In the ongoing effort to spruce up downtowns countywide, the Barton County Commission Tuesday morning approved more projects as part of Facade Improvement Grant program. The goal of the program is to provide financial assistance to businesses and property owners for downtown building front improvements to increase economic prosperity, accessibility, and quality of life in Claflin, Ellinwood, Great Bend and Hoisington, Grant Coordinator Sue Cooper said. It is having the desired impact, said District 3 Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson. “We were hoping it would have a ripple effect,” he said. After one owner applies, neighboring owners may feel like they have to [...]

n 1971, the average price of a home was $25,200, an average car cost $3,500 and gas was 40 cents per gallon. Also in 1971 50 years ago, Gary Demel started working for the Barton County Road and Bridge Department. That landmark was recognized by the County Commission Tuesday morning. “I was 2 years old,” said County Works Director Darren Williams, who is now Demel’s supervisor. “That kind of puts it into perspective.” “I’m still here because it’s fun to come to work,” Demel said. But, “I’m looking forward to a good retirement.” Source: Great Bend Tribune

The face of manufacturing may change, but it is not going away. That is the message Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Megan Barfield had for the Barton County Commission Tuesday morning. It was also the point of joint Barton County/City of Great Bend proclamation approved by commissioners making Friday as Manufacturing Day. Each year, Manufacturing Day is held on the first Friday in October in order to provide students, parents and the public with information on modern manufacturing. Events continue throughout the month, showing the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the [...]

Meeting during a work session Monday night, it was the consensus of the Great Bend City Council to amend the Great Bend Economic Development Inc.’s bylaws to expand the GBED Board from five to seven members, and enter into a cooperative economic development effort with Barton County on a one-year trial basis. The GBEC was created when the city split its economic development efforts from the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, creating a separate, public/private partnership. The board is made up of council members, chamber representatives and various leaders in the community. GBED Board member Mark Calcara said the larger board [...]

At the request of Great Bend Economic Development Inc. to develop affordable housing in downtown Great Bend’s landmark Hotel Zarah building, the Great Bend City Council Monday night will consider applying for a Moderate Income Housing Grant through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. GBED is proposing the city apply for the grant on its behalf, GBED President Sara Hayden said. GBED is eying these funds to be used towards the renovations in the multi-story red-brick Zarah at Main and Lakin. She stressed that this grant does not require the city to kick in any funding to proceed. “These are just funds [...]

Governor Laura Kelly today announced Kansas has received Area Development’s Top 20 States for Doing Business recognition for 2021 – the first time in Kansas history the state has made the Top 20 list. “Our state’s positive economic development momentum is undeniable, and the rest of the country is taking notice,” Governor Kelly said. “This designation – in addition to our record-breaking economic success, our receipt of Area Development Magazine’s Gold Shovel Award, and being named as the top business climate in the West North Central region of the United States – is further proof our efforts are paying off in [...]

The Kansas Department of Transportation is announcing a Request for Information (RFI) in advance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the state’s most traveled highways. Through this RFI, KDOT seeks to receive input from industry stakeholders and potential applicants that will help develop program criteria for awarding funding toward the installation of EV charging equipment. KDOT has identified approximately 12 preliminary locations for the installation of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations (50 kW or greater) to improve public access to charging stations every 50 miles along primary corridors. Source: Great Bend Tribune

Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman can now at interim county administrator to his job title after action by the County Commission Monday morning. According to the employment agreement, the appointment went into effect Monday and McManaman will continue as engineer. ... Included in the session along with commissioners were McManaman, County Clerk Donna Zimmerman and County Counselor Patrick Hoffman. It was also noted Monday morning that Zimmerman will continue in the assistant administrator role. McManaman has been county engineer at the end of 2015, coming to the county from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Great Bend office. Source: Great Bend Tribune

There will be three separate City of Great Bend sales tax questions on the Nov. 2 general election ballot following action by the City Council Monday night. These would help fund quality of life improvements, pay off the city’s debt incurred for a new police station and cover the cost of changes to the benefit package for the Police and Fire departments. The council at its Aug. 2 work session reached a consensus on the questions, said City Administrator Kendal Francis said. Source: Great Bend Tribune

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. and Jerry Moran announced a $96,575 USDA Rural Business Development grant that will be used to increase training and education programs availability in 27 counties. The counties benefitting from this USDA Rural Business Development grant include: Finney, Edwards, Pawnee, Wichita, Stevens, Barber, Clark, Pratt, Hamilton, Ford, Comanche, Greeley, Barton, Ness, Grant, Seward, Stanton, Scott, Haskell, Kearny, Hodgeman, Meade, Lane, Morton, Kiowa, Rush and Stafford. “This USDA grant will help many small business owners succeed in rural Kansas through further investment in education and training,” said Marshall. “Small businesses are the backbone of this nation, and providing [...]