By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In order to disburse working capital grants to as many businesses as possible, the Barton County Commission tabled the decision to issue funding to a couple of businesses at the May 26 meeting. The Commission established a filing deadline of May 29 and then assessed all the requests to make sure they had enough for each applicant.
The Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund has been used heavily during the COVID-19 pandemic as local businesses have absorbed financial hits.
With the deadline passed, Commissioner
Jim Daily says the county can divvy up the funding to a few more companies.
"After looking at the applications and knowing the limited amount of $114,000 in the fund, you have to make sure everyone gets a fair share," said Daily.
The Commission approved the two previous grant requests to Rodeway Inn and Suites
in Hoisington and Industrial Services of Kansas in rural Great Bend. Rodeway
Inn asked for $50,000 but was approved for $29,646 and Industrial Services
received $5,000. Commissioner Jennifer Schartz says the county was able to
provide funding to three additional businesses.
"We should try to get everyone as much as they wanted without going overboard with any one business," said Schartz. "Rodeway Inn requested far above what anyone else asked for. We now put them in line with everyone else."
The Commission approved funding to Ernsting, Inc. for $30,000, Quality Design
Construction received $25,000 and Kansas Trophy Experience received $25,000 in
working capital grant funding.