By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Great Bend Economic Development Board of Directors interviewed five candidates for the Economic Development President position and hope to have word of a new hire within the next couple of weeks. Current President Jessica Milsap announced her resignation last month after starting the position in February. Milsap agreed to remain in the position until a replacement is hired.
Along
with looking for their next president, the Board
of Directors are continuing their business summits. The summits are designed to
meet with business owners and hear their thoughts on how to improve economic
development.
"We decided to hold these sessions to fill in what the public perception and needs were, rather than just what the five of us thought," said board member Barry Bowers.
Bowers said the board met with manufacturing, retail, realtors, education and
the Hispanic business leaders. The board plans to still meet with agriculture
members next week.
"Our committee will hold a strategic planning session at the end of the month," said Bowers. "Hopefully, we will wrap all this up and have a plan."
Last September, the City Council voted to create a standalone non-profit
organization whose purpose would be to conduct economic development activities.
In doing so, the City of Great Bend terminated the agreement for such services
from the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce at the end of 2019.