Tag Archives: Money

Tyson Foods invests $500 million in wage increases, $50 million bonuses

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Springdale, Ark. –  Tyson Foods invests millions towards its frontline and hourly workers.  These one-time bonuses will be based on tenure, ranging from $300 to $700, and will be distributed starting this month.

“This is yet another way for us to say thank you and show how grateful we are for our frontline teams’ efforts to keep each other safe, our company strong and our world fed over the past year,” said Donnie King, president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods.

Tyson Foods invests more

Tyson Foods has also invested more than $500 million in wage increases over the past year. Other benefits for Tyson employees includes:

  • medical, dental and vision insurance
  • 6$ raise, totaling $24 an hour
  •  signing bonuses
  • vacation and overtime
  • COVID vaccine incentives

Tyson is looking at other ways to better support its frontline workforce. Tyson has added more flexible work schedules at some facilities and workers can also enjoy paid sick leave. The company has opened seven health centers to give frontline team members and their families easier access to high-quality healthcare at, in most cases, no cost. Tyson is also addressing childcare needs. For example, the company recently launched a pilot to offer access to childcare for late-shift workers.

“Tyson wants to be the most sought-after place to work, period,” said King. “Our frontline team members tell us higher pay is important, but that’s only a part of the story—they also want more flexibility and more say over their time. In rural parts of the country, they don’t want to have to drive miles to see the doctor. Everything we’re doing is because our team members are the heart of our business and its future success.”

Tyson also provides training and development opportunities so frontline team members can further their career and personal goals. The company’s Upward Academy program helps team members develop life skills.

Earlier this year, the company launched Upward Pathways, an in-plant career development program that provides frontline team members with free job-skills-training and workforce certifications. A third program, 1+2 Maintenance Training, is an education and career opportunity for team members interested in highly skilled, high-paying maintenance jobs. Tyson offers the program in collaboration with local community colleges in many locations, and also pays two-thirds of the tuition.

Visit TYSONFOODS.COM to learn more.

 

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$600k in home assistance for Coffeyville residents

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TOPEKA, Kan. –  The United States Department of Agriculture announced its plan to invest $624,960 to help with home construction assistance for low-income Kansans on December 7th. This plan encompasses the Coffeyville area and will help individuals in need build new houses.

Acting State Director for Rural Development Kansas Dan Fischer shared, “By helping low-income residence build their own homes it also increases the stability of the surrounding community as well.”

This USDA investment comes through the Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants Program. This program helps very low and low-income families get affordable, clean and safe homes of their own in rural areas. Grant recipients provide supervision as the families construct their homes in rural areas.

Socioeconomic status determines which families receive help first. The grant will provide the funds needed for 20 new homes, and very-low-income families receive first priority for home construction assistance.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Americans in rural areas.

Construction Assistance areas of development

The USDA grants help fund the following developments.

  • Houses
  • Schools
  • Community Facilities
  • Public Safety
  • Healthcare
  • High-Speed Internet

If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates click here.

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Statewide virtual job fair to be held December 8-9

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TOPEKA, Kan. – KANSASWORKS will hold a statewide virtual job fair December 8-9, starting at 8 A.M through 9 P.M.

The event encourages virtual interaction between individuals and businesses. Candidates will be able to upload their resume to their Virtual Job Fair account. Participants may also engage in interviews on a mobile device, laptop, or tablet.

Those taking part in this Virtual Job Fair must register, regardless of previous participation. Job seekers can find open positions listed on the registration page. Organizers encourage participants to dress professionally.

According to Lieutenant Governor David Toland, “KANSASWORKS’ continued efforts to connect qualified job seekers with meaningful employment are making a difference across our state.”

Resources

  • For more information on KANSASWORKS job availability, visit their website here.
  • You can also use a new feature, the KOAM job finder tool here.
  • Interested in working for KOAM? Click here for openings.

About KANSAS WORKS and its Job Fair

The Kansas Department of Commerce enables KANSAS WORKS to connect with businesses and educational institutions across Kansas to find the right employees.

KANSAS WORKS is free for Kansans to use, and employers and job candidates can receive help online or in person from one of 27 workforce centers in Kansas.

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President Biden scheduled to visit Kansas City Wednesday

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – President Biden will visit Kansas City tomorrow to promote his new infrastructure bill.

Last month, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal passed and Biden signed it on Nov. 15. The $1 trillion bill contains money for roads, bridges, broadband, water systems and a shift to electric vehicles.

The White House didn’t specify the location of the president’s visit on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. It’s his first visit to the Kansas City area as president. In 2020 he visited while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Missouri Democratic Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement regarding President Biden’s planned trip to Missouri Wednesday:

“We are excited and honored to welcome the President to Missouri just weeks after the historic passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Missouri will gain critical investments to improve our roads, bridges, broadband and more thanks to President Biden and Congressional Democrats. We are on our way to recovery and Biden’s leadership is paving the way.”

According to the White House, the infrastructure deal will provide Missouri with the following over five years.

  • $6.5 billion for highway repairs
  • $484 million for bridge replacement and repairs
  • $674 million to improve public transportation options across the state
  • $99 million for the expansion of EV chargers across the state
  • $100 million for broadband expansion
  • $866 million to improve water infrastructure, including lead pipe replacement
  • $246 million for airport development

See a detailed list here.

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J.M. Smucker sells Frontenac, KS pet food business

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PRESS RELEASE:

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) announced today it has sold its private label dry pet food business, including its manufacturing facility in Frontenac, Kansas, to Diamond Pet Foods, Inc., in a cash transaction valued at approximately $33 million.

“This divestiture enables us to focus investments and resources on areas of our pet food and pet snacks business positioned for growth and profitability, including driving category growth in dog snacks, building upon our momentum in cat food–particularly with Meow Mix(R) , and stabilizing Nutrish(R) dog food by growing consumer demand,” said Rob Ferguson, Sr. Vice President and General Manager, Pet Food and Pet Snacks, The J.M. Smucker Co.

The transaction does not include any branded products or the Company’s private label wet pet food business. The divested business generated net sales of approximately $95 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2021. The divestiture is immaterial to the Company’s adjusted earnings per share on a full-year basis.

Smucker updated its full-year fiscal 2022 guidance to reflect the removal of divested net sales for the remainder of the fiscal year. Full-year net sales are now expected to range from down 1 percent to flat compared to the prior year, which incorporates the impact of the divested Crisco(R) , Natural Balance(R) , and private label dry pet food businesses. On a comparable basis, net sales are expected to increase approximately 4.5 percent at the mid-point of the net sales guidance range. The Company maintains its adjusted earnings per share guidance range of $8.35 to $8.75 and free cash flow guidance of $700 million.

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More low-income families can get help with heating bills

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MISSOURI – More low-income families are eligible for assistance with their heating bills.

The federally-funded program providing help is called the Low-Income Home Energy Assitance Program. Or, LIHEAP for short.

The government has doubled the income cap and benefit amount for people to get help through LIHEAP. The program is open to all households beginning Dec. 1. and goes through May.

Are you eligible for LIHEAP services? They have provided an overview of eligibility guidelines here.

Looking for help with your home energy bills? Click here for contact information in your state or tribe. You can also call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline at 1-866-674-6327.

Spire Gas Company helps Residents Sign Up for Heating Bill Assistance

In Missouri, Spire is partnering with community action agencies across the state to help customers sign up for the program.

The energy provider is hosting in-person sessions and interactive webinars to help guide customers through the application process. The next webinar is Thursday, Dec. 2 at 11 a.m.

According to the National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition, in 2020, nearly 700,000 households in Missouri qualified for LIHEAP, 200,000 more households than in 2019. However, only 16% of those who qualified received help in 2020, a little more than 100,000 families.

To register for a webinar, visit Spireenergy.com/community-events. The remaining webinar schedule is:

  • Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, 1- 2 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, 1 – 2 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, 1 – 2 p.m.

You can learn about LIHEAP and other Spire-sponsored energy assistance programs here.

Related Articles

You can find more resources for help in the 4-state area in the following articles.

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Here’s a list of stores closed on Thanksgiving, but ready for Black Friday

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Here are a few retailers closing on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 25, 2021, along with Black Friday opening hours.

Related

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Hart recalls nail gun due to sensor malfunction, injury hazard

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Hart Consumer Products recalls more than 15,000 of its 18-Gauge 2” Brad Nailers because the contact sensor “can malfunction and involuntarily discharge a nail,” posing a risk of serious injury to the user or anyone nearby, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

You can read more about the recall here.

Walmart exclusively sold the nailer between April 2021 and September 2021. The model numbers are:

  • HPNR01
  • HPNR01B
  • HPNR01B-SK
  • HPNR01BNCA

The company says consumers should immediately discontinue the use of their nailer and return affected units to their nearest Walmart USA retail store for a full refund.

If you have any questions or need more information, you can contact Hart Consumer Products, Inc at 1-800-776-5191 or visit www.harttools.com.

No one has reported an injury yet.

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Joplin sewer customers to see increase on bill

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin sewer customers will see another 5% increase on their wastewater bill. It’s the second time in less than two years the City of Joplin has raised its sewer rate, following study recommendations.

Customers will see this latest 5% increase starting January 1, 2022.

“Sewer rates are set accordingly based on the cost of doing business for the City’s sanitary sewer system.” That’s according to a news release from the City of Joplin. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulates the City’s system. It requires the City to meet specific standards.

This rate adjustment follows the 2020 rate study.

Joplin wastewater customers can find reminders about this adjustment on their November and December statements, according to the City. For questions about your sewer bill, you can call 417-627-2955.

2020 Joplin Sewer Rate Increase

In April 2020, the City of Joplin approved a wastewater rate increase of 5 percent. That meant the average residential bill of $41.91 per month moved to $43.99 monthly. This increase followed a 2019 study.

From the study, the City looked at the need for a rate increase. It included what was needed to keep pace with the cost of the wastewater service for its customers. That study recommended an average increase of 5% annually for the next five years.

Officials say there are repairs, as well as upgrades, that are necessary throughout the year in order to keep the system operating within these standards. They added that Joplin’s mining history has impacted the city as far as measures to provide a cleaner output.

You can read more about the 2020 rate increase here: Wastewater, trash services will soon cost more in Joplin.

About Wastewater Rates

Information about wastewater rates from the City of Joplin:

Wastewater rates are based on a volume charge per 1,000 gallons, and the size of the customer’s meter. The average residential customer in Joplin has a five-eighths inch meter and uses approximately 5,000 gallons per month. The City reduced this average figure from 6,000 gallons to the actual average of the system for the previous year after reviewing the recent study results. The meter charge is based on the water meter size at each location. Volume rates are based on customers’ water usage of the three coldest months of the year, December through February. The City has an independent wastewater rate study completed every five years for the wastewater utility. The study provides real-time data to determine the cost of providing wastewater services by reviewing the volumes of wastewater being treated and the operation and maintenance costs of the City’s two treatment plants.

The Shoal Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Turkey Creek facility treat a combined average of 15 million gallons of wastewater each day, prior to discharging into their respective streams. Wastewater treatment is essential for the protection of public health and the water quality of streams, lakes and rivers in Missouri and the nation.

For more information about wastewater rates, please contact the Finance Department at 417-627-2955.

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Push to cut Kansas’ food sales tax continues with new bill

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TOPEKA, Kan. – There’s another push in Kansas to ditch the state’s sales tax on groceries.

Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced “Axe the Food Tax,” a plan to eliminate Kansas’ food sales tax. “Eliminating the state food tax will save the average Kansas family of four $500 per year – those savings make a huge difference,” stated Kelly on social media.

Kansas’ food sales tax rate is 6.5%, the second-highest rate in the country.

“For too long, Kansans have been paying more for groceries than people in almost every other state,” Governor Kelly says. She says financial decisions made before the pandemic will allow for the food sales tax cut while keeping the state’s budget intact.

Governor Kelly called on lawmakers to get a clean bill to her desk as quickly as possible.

Republican Derek Schmidt is the acting Attorney General for Kansas. He’s also running for Kansas governor in 2022. On November 5, he sent a letter to a few Kansas officials, proposing to repeal or reduce grocery sales tax.

In the letter, Schmidt stated, “As you know, this tax relief has been proposed for years by members of both major political parties. The most significant recent consideration was in 2019, when the Legislature approved a one-cent reduction in the sales tax on groceries, but regrettably it was met with a veto from Governor Kelly”

You can read his full letter here.

“Taxing a family’s grocery bill is one of the most widespread and unfair things a state can ask of its residents..” House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer says in part.

Kansas lawmakers will look at the bill during next year’s legislative session.

States with Grocery Sales Tax

Kansas is one of a few states in the nation that fully taxes groceries.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

  • Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Tennesse, Utah and Virginia tax groceries at lower rates than other goods.
  • Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas and Oklahoma tax groceries at the regular sales tax rate.
  • Alabama, Mississippi and South Dakota apply their sales tax fully to food purchased for home consumption.

 

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