General Info 13 Communities Industrial Parks Labor/Workforce Transportation Business Incentives

Additional information on Butler County, Kansas and the surrounding area can be obtained by contacting bced@bucoks.com.

Butler County, Kansas' largest county is mostly rolling grass covered hills with broad river valleys winding through them. The county was founded in 1855 and contains 1,428 sq miles. Petroleum production, refining, farming, ranching, manufacturing, and the newest state correctional facility help to diversify the economy.

Butler County is named for Sen. Andrew Pickens Butler of South Carolina. Since the early days the regional economy has been focused on farming and ranching. This would change when, in the fall of 1915, a cable tool drilling rig owned by Wichita Natural Gas began to drill an oil well. At 670 feet oil was discovered and the black gold rush was on.

Although many communities have flourished in Butler County, only 13 incorporated cities remain today. Basic information on each community is included. If a city has a web page it has been linked to this site so additional information can be obtained. Also, community profiles on each individual city can be found at LocationOne.

Andover | Augusta | Benton | Cassoday | Douglass | Elbing | El Dorado
Latham | Leon | Potwin | Rose Hill | Towanda | Whitewater

The following list consists of existing and planned industrial parks and available buildings. Additional information on these and other sites can be found at LocationOne.

Andover Industrial Park and Buildings:
The Andover Industrial Park is a 72 acre park under development and owned by the City of Andover. For additional information about cost and available lots, contact Butler County Economic Development at; local 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or e-mail us at bced@bucoks.com.

Augusta Industrial Park and Buildings:
The Augusta Industrial Park located along the east side of town has several lots available ranging in size from 2 to 6 acres. For additional information, contact the Butler County Economic Development Office at; local 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or e-mail us at bced@bucoks.com.

Benton Industrial Site:
The City of Benton can offer industrial/business sites properly annexed and zoned for business. Maps and plans are on file. For additional information, contact Butler County Economic Development at; local 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or e-mail us at bced@bucoks.com.

El Dorado Industrial Parks and Buildings:
The City of El Dorado has developed three different types of industrial parks. Park 1 is approximately 100 acres and is fully developed with sites from 4 to 20 acres. Park 2 is a new 90 acre Business and Technology Park located in the southwest part of El Dorado. Park 3 is a 100 acre park that recently became a part of the city business park system. All sites have access to the Kansas Turnpike/Interstate 35. Additional information on all three parks and the spec building can be obtained by calling the Butler County Economic Development Office at; local 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or e-mail us at bced@bucoks.com.

Rose Hill Industrial Park and Buildings:
The City of Rose Hill and the Rose Hill Development Group are developing a small Industrial/Business Park in the Southwest corner of the community. The land has been purchased by a private developer, annexed and zoned for business. Maps and a site plan are on file. For additional information, contact Butler County Economic Development at; local 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or e-mail us at bced@bucoks.com.

Butler County Sites:
Many times a company needs a site larger than can be located within an existing industrial park. BCED maintains a listing of possible sites that a prospect might consider depending on the type of use and utility requirements. Most of these sites are located close to, but not in, a community. For additional information, contact the Butler County Economic Development Office at; local 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or reach us at e-mail bced@bucoks.com.

Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick counties are considered to be one MSA. Total employment in the MSA continues to grow at a strong pace. This growth has been widespread--not limited to just one industry. Butler County has enjoyed being a part of this growth and has diversified its county economy over the past years. Some types of industry located in Butler County are:

Oil, Refining, Aviation, Machine Shops, Plastics, Farming, Ranching, Paint & Coating Companies, Railroad Repair, Fertilizer Mfg., Aluminum Windows, Woodworking Shops, Steel Pole Mfg., Lawn Mower Mfg., Specialty Automotive, Petroleum Tank Farms and other manufacturers.

Kansas Labor Force Statistics - July 2008

General Information:
Butler County is conveniently situated on major state highways US-54 & US 77, plus four entrances to the Kansas Turnpike and Interstate-35: the nationally recognized NAFTA highway.

Trucking:
Due to the placement and routing of these highways, shipping costs to the East, West and South are somewhat lower from this area. Overnight delivery is available to points in Dallas, Fort Worth. Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, Springfield, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Albuquerque and many other communities.

Railroads:
Two first-class railroads, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific have operations in the county. These give the region excellent long-haul capabilities.

Airports:
Butler County's general aviation community is served by the airports of Augusta, Benton and El Dorado. These facilities can handle most small business aircraft. Large business jets can use Jabara Airport and commercial airport service is available 30 minutes away at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport.

State Incentives
The structure of Kansas financial incentives, tax levies and tax credits have been thoughtfully planned to be fair and favorable for your business. Our tax basis ensures that no single industry is disproportionately burdened. The incentives reflect an awareness of what it takes to attract and retain the companies who provide jobs for Kansans and our State is constitutionally restrained from overspending. A complete listing of the state tax programs and incentives may be obtained by emailing us at bced@bucoks.com. A quick listing follows:

State Incentives:

• No merchant inventories tax since 1989.
• No intangibles tax in Butler County.
• Enhanced Enterprise Zone job tax credits.
• Noncollection of sales tax for expansions or new plant sites.
• Machinery and equipment tax exemption.
• High Performance Incentive Program.
• Tax credit for research.
• Tax credit for day care facilities.
• Sub-Foreign trade zones.

Additional information on State Incentives can be found at the Kansas Commerce's Business Recruitment Division.

Butler County Incentives:
Many of the state tax incentives were created to assist local counties or cities with economic development efforts. As a result the state incentives are made available through a city or county on behalf of the business. Additional local incentives are listed below:

Industrial Revenue Bonds - A business can use IRB'S as a low cost tool to help finance their projects. In addition, the bonds allow for a reduction or abatement of the property taxes created by the increased value of the project and the non-collection of the sales tax that would be collected on the project.

Local Property Tax Abatement - Each city can adopt a property tax abatement policy. Butler County and the cities of Andover, Augusta, Benton, El Dorado and Rose Hill have adopted policies that allow an abatement for up to 10 years. These policies are based upon the number of new jobs that are created and the amount of new capital investment that the business brings to the County. Copies of the policies can be obtained from the Butler County Economic Development office upon request.

Community Development Block Grants - A business can apply for financial assistance from the state through a city or county. If you are interested in using these programs, please contact our office for further information.

Enhanced Enterprise Zone Benefits - Butler County is a non-metro enhanced county. This means that your business can receive a $2,500 income tax credit per new job created vs a state allowed $1,500 tax credit. These credits are not allowed everywhere and are an excellent tool for your business to use. The other tool allowed by the enterprise zone is the noncollection of sales tax that you would otherwise expend in doing your project.

Training Programs - Butler County and its communities participate with the state in supplying access to the state training funds. The KIT, KIR and SKILL programs are made available to both existing and new businesses in the state. In addition to state programs, Butler Community College will work to develop any custom programs that a prospect might need. The KIT and KIR funds can be accessed to help pay for this type of training. The Skill program is available to help train a large force of people over a long period of time.

Community Development Block Grant Programs - Butler County participates in applying for CDBG funds where applicable and where the business can hold a project while it waits for the state to award these funds. The CDBG program is useful if a business needs a low-interest loan, but it does place constraints upon the business. Additional information can be obtained from the Kansas Department of Commerce office. Please contact KDOC at www.kansas.gov.

Micro-Loan Program - Butler County Economic Development has been awarded funds to be made available for small start-up and existing businesses in Butler County. These funds are subject to the State CDBG guidelines and are to be used to stimulate self-employment activities. Loans can be made for; working capital, equipment, land and building. For additional information contact Butler County Economic Development at 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or e-mail us at bced@bucoks.com.

Communications - Butler County, in conjunction with Southwestern Bell, developed the first fiber optic park in the state. This fiber optic capability is the standard for the Andover Industrial Park. If a prospect needs this level of service they should review this park. The quality of service is guaranteed by AT&T (formerly Southwestern Bell). For additional information, contact the Butler County Economic Development Office at 316-322-4242 or 800-794-6907 or e-mail bced@bucoks.com.