By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The try-try-again method is paying dividends for the city of Larned. Officials applied for a grant in round one of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) economic development program. That effort failed, but the city secured $750,000 with a round-two application. Mayor William Nusser called it a perfect match to some private investments in downtown Larned.
"We have to build off each other," he said. "We had private investment, the city puts a little bit of infrastructure investment, and hopefully, we'll continue to see more private investment and see downtown development. Brad Eilts, our city manager, put a lot of work into it. We're very happy with the result."
The city has been eyeing some improvements downtown, but Nusser said this project would not be possible without the grant.
"You could have maybe tried to spread it over a long period of time, but our council has been very good about doing with what you have," he said. "We try to operate with what money's on hand. We don't like to leverage debts to future taxpayers and future councils. Having that $750,000 on the front end really helps."
Street repairs are already scheduled to begin in 2024, and the BASE grant will go toward many of the more aesthetic features of downtown, including sidewalks, benches, trashcans, lighting, and planters. Broadway Street, between Fourth and Seventh Streets, will be the targeted improvement area.
"The scope of the budget will drive a little bit how much we can go east-west and north-south," Nusser said, "but your hope is, at minimum, you're coming from the courthouse south to that intersection."
The city worked on a recent water tower project with Bryan Falk at Topeka-based Falk Architects, Inc. Last Monday, the Larned city council approved working with the firm again for a design of the project. The city has two years from the funding date to complete any projects using the grant.
"My next stage here is getting as much community engagement as possible to figure out what the community wants to see downtown," said Nusser. "Not just the community, but also especially the downtown business owners because everyone is affected."
Gov. Laura Kelly announced the awardees of round two of the BASE grants last Tuesday. Nearly $50 million was divided among 39 entities. BASE grants are used to address infrastructure and economic development needs that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.