From the Chamber
The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce is inviting businesses from across Barton County to reserve booth space for the 11th Annual Business Showcase, presented by Credit Union of America, on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Panther Activity Center (PAC) in Great Bend.
Doors open for USD 428 staff at 9 a.m., and open for all other Barton County school staff and homeschool educators at 9:45. Attendees should plan for at least 30-60 minutes to explore.
The annual Business Showcase is one of the Chamber's premier networking events, providing local businesses with a unique opportunity to connect directly with educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, and school support staff from across Barton County as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
This year's event is expanding beyond USD 428 to include educators and staff from every public school district in Barton County, Barton Community College, private schools, and homeschool organizations. Businesses will have the opportunity to introduce their products, services, programs, and special offers to an expected audience of nearly 1,000 education professionals.
The event will welcome attendees from:
USD 428 – Great Bend Public Schools
USD 431 – Hoisington
USD 355 – Ellinwood
USD 112 – Central Plains (Claflin and Wilson)
Barton Community College
Holy Family School
St. Joseph Catholic School
Central Kansas Christian Academy
Golden Belt Home Educators
Great Bend Seventh-day Adventist School
"This showcase continues to grow each year because it creates meaningful connections between our business community and the educators who serve Barton County," said Megan Barfield, President & CEO of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. "By expanding invitations to schools across the county, we're also expanding the opportunities for businesses to reach an even larger audience. We encourage businesses of all sizes to take advantage of this opportunity."
Businesses can choose from three booth options:
Premier Booth – $300 (Limited to only 10 available) SOLD OUT
Great Bend Chamber Member Booth – $100
Non-Member Booth – $150
Businesses that are members of the Hoisington or Ellinwood Chambers of Commerce qualify for Great Bend Chamber member pricing by registering as a non-member and applying the discount code provided by their local chamber.
Whether your business offers products, professional services, educational resources, healthcare, financial services, retail, restaurants, or community programs, the Business Showcase provides an excellent platform to connect with one of the region's largest gatherings of educators and school staff.
Booth space is limited and sells out each year. Businesses are encouraged to register early to secure their spot.
The 11th Annual Business Showcase will feature the event's best prize lineup yet with gift cards, classroom tools, local goodies, and big-ticket items.
For additional information or to reserve booth space, visit greatbend.org or contact the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce at (620) 792-2401, gbcc@greatbend.org.