Last November, Great Bend/Barton County earned distinction by being one of just six communities in the state designated to participate in an E-Community pilot program. Those communities were chosen to partner with Network Kansas to establish and administer funds for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Criteria for the grants and loans process are outlined on the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Web site at http://greatbend.org/e-community_GrantLoanApplication.pdf. Applicants will be selected based upon a scoring system that factors in financial soundness, owner/operator experience, business plan, potential economic impact/driver, owners/third-party funding, future prospects for growth, and quality of life impact.

When the opportunity for the E-Community arose, numerous businesses and individuals stepped forward to provide more than $600,000 to the Network Kansas program in exchange for receiving tax credits for their contributions. That effort has resulted in making $300,000 available for area entrepreneurs in the forms of loans and grants that can be used by startup businesses to assist in reaching their business objectives.

"Great Bend’s designation as an E-Community will be key to our success in revitalizing our community," said Nancy Francis, past chairman of the Board, Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. "We appreciate the endorsement and selection of our Great Bend/Barton County as an E-Community and look forward to a lasting and successful partnership with Network Kansas. This partnership ensures that entrepreneurs in our area have access to various tools to help them become successful and thus improving our local economy."

As an E-Community, Great Bend has partnered with NetWork Kansas to:

1) Establish a fund for entrepreneurs and small business owners that is administered by each E-Community;
2) Map all local, regional and state assets available to assist entrepreneurs and businesses in each E-Community;
3) Develop a long-term tracking and accountability system to measure business and economic growth; and
4) Form long-term partnerships with more than 400 NetWork Kansas partners statewide that assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in order to provide a positive impact on the Kansas economy.

NetWork Kansas was established as a component of the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 to further entrepreneurship and small business growth as a priority for economic and community development in the State of Kansas. Backed by more than 400 partners statewide, the NetWork Kansas service promotes an entrepreneurial environment by establishing a central portal that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with the expertise, education, and economic resources they need in order to succeed.

"Becoming an entrepreneurial community is a process, not a project," said NetWork Kansas Director, Steve Radley. "We believe we have identified six communities that are already engaged in that process and are developing the key components necessary to flourish in today’s competitive environment."

Great Plains Development, Inc., (GPDI), a Kansas not-for-profit corporation, also offers grants and/or loans to local entrepreneurs. That application packet can also be accessed on the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development site at http://greatbend.org/GPDI_LoanApp.pdf.

Other Resources

Great Plains Development, Inc.
100 Military Plaza, Suite 128
P. O. Box 1116
Dodge City, KS 67801
620-227-6406 (Phone)
620-225-6051 (Fax)
gpdi@pld.com (e-mail)

Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development
1125 Williams
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-792-2401 (Phone)
620-792-2404 (Fax)
jpeters@greatbend.org (e-mail)