By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Barton County continues to adjust their future investment in economic development. Instead of automatically allocating $250,000 to Great Bend Economic Development, the county announced a project-base funding, choosing projects that benefit the entire county.
At Tuesday’s Barton County Commission meeting, the governing body approved the hiring of a grant writing firm to assist with certain projects throughout the year. The Commission was in favor of hiring NQSM Corp., doing business as Hometown Grants. Christy Crews, with Hometown Grants, is based out of Linwood, Kansas.
"We did interview two different grant writing companies," said Commission Chair Tricia Schlessiger. "I feel like one of Christy's missions is to bring as many dollars back to rural Kansas as she can. She's very versed in infrastructure grants, which is some of what we're looking at for this. I think she brings a passion to her grant writing which I think is very important."
Commissioner Duane Reif said the agreement provides up to four grant applications during a 12-month period for $50,004.
"I would say $50,000 sounds like a lot of money, but I think we can double that amount by the grants she brings in," said Reif. "I feel very positive about that."
Barton County used to have an in-house grant coordinator, but will now make use of the grant writing firm.