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Business briefs – The Hutchinson News

QueenBee Marketing owner joins The Hot Seat

StartUp Hutch will host its networking event, The Hot Seat, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on Zoom and Facebook Live. The event is designed to encourage dialogue and foster a network of support around local entrepreneurs.

This month’s episode features entrepreneur Angie Bergmeier of QueenBee Marketing.

Bergmeier will be given 5-10 minutes to explain her business and talk about any challenges she is facing or has faced in the past. After her remarks, the conversation will be open for feedback, questions, and discussion.

Any aspiring or experienced entrepreneur or start-up business proprietor in the Reno County area is invited to participate.

“This event is designed to bring the community together to get a chance to learn more about who is behind the businesses we see every day and what they went through to get there,” said Jackson Swearer, Entrepreneur Navigator and Program Director at StartUp Hutch. “It is a great opportunity to ask questions and to be able to hear the expertise and advice of local entrepreneurs.”

To learn more and register visit https://www.startuphutch.com/post/the-hot-seat-with-angie-bergmeier-of-queenbee-marketing.

For more information on StartUp Hutch resources, or to join their community of entrepreneurs and business owners, visit www.startuphutch.com or contact Swearer at (620) 665-3319.

Barton Community College offers CNA courses on scholarship in Ellsworth

 ELLSWORTH – Those seeking a credential as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) have the chance to enroll in a course at no charge thanks to a generous anonymous donor and a collaboration between Barton Community College, Ellsworth County Medical Center (ECMC), and Good Samaritan Retirement Center.

The two 2021 CNA classes are set for June 7-23 and July 6-22. The classes are 90 hours in length and are held over two weeks. Presentations will be held at ECMC and clinical experiences at the Good Samaritan Retirement Center in Ellsworth.

Ten students will be selected for each class, with additional students added to a waitlist. Applications are available at www.ewmed.com and will be accepted until both classes are filled.

After selection, applicants must still apply to Barton Community College and successfully pass a reading test before enrolling in the CNA class.

Students must be 16 years of age by the first day of class. High School students must have written permission from a guardian and their high school principal to receive college credit. Students must also pass a background check, provide immunization records, proof of current health insurance, and other requirements that will be communicated to students.

According to the pamphlet promoting the classes, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are certified professionals that provide direct care towards patients in hospitals and residents in long-term care facilities. CNAs assist with tasks including taking vitals, dressing, eating, toileting, bathing, and personal hygiene. Becoming a CNA is a chance to begin a long-term career in healthcare and opens the door for a wide variety of work settings.

For more information, please contact Nursing Remediation & Adult Healthcare Programs Coordinator Sara Hoff at [email protected] or (620) 792-9298

St. John’s Raindrop Repair recognized again

Reinke Manufacturing, a global leader in irrigation systems and technology, has recognized Raindrop Repair in St. John as a top-five dealer in territory sales and a Diamond Pride award in recognition of their success last year.

“We are proud to honor the team at Raindrop Repair with this award,” said Chris Roth, Reinke president. “They’ve shown a great deal of dedication, working hard to support their growers. We appreciate those efforts as Reinke continues to develop and implement irrigation equipment and technology designed to increase agriculture production.”

The Reinke Pride awards are determined as part of an incentive program that distinguishes superior achievement levels according to an evaluation based on a dealership’s exterior and interior housekeeping and maintenance, indoor and outdoor displays, safety, retail environment, merchandising, professionalism, promotions, event participation, and market share.

To speak with Raindrop Repair, call (620) 549-6355.

Hutchinson, Kansas, make Site Selection Magazine rankings

Site Selection Magazine recently released its 2020 Governor’s Cup rankings, where Kansas ranked 10th in the nation in economic development projects per capita in 2020.

Kansas had the most dramatic jump in economic development success of any state in the country in 2020, according to the Site Selection Magazine, going from 20th to 10th.

As part of this ranking, Hutchinson, along with four other Kansas communities, was recognized as one of the top 100 performing “micropolitan” areas in the United States. 

“While we know that existing businesses drive the local economy, we also know it takes a diversified approach to be successful,” said Debra Teufel, President and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber. 

“This climb in the rankings is a testament to the strength and resilience of our existing companies who continued to grow and invest in 2020 despite a pandemic, and the work of Greater Hutch Economic Development Partnership to continue to market Reno County for new business investment and attraction,” Teufel stated. “All of this requires our strong workforce assets, a continued focus on investing in quality of life amenities, housing availability, quality infrastructure, and a focus on target industry diversification, which is one of our key strengths in Reno County.”

Hutchinson tied with 47 other communities on the list with two projects. Other Kansas locations in the rankings were McPherson and Salina, both tied for 21st with four projects, and Pittsburg, tied for 32nd with three projects.

According to the Governor’s Office, this achievement comes in the wake of sweeping changes to the Kansas Department of Commerce, including a new International division, a fully-staffed Business Recruitment team, a revised In-State Development team, and more improvements.

It said the shifts for Commerce led to 2020 being one of the state’s most successful capital investment years ever. In 2020, it said the Kelly Administration broke the all-time capital investment record since the Department of Commerce was created with over $2.5 billion in new capital investment.

The criteria for projects per capita in this ranking include new corporate facility projects like headquarters, manufacturing plants, research and development operations, and logistics sites, among others. Retail, government projects, schools, and hospitals are not counted in this ranking criteria.

New facilities and expansions must meet at least one of three criteria to be included:

  • Involve a capital investment of at least $1 million
  • Create at least 20 new jobs, or
  • Add at least 20,000-square-feet of new floor area