By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Several local agencies submitted requests for funding from
the City of Great Bend in their 2023 budget. The second largest request, behind
the library, was Great Bend Economic Development asking for $250,000.
Economic Development received a $100,000 increase in their funding from Great
Bend last year to get their total to $250,000.
Last year, it was presented that $70,000 of the increased amount to the Economic
Development department was to be used on a one-year basis to hire a director
for the newly-planned childcare facility. Economic Development Director Sara
Hayden said she expects to break ground on the new daycare this fall, but Mayor
Cody Schmidt questioned funding economic development the same amount.
"I know last year, you brought the increase to the table as a one-time deal," said Schmidt. "I totally support childcare, but it's another one of those projects where we break ground in the fall, but what if it's not completed for two more years? Are we going to continue to fund that $70,000 until the position is filled? That one is a little tough for me."
The remaining extra funds from last year went to hiring another worker for
Hayden and economic development.
Advancing Barton County Childcare, Inc. (ABCC), under the umbrella of Great Bend Economic Development, will run the facility and plans to hire a childcare director prior to
the building being constructed so he or she can pick curriculum, hire staff and
get the build process right.
Hayden added the $70,000 portion of the 2023 request may go towards childcare,
but could go towards another “elevated” staff member for the economic
development department.
"We have a wonderful administrative assistant that does emailing and scheduling, but we need a person that can take on projects with me," said Hayden. "We need someone that can run a housing or workforce board. We need someone that can do some of the traveling to split with me so we can get more accomplished."
Shawn Hutchinson, Barton County Commission Chairman and Economic Development board member, said commissioners have given him a verbal commitment for the county to match Great Bend's funding of economic development up to $250,000.
The city council will consider all requests from outside agencies when
finalizing the budget this summer.