Rural Opportunity Zones an advantage

Citizens of Iola learned more about Rural Opportunity Zones during See, Hear Iola on Friday morning.
Barbara Anderson was the guest speaker for the event. Rural Opportunity Zones are 73 counties in Kansas that offer financial incentives for new full-time residents. Those who qualify can apply for Kansas income tax waivers for up to five years and/or have student loan repayments up to $15,000. Not all the counties that are Rural Opportunity Zones participate in the student loan repayment portion.
How does one become eligible for Kansas income tax waivers?
“The person must establish residency in the Rural Opportunity Zone or ROZ on or after July 1, 2011,” Anderson said.
Also, the person must have lived outside Kansas for five or more years before moving to the county and have earned less than $10,000 in Kansas Source Income.
Some counties opt to be part of the student loan repayment plan, Anderson said. Allen has not joined yet. Anderson displayed a map of the state showing counties that participate in the student loan repayment program.
“The county with stars will opt in at a certain amount and put it toward students who qualifie,” she said. “Then it is matched by the state.”
Anderson said there is no picking and choosing which people receive the aid. People who have student loans and have applied will be put on a list in the order they applied.
The person must prove that they live in the county, Anderson said.
“They need a balance of their student loan and proof of residency,” she said.
If the county puts forth money toward the person for five years the state will match that every year. This is how $15,000 is paid off of their loan. The point of the program is to grow residency in a county.

IN OTHER news Susan Raines talked about the upcoming Buster Keaton Celebration. The theme of the festival this year will be “Keaton, Chaplin and the Fabulous Fifties.” The festival will be Sept. 27-28. Raines also mentioned the Bowlus tabloid is now available and briefly spoke about upcoming shows. The Iola Community Theatre production of “Annie” will be Sept. 13 -14.
Shelia Lampe, Chamber of Commerce director, said they have three tour buses lined up to come to Iola in the fall. The Farm -City Days theme is “At the Hop.” Lampe also said the Chamber will be bringing back the Cash Mob in September. The Chamber will also have its first Trap Shoot on Sept. 15 at the Lone Tree Gun Club.