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28 Apr

Posted at 19:49h in Industry News, Regulatory
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SBA PPP Accepting & Limiting Loan Applications The U.S. Small Business Agency (SBA) will begin taking loan applications today at 9:30 am for its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Click here to read why the SBA is limiting how much in loans a lender can process. Click here to read what you need to know about the PPP's second round. Governor Kelly Expected to Release Plan to Re-open Kansas Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is expected early this week to release her plan to reopen the state as the COVID-19 begins to ease. Click here to...

27 Apr

Posted at 15:31h in Industry News
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Colwich, KS, April 27, 2020: That is the conclusion of a new peer reviewed technical paper published in the Journal of Air & Waste Management, validating previous research efforts by the Urban Air Initiative that find when ethanol is added to gasoline, it significantly reduces toxic emissions tied to air pollution. The research team leading this effort included notable refinery and fuel emission experts who looked at hundreds of earlier studies on emissions and ethanol. A glaring error, according to the authors, is that these studies assume a standard fuel is created for testing...

24 Apr

Posted at 14:57h in Industry News
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Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives followed the Senate's vote on Tuesday to pass the fourth COVID-19 response bill aimed to shore up funding for small businesses hurt by the global pandemic. This relief package included funding for the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, as well as for hospitals and testing. Here is the complete breakdown: Total cost: $484.352 billion $311 billion for small businesses $60 billion for emergency disaster funds for small businesses $75 billion for hospitals $25 billion for testin The latest...

22 Apr

Posted at 19:00h in Advocacy
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On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) of the Kansas Legislature met to discuss the possible reconvening of the legislature, An adjournment resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution 1615) passed by the legislature prior to its March 19th adjournment, calls for the legislature to return for final legislative work on April 27th. However, the resolution also allows the LCC to meet and call lawmakers back at a later date if the LCC determines “it is necessary to the security and health and safety of the pubic, legislative staff and legislators."...

21 Apr

Posted at 20:56h in Industry News
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For the past several weeks, National Grain and Feed Association has been working intensely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FEMA Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force to prioritize the needs of the food and agriculture sector for access to available personal protection equipment (PPE), as well as disinfectants and sanitation supplies, to protect the health and safety of employees within the sector and to retain consumer confidence. Today, we are pleased to report that the discussions with the Supply Chain Stabilization Task...

21 Apr

Posted at 18:26h in Regulatory
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Last week, the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a set of answers to frequently asked questions regarding State Driver Licensing Agencies and commercial driver’s license holders during the COVID-19 pandemic. This information may be helpful to members as it relates to retention of current drivers and the licensing of new seasonal drivers. The FAQ’s specifically address HAZMAT endorsements and skills tests for new drivers. This guidance document does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to bind the public in anyway. This guidance is...

21 Apr

Posted at 14:21h in Advocacy
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In March, the Legislature passed a budget for the remainder of fiscal year ’20 (through June 30) and for fiscal year 2021. At the time, the state’s ending balance June 30 would have been $927 million, and was projected to be $730 million at the end of 2021. On Monday, April 20th, the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CRE) met and provided an updated estimate on state revenue. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, or CRE, is composed of representatives of the Division of the Budget, Dept. of Revenue, Legislative Research Dept., and...

20 Apr

Posted at 19:02h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
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Renew Kansas Biofuels Association extends a sincere thank you to Governor Laura Kelly who sent a letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to allocate additional resources under the COVID-19 relief package to address the “economic harm and job losses biofuel producers are suffering.” Kelly, a supporter of Kansas biofuels, proclaimed March 2020 as Biofuels Month in Kansas. “Keeping biofuels plants open is vital for our states and we ask that you use your authority to assist the biofuel industry during this difficult time,” the letter Kelly signed onto...

17 Apr

Posted at 16:15h in Industry News, Regulatory
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On April 20, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS will publish a temporary final rule to amend certain H-2A requirements to help U.S. agricultural employers avoid disruptions in lawful agricultural-related employment, protect the nation’s food supply chain, and lessen impacts from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Due to travel restrictions and visa processing limitations as a result of actions taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, as well as the possibility that some H-2A workers may become unavailable due to COVID-19 related illness, U.S. employers who have approved H-2A petitions...

16 Apr

Posted at 20:38h in Industry News, Regulatory
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This afternoon, Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order #20-24 extending the statewide “stay home” set to expire April 19, to midnight May 3. The Governor’s Order directs all individuals within the state of Kansas to stay in their residences unless performing an essential activity including but not limited to: Performing, or going to or from work at a business or organization to perform, an essential function as identified in the Kansas Essential Function Framework (KEFF). The KEFF includes businesses that maintain supply chains for essential functions and critical infrastructure as defined by a...

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