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Commission OKs more facade grants
Applicants represented towns across county
facade grant applications
Members of the Barton County Commission discuss approval of facade grant applications Wednesday morning. - photo by DALE HOGG Great Bend Tribune

Another set of Barton County Facade Improvement Grant applications were approved by the County Commission Wednesday morning as commissioners harked back on a program that has become a popular one.

“We were right in the middle of COVID,” said commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson, District 3. “The federal government decided that they wanted to give us a whole pot of money. We had to figure out how to redistribute that throughout the county.”

They conceived a way to utilize some of the funds to “reinvest it into our main street business owners. “What better way to have a lasting impact on our communities than invest in those that are stepping up and trying to make a difference in our community.”

The fact that the towns represented in the grants Wednesday spanned the county impressed District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld. “It’s good to be giving back to these communities. But, really, these communities are giving back to themselves.”

She thanked Hutchinson for his leadership on this effort. She also pointed to Claflin and Millers of Claflin with that city’s old-time-looking Main Street as an inspiration.

In 2021, the commission dedicated $630,000 to the Façade Improvement Project. In 2023, the commission directed $250,00 in funding be reserved for the program for round two of the program, County Administrator Matt Patzner said. 

Thus far in 2023, the Commission has awarded $53,258.50 in funding to priority projects (held over from the previous year, and $57,091.61 in funding  to new applicants. 

Approved Wednesday were:

• David and Cheryl Hickel, Front Street Merchant, requested $17,955.16 in priority grant funding to improve the building located at 200 West Front Street, Claflin. The $5,985.05 match by the applicant equates to 25% of the project.

This was a priority project.

• Tara Jenkinson requested $20,000 in grant funding to improve the building located at 1104 Main, Great Bend. This building houses Crazy Beautiful Salon. The $12,778.49 match by the applicant equates to 39% of the project.

• Barry Stalcup with CP Real Estate, LLC requested $20,000 in grant funding to improve the building located at 926 Main, Great Bend. The $13,522.30 match by the applicant equates to 40% of the project.

• Aaron Andrews, Andrews Investments LLC, requested $20,000 in grant funding to improve the building located at 2107 Forest, Great Bend. The $19,334 match by the applicant equates to 49% of the project.

• Drs. Aaron and Jill Sauer, Sauer Chiropractic and Sports Clinic PA, requested $20,000 in grant funding to improve the building located at 6 N. Main, Ellinwood. The $10,934.00 match by the applicant equates to 35% of the project.

• Kim Vink, Coldwell Banker Sell Real Estate and Great Bend LLC requested $19,700 in grant funding to improve the building located at 1709 Main, Great Bend. The $6,249.38 match by the applicant equates to 25% of the project.

This is the building that will house the 20th Judicial District offices while the Courthouse undergoes its year-long HVAC replacement project.

• Remington Miller, Millers of Claflin, on behalf of Carly Liebl, requested $5,839.45 in grant funding to improve the building located at 221 Main, Claflin. This building houses Sunflower Cookie Co. The $1,946.48 match by the applicant equates to 25% of the project.

• Lane Moore, Moore Development Corporation, requested $19,069.58 in grant funding to improve the building located at 1201 Kansas, Great Bend. The $6,356.52 match by the applicant equates to 25% of the project.