With groundwork going on at the future site of the Innovation Center on Farmer’s Plaza off of 10th St., Great Bend Economic Development Executive Director Sara Arnberger updated Great Bend Chamber members on several of the organization’s projects Thursday during a Chamber Coffee.
Groundbreaking will soon begin on a future Hampton Inn hotel fronted by two restaurants on 10th St. next to the Events Center.
“Very soon, and we’ll have some exciting announcements continuing on from that,” Arnberger said.
She also said a new Streetscape project is in the works in Great Bend, as well as a daycare center in Claflin.
“You get to be one of the first ones to hear this,” Arnberger told Chamber members. “We have a new project starting in Claflin shortly, in partnership with the school district there. Around 45 students will be able to attend that center.”
Another aspect of childcare will be addressed with the completion of the Innovation Center. It will offer after-hours and overnight care, serving the many shift workers in the county.
Streetscape
GBED is working with the City of Great Bend on a new Streetscape project for downtown. Arnberger said they have been working with the design team LJC – Lamar Johnson Collaborative out of Kansas City – for the last year and a half. The last Streetscape project was in 1996.
“Some of those members from that Streetscape project are on our Streetscape project now.” The 1996 planners were responsible for adding bricks in the sidewalks and planting trees downtown, making it a beautiful and inviting place, she said. “But, as with everything after 20 years or so, some things need an update. We have been able to work with the design team to create an update that still fits the historic, grounded, traditional roots of our community and of our downtown, but also adding in those modern amenities that are really going to attract young families, young professionals, and keep us moving forward into the next generation.”
STAR Bond project at Expo
GBED is working with Great Bend on a STAR bond project. This multi-million dollar project would enhance the Expo Complex west of town, “as well as partner up with our hotel and restaurant development (on 10th St.).” Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds were created by the Kansas Legislature in 1999 as a tool for cities and counties to develop major commercial, entertainment and tourism areas. Arnberger said Great Bend is in the final process of gaining State approval for the project. It began in 2022 when GBED started collaborating with designers and talking about with that project would look like.
At previous Great Bend City Council meetings, it was explained that the work would include improvements to the SRCA Dragstrip with increased seating, livestock arena, banquet hall with four multi-purpose courts for sporting events, amphitheater, improvements to the existing rodeo grounds and an additional hangar and or restaurant.
Innovation Center
The Innovation Center, located across the road from the new Bright Beginnings daycare center, could be finished by the end of 2025.
“If you have not driven by Farmers Plaza, please do,” Arnberger said. “You’ll see dirt turning. In fact, yesterday we had the opportunity for our contractors to teach our childcare students all about being on a job site. They got to go sit in some of the excavators and learn about what’s going on. We’ll do that at several points throughout the project so that they get a first-hand view of what it’s like to be on a job site. And hopefully, maybe someday one of them will be the architects or designers or leaders that are doing those big projects.”
