By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Last summer, the Ellsworth County Economic Development received a $10,000 grant from the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity and the Kansas Department of Commerce. The matching grant was used to create new murals and public art projects.
Ellsworth County Economic Development Executive Director Stacie
Schmidt said the funds completed three murals in the City of Ellsworth and one
in the City of Holyrood.
"Not only does it improve our aesthetics, we also think it draws attention to the businesses hosting those murals," said Schmidt. "It draws a little bit of a tourist component too. We wanted to make them for an opportunity for photos so tourists will walk the streets of Ellsworth County a little bit."
When testing the community’s appetite last year to find artists, locations and
financial supporters, it took three days to secure the resources in Ellsworth
County. Now Schmidt is hoping to add more murals and art projects to the
community.
"I'm seeing the Office of Rural Prosperity probably has plans to reopen a second grant," said Schmidt. "We have so much interest, that I have a list of businesses that have expressed interest in doing that."
Find out more at growellsworthcounty.com.
