Contact Us
Director
Kerri Falletti
620.221.9951 ext. 5851
620.442.3094 ext. 5851
Admin. Assistant
Deb Firebaugh
620.221.9951 ext. 5850
620.442.3094 ext. 5850
Fax
620.221.7782
Address
22193 Tupper Street
Strother Field
Winfield, KS 67156
Get Directions
Business Partners
Arkansas City Industries
Community National Bank
CornerBank
Cowley College
Creekstone Farms
Galaxy Technologies
GE Aviation
Jet AirWerks
Legacy Foundation
RCB Bank
Rubbermaid
Southern Kansas Telephone
Southwestern College
Union State Bank
Winfield Economic Development
Winfield Publishing Company
Western Industries
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Open House
Agri Smart 2012
Cowley First – Connecting Business & Opportunity
We have been asked many times “What does Cowley First do?” In general definition, Cowley First works with both promoting economic and community development programs and projects throughout Cowley County. But, this still doesn’t answer the question. I will be trying to help with understanding of this question each month as I explain topics that we address.
There is no simple-short answer. Unlike other organizations, businesses, or professions, who answer that question with a sentence or two. Some professions are more easily understood. If your car needs a tune-up, go to a mechanic. If you are sick, you go to the doctor. But when do you go to Cowley First?
Cowley First is much like a wedding planner. A wedding planner is an experienced person who oversees many aspects of a large event with the intent of being able to coordinating anything and everything related to that event, and to keep it running smoothly. That is what Cowley First does for the communities, businesses and industries. The Economic Development Director needs to keep aware of everything happening in the community, the county, the region, and the state. This is accomplished by attending meetings from local chambers, extension office, area Human Resource Managers meetings, and so on and so forth. I also serve on many boards in the county and the surrounding area, including the Workforce Board and South Central Kansas Economic Development District board. The more networking I can do, the more I am able to learn and connect the needs of the community and business. I also get ideas from networking with other communities and counties as to how they are affectively serving their parts of the region.
Our primary purpose is assisting local business and industry. And this also happens to be the part that most people ask about. Unfortunately, information in reference to business assistance projects, including who we are working with and what type of assistance, is confidential information. This makes it a difficult for Cowley First to talk about a large portion of what we do; but, confidentiality is what builds trusting relationships with business leaders.
What we can talk about is what type of assistance we are here to provide. A major complaint from businesses is the ‘red tape’ that is involved with all incentives. There are many hoops and ever changing requirements. I am here to make this process less complicated. It is my responsibility to stay current with existing programs and changes and also to identify new programs and resources that can be utilized by business and industry. These programs involve anything from income taxes, withholding taxes, property taxes, tax credits, energy efficiency programs, workforce programs, training grants, and to site assistance.
In short, I work to connect with businesses in Cowley County to make sure they are connected to and able to more easily take advantage of opportunities for their business to be more successful. Cowley First’s purpose is to be your “One Stop Resource”.
Kerri Falletti, CEcD, Director of Community & Economic Development
Cowley First, the Cowley County Economic Development
Partnership, was established in 2004 as a united effort to
promote Cowley County. As a public/private partnership with
support from the City of Arkansas City, City of Winfield, Cowley
County and private businesses, Cowley First is making business
growth and development a top priority. With innovative programs
and a vision for the future, Cowley First is both a community
development organization and an economic development
leader in south-central Kansas.
With four major industrial parks, one already at capacity, it’s
clear that businesses consider Cowley County the right place to
locate and a great place to grow. Cowley County has long been a
leader in plastics manufacturing, aviation and food processing,
along with newer, innovative technology-based companies that
have found great success and support locally.
Cowley First’s primary objective is to stimulate start-up businesses
and promote growth through industrial innovation. In
addition, the organization works to attract new businesses to the
county by making information readily accessible on available
buildings and site locations.
Companies such as Newell Rubbermaid, MeadWestvaco
Calmar, Winfield Consumer Products and Western Industries
Plastics Products Group, all with a strong presence in the local
plastics cluster, continue to find Cowley County a logical place to
call home. And with a diverse industry base including manufacturing
and food processing, others, such as Fluid Kinetics, Inno-
Labs, Galaxy Tool, Reliable Power Products Group, Creekstone
Farms Premium Beef and KanPak give evidence to the success
possible in Cowley County.
The Kansas Economic Development Guide is a publication which showcases Kansas’ strengths and key industries as well as gives an informed look at residential and business life in Kansas. This publication is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce. To view this publication online, click here.
This countywide partnership is dedicated to assist in expansion and retention of existing businesses, support local entrepreneurs, attract new businesses and industries while utilizing Cowley County’s prominent business atmosphere, high quality of life, recreation and tourism opportunities and excellent education facilities. See why Cowley County is the right place for your business.
- Quality of Life
- Skilled Labor
- Lower Utility Costs
- Lower Labor Costs
- Central Location
- Excellent Transportation
- Lower Taxes