By DALE HOGG
Barton County Media Consultant
In keeping with the Barton County Commission’s new economic development emphasis, commissioners Tuesday morning approved a contract amendment with Hometown Grants, a grant writing firm out of Linwood, to provide additional services for the cities of Ellinwood and Hoisington. The amendment, costing $12,000, will focus on defining and strategizing projects to pursue grant funding for the two cities.
County Administrator Matt Patzner presented the details of the proposed amendment, which expands on an agreement the commission approved on Feb. 25, 2025, to hire NQSM Corp., doing business as Hometown Grants. That initial agreement, for a total of $50,004, contracted the firm to write up to four grant applications for the county over 12 months.
The new amendment tasks the firm with working directly with officials in Ellinwood and Hoisington to identify and define up to three projects for each city. Hometown Grants will research potential funding sources, prioritizing grants with at least a 20% chance of being awarded. The firm will then develop a funding strategy, including a grant calendar, for the most promising projects.
This decision follows a shift in the commission's economic development strategy. In a letter dated Dec. 17, 2024, then-Commission Chairman Barb Esfeld, District 2, outlined a move toward "project-based economic development funding," effective Jan. 1, 2025. This change meant that budgeted economic development funds would no longer be automatically distributed to Great Bend Economic Development.
On Feb. 11, 2025, the commission formally transitioned to this new funding model, which prioritizes projects that benefit the entire county. As part of this transition, the commission decided to hire a grant-writing firm to assist with securing funding for these projects.
Commissioners interviewed two firms, Coneflower Consulting and Hometown Grants, before selecting Hometown Grants. Current Commission Chairman Tricia Schlessiger, District 4, noted at the time that Hometown Grants and Director Hannah Bailey were "very versed in infrastructure grants" and brought a "passion to her grant writing."
The original contract with Hometown Grants was approved with a motion from Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson, District 3, seconded by Commissioner Donna Zimmerman, District 5, to be paid from the Finance General account, Economic Development Line. The new amendment will also be funded from this line, with the hope that the cost will be offset by successful grant returns.
The $12,000 fee for the amendment will be billed monthly based on the percentage of work completed. The scope of work includes meetings with the cities, project selection, funding research, and the development of a detailed funding strategy.