Latest news with #GreatBendEconomicDevelopment
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking Work: Streetscape, daycare among GBED projects
Apr. 4—With groundwork going on at the future site of the Innovation Center on Farmer's Plaza off of 10th St., Great Bend Economic Development Executive Director Sara Arnberger updated Great Bend Chamber members on several of the organization's projects Thursday during a Chamber Coffee. Groundbreaking will soon begin on a future Hampton Inn hotel fronted by two restaurants on 10th St. next to the Events Center. "Very soon, and we'll have some exciting announcements continuing on from that," Arnberger said. She also said a new Streetscape project is in the works in Great Bend, as well as a daycare center in Claflin. "You get to be one of the first ones to hear this," Arnberger told Chamber members. "We have a new project starting in Claflin shortly, in partnership with the school district there. Around 45 students will be able to attend that center." Another aspect of childcare will be addressed with the completion of the Innovation Center. It will offer after-hours and overnight care, serving the many shift workers in the county. Streetscape GBED is working with the City of Great Bend on a new Streetscape project for downtown. Arnberger said they have been working with the design team LJC — Lamar Johnson Collaborative out of Kansas City — for the last year and a half. The last Streetscape project was in 1996. "Some of those members from that Streetscape project are on our Streetscape project now." The 1996 planners were responsible for adding bricks in the sidewalks and planting trees downtown, making it a beautiful and inviting place, she said. "But, as with everything after 20 years or so, some things need an update. We have been able to work with the design team to create an update that still fits the historic, grounded, traditional roots of our community and of our downtown, but also adding in those modern amenities that are really going to attract young families, young professionals, and keep us moving forward into the next generation." STAR Bond project at Expo GBED is working with Great Bend on a STAR bond project. This multi-million dollar project would enhance the Expo Complex west of town, "as well as partner up with our hotel and restaurant development (on 10th St.)." Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds were created by the Kansas Legislature in 1999 as a tool for cities and counties to develop major commercial, entertainment and tourism areas. Arnberger said Great Bend is in the final process of gaining State approval for the project. It began in 2022 when GBED started collaborating with designers and talking about with that project would look like. At previous Great Bend City Council meetings, it was explained that the work would include improvements to the SRCA Dragstrip with increased seating, livestock arena, banquet hall with four multi-purpose courts for sporting events, amphitheater, improvements to the existing rodeo grounds and an additional hangar and or restaurant. Innovation Center The Innovation Center, located across the road from the new Bright Beginnings daycare center, could be finished by the end of 2025. "If you have not driven by Farmers Plaza, please do," Arnberger said. "You'll see dirt turning. In fact, yesterday we had the opportunity for our contractors to teach our childcare students all about being on a job site. They got to go sit in some of the excavators and learn about what's going on. We'll do that at several points throughout the project so that they get a first-hand view of what it's like to be on a job site. And hopefully, maybe someday one of them will be the architects or designers or leaders that are doing those big projects."
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Great Bend Chamber Coffee Recap: GB Eco Devo focuses on quality of life
Apr. 4—Great Bend Economic Development Director Sara Arnberger and Marketing Director Lee Ann June updated Great Bend Chamber members on several of the organization's projects, including the return of Final Fridays on Forest Ave. "Our mission is to improve the economic quality of life for the working families in the area," Arnberger said. "We have two other organizations beneath us. Great Bend Alive! houses some of our big fundraising projects, as well as all of our downtown Main Street organization. And then we also have ABCCC — Advancing Barton County Child Care." Volunteers and sponsors are needed for Great Bend Alive! projects. June said volunteers are needed to serve as gatekeepers at Fridays on Forest for two-hour shifts. She also reminded Chamber members that financial support is also gladly accepted. Fridays on Forest starts April 25 and continues on the final Friday of each month through October. This event is entering its fifth year and continues to evolve, June said. "We've added some new vendors. We're utilizing The Landing there on Williams and Forest." Admission is free thanks to the sponsors, starting with SOFTwarfare LLC in April. Homegrown businesses While the organization will continue to recruit big stores such as Harbor Freight, it supports homegrown ventures with courses for entrepreneurs. GBED works with Great Plains Development and Network Kansas to find loan programs for start-up businesses and help them with their business planning. "We also partner with the Chamber every year and do our Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. This is a fun way for us to instill that mindset from middle school age and up," Arnberger said. Next year, they hope to spark some interest in even younger minds by adding Lemonade Days for elementary students to the youth challenge. Downtown GBED is also focused on improving Main Street, Arnerger said, explaining downtown is the first place people check out when they visit a rural community. "We wanted to make sure that we were putting our best foot forward, so we became a Main Street organization. We are registered both nationally and through the State of Kansas," she said. Credit goes to the property owners for jumping on board with GBED and allowing changes to happen now that part of Main Street is a historic district. Projects on historic buildings can be difficult but are rewarding, Arnberger noted. The designation allows property owners to get 50% of their project costs back on renovations. That will increase to 60% after July 1. For more information about Great Bend Economic Development online, see or email director@ Chamber announcements —The Business and Career Expo will take place on April 16 at the Great Bend Events Center. Thirty businesses are signed up and there is still time to sign up. —USD 428's Pre-K and Kindergarten Pre-enrollment Night will be Wednesday, April 16, from 5-7:30 p.m. at the District Education Center/Little Panthers Preschool, 1809 24th St. —The Wheels and Squeals event that was scheduled for April 5 at Barton Community College was canceled due to the weather forecast. —Sandra Burton with Sandra Burton Massage is offering a free 15-minute massage through April and May at Renue Salon and Spa, 1419 Main. This is for new clients only. Call 620-792-2086 or schedule online at —Great Bend Noon Lions will have a fundraiser on April 9 at Freddy's, 3008 10th St., from 4-8 p.m. Say, "I'm here for the fundraiser" at the checkout and 15% of the sale will go to the organization. —Chamber President Megan Barfield said the Pints and Politics event on April 2 had an "amazing turnout" with 80 people in attendance. This members-only event that replaced the public Legislative Coffees, which "weren't serving you, our members." She also said the Western Kansas Delegation, which includes representatives from Great Bend, planned to leave for Washington, D.C., on Friday. —The next Chamber Coffee will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the Chamber Office. It will be hosted by the Southwest Area Agency on Aging.
