By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Barton Community College Director of Institutional Effectiveness Todd
Mobray continues to explain the college’s economic impact on Great Bend and
Barton County. Last October, Mobray informed the college’s Board of Trustees
that over a three-year average between 2019-2021, for every $1 of revenue that
comes from Barton County taxes, the college spent $2.05 directly back into the
county.
At Tuesday’s study session, Mobray told the trustees the college had
over $30 million in positive impact on Barton County in the 2022 fiscal year.
"The college's partnerships bring opportunities that are very circular," said Mobray. "I call it stirring the pot because that one dollar circles around many times. The tax dollars where it's one dollar for every two returned. That multiplies up to $30 million when you include the whole college."
The impact includes more than 390 full-time jobs and $17 million of labor
income. Mobray also highlighted the college’s partnerships that benefit the
community like hosting the Class 1A, Division II State Basketball Tournament in
March.
"It's hard to find a parking spot in the middle of the day before those games even start," said Mobray. "That's a great partnership to bring people to Barton County. You have to have a good organization in order to host these things. That brings people to see the campus."
The college’s economic impact study was performed by the Docking Institute at
Fort Hays State University.
