By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Barton County Commissioners Shawn Hutchinson and Barb Esfeld were sworn in right at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021. Some good news came when federal money was handed to counties. Hutchinson wanted to disperse that money to communities in the county, and the Facade Improvement Grant program was born. Hutchinson rehashed the origins before the commission approved eight more grants Wednesday.
"The third thing that came to mind was to reinvest it into our Main Street business owners," Hutchinson said. "What better way to have a lasting impact on our community than to invest in those that are stepping up and trying to make a difference in our community with local Main Street properties and businesses."
Downtown Claflin was one of the inspirations for the program, which has a total of $880,000 in its two rounds of grants. Remington Miller spoke on behalf of Carly Liebl, who was awarded $5,839.45 for improvements to her Sunflower Cookie Co. business located at 221 Main Street in Claflin. A matching western front will be installed.
"The building she's in, which is catty-corner on Main to our church, is one of the few that doesn't have one of the fronts on it," Miller said. "Basically, put a fake front on it and match our theme going downtown."
Barry Stalcup was awarded $20,000 for CP Real Estate, LLC, located at 924 and 926 Main Street in Great Bend. The grant will be used to replace a 110-foot awning, doors, and for paint on the north side of the building. He is contributing $13,522.30 for the improvements.
"Barry's building is one of those that made us rethink some of the rules of the Facade Improvement Grant Program to include within eyeshot of our Main Street corridor," Hutchinson said. "It didn't make sense the last round of Facade Improvement grants that we had a building at 10th and Main that we could not include because of the way we wrote the rules."
David and Cheryl Hickel were awarded $17,955.16 for Front Street Merchant, 202 West Front Street, in Claflin. The 78-year-old building was transformed from a gas station into a boutique and coffee shop. The Hickels added a storage building and will use the grant to make it match the boutique. They are contributing $5,985.05 to the project.
Tara Jenkinson was awarded $20,000 for Crazy Beautiful Salon at 1104 Main in Great Bend. Hutchinson suggested the south side of the building be repaired as it faces 10th Street. Jenkinson said the cement is coming apart from the brick, and it will be a large project. She is contributing $12,778.49 to repairs.
Aaron Andrews was awarded $20,000 for Andrews Investment LLC at 2107 Forest Ave. in Great Bend. Andrews will contribute $19,334 for the project to make the building match a neighboring building.
Dr. Aaron and Jill Sauer were awarded $20,000 for Sauer Chiropractic and Sports Clinic, PA, in Ellinwood. They have been at that location for 32 years and will be replacing windows, paint, doors, and the awning on the nearly 150-year-old building. The Sauers are contributing $10,934 to the project.
Kim Vink was awarded $19,700 for the Great Bend, LLC building at 1709 Main Street. Improvements will include new paint and door replacement. Vink plans to have the project completed before county staff moves into the building during the courthouse renovation. She is contributing $6,249.38 to the project.
Lane Moore with Moore Development Corporation was awarded $19,069.58 for the former Radio Shack building at 1201 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend. Improvements include repainting the entire structure with accents on the awning. The project will make the four businesses look like one building. Moore is contributing $6,356.52 to the project.