Live Lincoln County recently posted helpful information for employers who are having a difficult time recruiting qualified employees.
Due to the difficulty businesses are having finding qualified applicants, the Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation (LCEDF) is offering relocation and retention grants up to $10,000 to individuals who move to the county from outside northcentral/northwest Kansas areas who have been hired to fill a qualifying job. This program is being funded by the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center. Grants are available on a first come, first served basis.
Individuals and families living in an urban setting are looking for a better quality of life. They are looking for a reasonable cost of living, clean air and lower crime. They want to feel safe in their surroundings. They want to feel as though they can make a difference. Rural Midwest communities are poised to welcome these folks, thereby increasing a dwindling population and tax base.
A better quality of life not only means a safe and affordable place to live, but it also includes reliable high-speed internet, outdoor recreation opportunities and a quality work culture and experience.
Recently, the LCEDF began working on employee recruitment through several initiatives and grant programs. The Employee Recruitment Grant (ERG) program from Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. (NWKEICI) offered $60,000 to each county in the 26-county region to develop a strategy to recruit workforce. Goals include recruitment of qualified individuals from outside the NWKEICI region to fill critical job openings, retain those individuals to encourage long-term investment in the county, and grow overall county population and school enrollment numbers to boost all sectors of the local economy.
A relocation and retention grant up to $10,000 are now available for those moving from out of the northwest KS area to fill a qualifying position with an hourly wage of $15.50 or an annual wage of $33,000 while continuing to live and work in Lincoln County for two years.
For 2022-2023, six employee recruitment grants are available on a first come, first served basis. Website landing pages have been developed to assist local employers and potential employees in qualifying for incentives and to funnel interested parties from online marketing campaigns.
Lincoln County has multiple incentive programs to help local employers recruit new employees, especially those new to the area. Options range from cash incentives, student loan repayment assistance, income tax waivers and a free land program on which to build a home.
More information about available employment recruitment programs can be found at www.livelincolncounty. com.
