The Inc. Informer

Greetings!

2025 was a strong year for El Dorado. We saw active project interest, hosted site visits, and continued the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our community competitive for new opportunities.

Below is a recap of our 2025 activity and a few updates you won’t want to miss. I also encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the City’s Budget Simulation, the more input they receive, the better it helps guide decisions for the 2027 budget.

Thank you for being part of the effort to grow El Dorado!

Sarah Hoefgen, Executive Director

shoefgen@eldorado-inc.com

2025 Review

City of El Dorado Launches Budget Simulation Tool

The City of El Dorado has launched a new online Budget Simulation Tool, giving residents the opportunity to build their own version of the City’s budget.

Participants can adjust revenues and expenditures while working to balance the budget according to their priorities. The interactive tool offers a hands-on look at how funding decisions impact services and highlights the challenges involved in municipal budgeting.

We encourage you to participate and share your input for next year’s budget at:

www.eldoks.gov/budgetsim

Your feedback will help inform the City Commission as they begin discussions for the upcoming budget cycle and supports continued transparency in the budgeting process.

South Central Kansas Regional Survey 2025-2026

The South-Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEDD) invites residents, business owners, and community partners in our 14-county region (Butler, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Marion, McPherson, Reno, Rice, Sedgwick, and Sumner) to share your thoughts on regional challenges and opportunities.

Your feedback will help update the region’s five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and ensure community needs and priorities are reflected in plans to support a strong, thriving region.

Take the Survey!

Kansas Labor Market Report

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in December. This is unchanged from 3.8% in November and unchanged from 3.8% in December 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.5% in December.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,500 from November. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 5,000 over the month, while government increased by 500. The largest job gains in the private sector were in financial activities (+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,100 jobs).

Since December 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 1,400. This change is due to an increase of 400 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,800 government jobs.

December 2025 Labor Market Report: click here

Scroll down to Labor Report Documents for the News Release and Labor Force Data for the “Interactive Labor Force Dashboard” and “Printable County Unemployment Rate Map”.

Check out the 2025 Kansas Economic Report!

Prepared by the Kansas Department of Labor

Check out the Report Here

Kansas Department of Commerce Grants

Have you ever wondered what grants are out there that the State offers?

The Kansas Department of Commerce is committed to helping individuals, businesses and communities achieve prosperity in Kansas. One of the ways it accomplishes this mission is by providing financial assistance and partnership support to further identified goals. Most grants call for local matches and other required stipulations that vary by project. Below is a link to the funding opportunities Commerce offers on an annual basis. Please note that grant amounts and dates are subject to change.

KDOC Grants

Kansas Micro-Internships

Get short-term project help for your business. Fill your full-time talent pipeline

The Kansas Micro-Internship Program exists to benefit Kansas businesses with short-term and long-term workforce needs, and to help prepare Kansas- educated college students for a career in our state.

Find More Information Here

Commercial Listings in El Dorado

Complete the form in the link below to have your commercial property added to our available property map. Property must be located within El Dorado or the near surrounding area

Submit a Commercial Property Listing

Did you know?

El Dorado Inc Website

Check out the new and improved Inc website. You can find great information here on incentives, housing, workforce and talent, as well as search tools for our sites and buildings that are available.

El Dorado Inc Website