Great Bend Economic Development Inc. has a lot on its plate right now, from the new Advancing Barton County Childcare daycare center in Great Bend to a host of programs aimed at fostering entrepreneurship. Lee Ann June, GBED communications director, took a moment Thursday afternoon to touch on what is happening on the eco devo front. Recently hired ABCC Site Director Kelsie Baxter “is very excited about getting started,” June said. This week, they started posting and advertising the 11 remaining job postings for that center. These include lead teacher, assistant teachers and part-time providers. Applications were available on the ABCC website, gbedinc.com/abcc, as of Monday. They will also be posted through KansasWorks and other job listings. “As I take on this new role, I am looking forward to prioritizing both fun and safety in a new setting! Providing quality childcare services for all families is something I am very passionate about,” Baxter said. Among the things she is excited about are the Watch Me Grow playground system and the smart SmartBoards the children will use. The next step is to advertise the child wait list, but that won’t be available until later this month, June said. Once this happens, it will be promoted in the media as well. Ground was broken on July 20 for the daycare center at Farmer’s Plaza, dubbed Farmers Plaza Childcare Center. The approximately $1.9 million 6,500 square-foot facility, envisioned as the first of several to be built in Barton County, will accommodate up to 59 children. It had been in the works since 2021. ABCC is planning a second facility in Hoisington, but that is remains in the planning stages.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
