivalent” strategy.
Workforce Development & Job Creation
The Chamber supports the research and development of incentive programs to further the development of wage appropriate housing,with an emphasis on moderate housing in Southwest Kansas, in an effort to position the area more favorably for job growth opportunities.
HousingThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce realizes that a quality of education of pre-kindergarten through post-secondary for every student in Kansas is critical for the success of business and for a strong economy. The Chamber supports the following initiatives:• State government should provide adequate funding for suitable education no
matter where they live.• Students in urban, suburban and rural communities are all entitled to high
quality education.
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports the following transporta-tion initiatives in order to efficiently address the transportation needs of southwest Kansas:
• State support and funding for public transit and local road improvements as well as local partnership projects for rural communities.
• Continued support of Garden City Regional Airport as the regional airport for Southwest Kansas.
• Continued support for the rail infrastructure for both freight and passenger service for Southwest Kansas.
• Obtaining BNSF Railroad’s agreement to develop the rail infrastructure in and around Garden City, including “double-tracking” the rail lines.
• Continued support and funding for a 4-lane US HWY 50/400 from Mull-inville to Garden City.
• Widening of US HWY 83 north to I-70 including passing lanes.• HWY 156 widening from Garden City to Larned including passing lanes.
TransportationEnergy &
Natural ResourcesThe Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce encourages sensible stewardship and conservation of the region’s natural resources with new emphasis on water preservation and Arkansas River Valley concerns.
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports studies and development of:• Reliable, alternative energy sources.• Diverse and safe energy sources.• Energy sources that are self-sustaining after three to five years.• Economically affordable energy sources.
The Chamber encourages legislation that supports business in such a manner that results in ensuring fiscal integrity and accountability for expenditures of public funds. As such support encourages a business climate in which regulatory burdens on a business are minimized and necessary regulations are administered in a manner that promotes economic and community development and facilitates planning for the future.
Immigration Reform The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce shares the concerns of the Kan-sas Business Coalition for Immigration Reform regarding the need to protect our economy and workforce. The immigrant population of Southwest Kansas includes valued members of our community.
A federal solution to our immigration problem is to welcome change that will allow our economy to grow while protecting the quality of life of our citizens. The Chamber is supportive of a solution that allows reasonable access to work permits and/or to citizenship, while assuring adequate border security.
Taxation
Education Funding
The Chamber understands when businesses are heavily taxed and regulated, a community can suffer. The Chamber encourages the following actions where taxation is involved:• It is paramount to create a tax environment that enables economic growth.• Legislation that allows us to be competitive with other communities and other
states.• Allow our local elected officials to appropriately fund and enable local govern-
ment.
The Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce supports meaningful health care reform aimed at lowering the overall cost of healthcare for employers and employees.
• On the state level, the Chamber advocates against cuts to Medicaid provider reimbursement rates as such cuts to this program will reduce the number of providers who accept Medicaid.
• On the Federal level the Chamber advocates against cuts to the Medicare program reimbursement rates.
• The Chamber advocates increasing the number of individuals covered with health insurance. Coverage and costs continue to be a major concern to businesses. Significantly reducing current reimbursement with-out increasing the number of patients with insurance may force health care providers to cut key services and decrease access.
The Chamber continues supporting and encouraging policies which:• Oppose government competition with the private market.• Oppose mandated employer-based coverage.• Support employer efforts to modify delivery systems.• Supports efforts to improve employee wellness.• Defend the right of employers to choose the plans they offer.• Reduce cost-increasing mandates insurers are required to include in poli-
cies so that more affordable plans are available for employers.• Increase participation in health care purchasing and the promotion of
health savings programs.• Preserve incentives available for employers and individuals.• Support the allowance of interstate health insurance policy sales.
Healthcare
Based on feedback from the membership, the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors approved the following legislative areas of focus for the year 2014.
The Government Affairs Committee will use this agenda as a guide throughout the year to represent the business community on issues that will affect the business climate of Finney County and the state of Kansas.
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GARDEN CITY AREA