NORTON, Kan. — The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. (the Innovation Center) has expanded its County Level Incentive Program (CLIP), to help participating counties attract workers, support local employers, and strengthen long-term economic growth across Northwest Kansas.
The program is designed to help Northwest Kansas communities:
- Fill high-demand and essential positions
- Recruit workers to participating counties
- Support local employers facing workforce shortages
- Encourage long-term residency in the region
- Strengthen the local tax base
- Bring new families and income into Northwest Kansas communities
“Workforce is one of the most important economic development issues facing Northwest Kansas,” said Maria Dahlquist, Workforce Development Specialist for the Innovation Center. “When counties have the tools to recruit workers and help young people come home, that investment reaches far beyond one job. It supports local businesses, schools, housing, childcare, and the long-term future of our communities.”
The expanded CLIP guidelines now create an additional pathway for recent college, technical school, and trade school graduates who want to return to or remain in Northwest Kansas for qualifying employment.
Under the expanded guidelines:
- Graduates from schools outside the 24 participating CLIP counties may qualify
- Graduates from schools within the region may be considered on a case-by-case basis
- Applicants must meet employment and residency requirements
- Qualifying employment must be full-time
- Eligible positions must pay at least $32,500 annually, or approximately $15.50 per hour
- Seasonal and temporary workers are not eligible
Since its creation, CLIP has helped participating counties make a measurable economic impact across Northwest Kansas.
Current program totals include:
- 116 jobs filled
- 175 new adult residents, 77 new residents under age 18
- More than $6.2 million in estimated annual salaries in the region
- $416,930 awarded through the program
- More than $90,000 in local matching incentives
Through CLIP, eligible individuals may receive up to $10,000 in incentive funding through participating counties.
Participating counties may receive:
- An initial $20,000 allocation
- Additional funding in $20,000 increments as funds are used
- Continued support, subject to funding availability
The Innovation Center has also streamlined the county application and reporting process to make the program easier for counties to use.
“CLIP gives counties flexibility to respond to their own workforce needs,” Dahlquist said. “Each community knows which positions are critical to its local economy. This program helps counties turn that knowledge into action by giving them a resource to recruit workers, welcome families, and support long-term growth.”
The graduate expansion is especially important for rural communities working to reconnect with young adults who have left the area for education or training. By helping recent graduates return to Northwest Kansas, the program supports both immediate workforce needs and the development of the region’s next generation of workers, families, and community leaders.
For more information about CLIP or the Innovation Center’s Workforce program area, contact Maria Dahlquist at 785-874-5150 or maria@nwkeici.org.
Interested counties and employers may also learn more at https://nwkeici.org/programs/workforce/.
About the Innovation Center
The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. works across Northwest Kansas to support regional growth through programs focused on workforce, housing, childcare, entrepreneurship, business development, and community vitality.