By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Following last month’s IGNITE Rural Business competition that awarded $95,000 to entrepreneurs in Barton County, Great Bend Economic Development is hoping to keep the momentum with fostering entrepreneurship.
This year, there will be three different learning opportunities to support those that are new businesses as well as those businesses that just need support, according to Economic Development Director Sara Arnberger.
"We really want to invest in those entrepreneurs," said Arnberger. "We're putting out more learning opportunities for them. The first one will start in January, it's called an ICE House program that we're doing in partnership with Network Kansas. That's a six-week program for those wanting to start a business or already in business and want some networking with other entrepreneurs."
The next IGNITE competition is already in motion. Interested entrepreneurs can sign up at igniteks.com until June 13.
"We're excited to see what all this does to put more learning experiences in the hands of our entrepreneurs," said Arnberger. "We want to keep building this as the place to do business."
The IGNITE competition consisted of judges determining which business proposals were the best, with first place receiving $50,000.