JR Robl, GLMV’s director of business development – community, civic & cultural, and a 1996 graduate of Ellinwood High School – co-presented at the 2022 annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations. The session addressed solutions and opportunities for rural communities seeking new housing. 

The design and development of a community takes action planning. He described the rural housing market as a Rubik’s Cube – the world’s number one puzzle, yet a small percent of communities can solve it. It takes partners and stakeholders like Sunflower Bank to complete the puzzle, Robl said.  

Amplifying Impact, the 2022 Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations, was held Oct. 12-14 in Wichita.  

Over the years, the Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations, hosted by the Kansas Association of Community Foundations, has gained national recognition and developed a genuine grassroots support from a variety of entities across the country turning into a collective effort, establishing a history, philosophy, and traditions that community foundations have come to rely on, respect and trust.

This year’s theme framed three days of 28 concurrent sessions, three plenaries, six deeper dives, and six retreats on topics related to: Asset development, legal aspects, governance, communications and marketing, finance and operations, programs, public policy and advocacy, and leadership. It offered sessions by asset size, bringing topics pertinent to each group and providing an opportunity to learn and network with those who are “in the same boat.” 

The conference developed rural, fundamental, and intermediate/advanced tracks to fit the diverse learning needs of attendees.