Repealing Income tax and lowering Corporate taxes from 7% tp 3% (Wichita: low crime, landscaping)
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Status:
"The great northern Summer has arrived!"
(set 20 days ago)
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
13,629 posts, read 15,503,325 times
Reputation: 6388
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mathguy
So what are some ways that the state can attract more companies and jobs?
Certainly the aircraft industry issues havent helped.
Healthcare, tech, ag, engineering, and manufacturing are already present to various degrees. I think the biggest challenge is that of growing smaller businesses and entreprenurship in the state. The biggest negatives (that can't be done much about) are the social climate and general climate (weather) which leave much to be desired. Manhattan "won" the life sciences battle for some new jobs. The corporate lobby, hand in hand with the Republicans, is painfully opposite. Exhibit A is the Koch Brothers which others have pointed out. That certainly isn't good for the state because they stand directly in the way of the state progressing toward a much more renewable energy jobs growth picture which is needed. Other states are leaving Kansas far behind in that regard.
Healthcare, tech, ag, engineering, and manufacturing are already present to various degrees. I think the biggest challenge is that of growing smaller businesses and entreprenurship in the state. The biggest negatives (that can't be done much about) are the social climate and general climate (weather) which leave much to be desired. Manhattan "won" the life sciences battle for some new jobs. The corporate lobby, hand in hand with the Republicans, is painfully opposite. Exhibit A is the Koch Brothers which others have pointed out. That certainly isn't good for the state because they stand directly in the way of the state progressing toward a much more renewable energy jobs growth picture which is needed. Other states are leaving Kansas far behind in that regard.
Good points, I'm certainly a bit biased because I live in the KC Metro and also think the weather here is generally pretty mild.
Relocated here 11 years ago and compared to other metro areas (Chicago) the housing and cost of living were much lower, weather was better, commute time daily dropped by 90 minutes or more and the public schools are top notch.
You also don't have to deal with the social conservatives much in this part of the state.
Status:
"Homeschooling puppies."
(set 29 days ago)
Location: Olathe, Kansas USA
1,558 posts, read 977,475 times
Reputation: 1482
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mathguy
Good points, I'm certainly a bit biased because I live in the KC Metro and also think the weather here is generally pretty mild.
Relocated here 11 years ago and compared to other metro areas (Chicago) the housing and cost of living were much lower, weather was better, commute time daily dropped by 90 minutes or more and the public schools are top notch.
You also don't have to deal with the social conservatives much in this part of the state.
I agree about the renenwable energy situation.
You like the weather better here than in Chicago? Ouch! I loathe the weather here! I would kill to have Chicago weather again! Winter is bad, spring is a constant threat of hail, wind and tornadoes, summer is...hell...okay, fall can be nice. And while you may not have to deal with social conservatives so much in the Metro, you still have to live with the elected officials, and I wouldn't give you a dime for all of them combined.
As for cost of living, I am not so sure. Our sales tax is awful, not much less than in Cook County. Housing prices are lower, but everything else seems to be about the same or higher. Except for ice cream. Oddly enough, ice cream is way cheaper here! Unfortunately, my husband is the only ice cream eater in our house.
Traffic is better though..I'll give you that much.
You like the weather better here than in Chicago? Ouch! I loathe the weather here! I would kill to have Chicago weather again! Winter is bad, spring is a constant threat of hail, wind and tornadoes, summer is...hell...okay, fall can be nice. And while you may not have to deal with social conservatives so much in the Metro, you still have to live with the elected officials, and I wouldn't give you a dime for all of them combined.
As for cost of living, I am not so sure. Our sales tax is awful, not much less than in Cook County. Housing prices are lower, but everything else seems to be about the same or higher. Except for ice cream. Oddly enough, ice cream is way cheaper here! Unfortunately, my husband is the only ice cream eater in our house.
Traffic is better though..I'll give you that much.
Not sure how long you have been here but most winters here are very mild where if you don't feel like shoveling it will melt in a few days anyway.
It is typically 7-8 degrees warmer here than Chicago in the winter and it ends about 3-4weeks earlier. All of this is verifiable fact at least in the part of the state that I live in.
Status:
"The great northern Summer has arrived!"
(set 20 days ago)
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
13,629 posts, read 15,503,325 times
Reputation: 6388
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mathguy
Not sure how long you have been here but most winters here are very mild where if you don't feel like shoveling it will melt in a few days anyway.
It is typically 7-8 degrees warmer here than Chicago in the winter and it ends about 3-4weeks earlier. All of this is verifiable fact at least in the part of the state that I live in.
The big difference is the summer temperatures are hotter than &^%$ I've seen heat index values over 115F in KC. No thanks..
The big difference is the summer temperatures are hotter than &^%$ I've seen heat index values over 115F in KC. No thanks..
Yeah, there are generally about 3 miserable weeks here in the summer and in exchange I get a shorter, milder (by far) winter and nice long springs and falls.
The weather thing is all about personal preferences and frankly I think that for some if they aren't happy somewhere then EVERYTHING starts to bug them and the glass is often just 1/2 full. (and the reverse applies too )
Status:
"Homeschooling puppies."
(set 29 days ago)
Location: Olathe, Kansas USA
1,558 posts, read 977,475 times
Reputation: 1482
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mathguy
Not sure how long you have been here but most winters here are very mild where if you don't feel like shoveling it will melt in a few days anyway.
It is typically 7-8 degrees warmer here than Chicago in the winter and it ends about 3-4weeks earlier. All of this is verifiable fact at least in the part of the state that I live in.
We've been here over four years and this is our fifth summer. We had a couple reasonably mild winters, but two that were so bad we thought we were back up north. And if this summer is more the norm that past few, then I have to get out of here. I garden. I really really garden. I studied hort in college and am a master gardener for K-State Johnson County. If I'm having an impossible time keeping things alive, so is everyone else. All I do is plant pathology and triage...all...day...long. It is no fun anymore.
We've been here over four years and this is our fifth summer. We had a couple reasonably mild winters, but two that were so bad we thought we were back up north. And if this summer is more the norm that past few, then I have to get out of here. I garden. I really really garden. I studied hort in college and am a master gardener for K-State Johnson County. If I'm having an impossible time keeping things alive, so is everyone else. All I do is plant pathology and triage...all...day...long. It is no fun anymore.
This is the worst summer I've experienced in 11 years. (by far)
It was one of the worst winters in 2010/11. However, I talk to family back in northern IL all the time and when it was bad here it was just godawful back there.
Honestly, the winters here at their WORST are at the lower end of a chicago winter. You just don't get 3 straight weeks below zero here.....or the 25 below WITHOUT windchill I'd seen a number of times up there.
Status:
"The great northern Summer has arrived!"
(set 20 days ago)
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
13,629 posts, read 15,503,325 times
Reputation: 6388
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mathguy
Yeah, there are generally about 3 miserable weeks here in the summer and in exchange I get a shorter, milder (by far) winter and nice long springs and falls.
The weather thing is all about personal preferences and frankly I think that for some if they aren't happy somewhere then EVERYTHING starts to bug them and the glass is often just 1/2 full. (and the reverse applies too )
The thing about winters in the lower Midwest is that you don't get reliable consistent snow that stays on the ground. You generally just get months of brown grass, very dry air, little precipitation, and plenty of wind. You have to travel pretty far just to enjoy winter sports... Then, you might get lucky and get two weeks of Spring followed by heat and humidity. The best season is Fall, but it never lasts long enough. I much prefer colder weather and greenery. I don't care for hot, dry, and brown much.
Status:
"The great northern Summer has arrived!"
(set 20 days ago)
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
13,629 posts, read 15,503,325 times
Reputation: 6388
Quote:
Originally Posted by TinaMcG
We've been here over four years and this is our fifth summer. We had a couple reasonably mild winters, but two that were so bad we thought we were back up north. And if this summer is more the norm that past few, then I have to get out of here. I garden. I really really garden. I studied hort in college and am a master gardener for K-State Johnson County. If I'm having an impossible time keeping things alive, so is everyone else. All I do is plant pathology and triage...all...day...long. It is no fun anymore.
I was aghast when I saw the high temps yesterday. Hutchinson, Salina, 113F. Wichita 111F. Lawrence was 105F. JOCO New Century Airport, 103F. These are 1930s Dust Bowl style temperatures. My sympathies...
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I've seen heat index values over 115F in KC. No thanks..
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