Small-Business Optimism Rises Along Kansas Main Streets
A survey of Kansas small-business owners found rising optimism heading into summer, tempered by concerns about labor and costs.
Optimism among Kansas small-business owners rose heading into the summer, according to a survey released this week, though respondents continued to flag rising costs and difficulty hiring as their top worries.
The survey, conducted by a statewide business group, found that a majority of owners expected sales to hold steady or improve over the next six months. Retailers and service businesses in growing suburban areas reported the most confidence, while some rural operators remained cautious.
"Main Street businesses are resilient, but they are also stretched thin," the group's director said. Owners cited insurance, wages, and supply costs as persistent pressures.
Advocates urged lawmakers to keep regulatory burdens light and to invest in workforce training, which they said would do the most to help small employers.
