More Counties Join Rural Opportunity Zones

The Kansas Department of Commerce says eight
more counties will participate in a program designed to lure new
residents to rural areas.
With the eight new additions,
the Rural Opportunity Zone program now has 28 counties.
The commerce department announced Wednesday that Sherman,
Thomas, Decatur, Norton, Clark, Smith, Stafford and Harper counties
have joined the program.
The program provides a state income tax exemption to
out-of-state residents who relocate to the counties. Counties in
the program can take part in a state matching program to repay
student loans up to $15,000 for Kansas students.
The 20 counties already opting into the program are Barber,
Graham, Hamilton, Kearny, Mitchell, Morton, Ness, Stanton, Trego,
Wichita, Greeley, Hodgeman, Kingman, Lane, Pratt, Rooks, Russell,
Scott, Wallace and Woodson.