Editor’s note: This is the second of two stories examining Great Bend’s strengths through the eyes of community leaders. Today’s story looks at what officials and citizens are doing to continue to strengthen the community.

Recognizing the shifts toward movement to rural communities, Great Bend Economic Development Inc. Director Sara Hayden says officials in Great Bend have poured a lot of effort and energy into understanding the challenges the community faces, and working to remove those barriers.

Part of that, Hayden said is acknowledging what the community does not have, or does not have enough of, and working boldly to strengthen those areas.

Hayden pointed to a recent study by the state of Kansas addressing what individuals look for in choosing to move to rural areas. One significant factor is access to quality childcare, and Hayden acknowledged it is an area the city needs to grow in. Officials in Great Bend, she said, are working to actively to address that.

“We’ve found the barrier, now we want the solution, so that’s what we’re working on getting in place,” she said.

Finding solutions to barriers is something at which Hayden feels community leaders in Great Bend excel.

Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis said part of that equation moving forward means having a city that embraces and engages the diverse cultures that call the city home, because that diversity is part of what makes Great Bend a great place to live.

The city, he said, needs to be proactive in engaging all citizens, regardless of age or cultural background.

Both say it is important to strike a balance between attracting new residents to the community, while ensuring there is still a focus on improving the quality of life for those who already call Great Bend home.

“We want to put quality of life amenities in place that speak to those who are already here and say, ‘We want you to enjoy your community,’ but we also want it to be something we can hang our hat on and say, ‘This is why we want you to come to Great Bend,’” Hayden said.

Francis said it’s important to acknowledge the current and longtime residents who have poured significant time, energy and resources into helping build and sustain Great Bend, and who make it the strong community that it is. For example, he said the city has sought to invest additional resources into upgrading the city-owned Senior Center, and looking to invest in activities such as pickleball that have grown significantly in popularity among Great Bend’s current residents.

Everyone has a part

While leaders often are the visible decision-makers in the community, both agree that it is Great Bend residents that make up the beating heart and backbone of a vibrant community.

“It is the community who pulls together and makes (the solutions) happen,” Hayden said. “Most of these (taskforces) are tasked by community members and volunteers that step up and say, ‘Hey, we have a passion for that, too, and we want to help it move forward.’”

That army of willing volunteers make the city’s highlight community events successful.

“That’s all been the community coming together to say, ‘we want to support it, and we want to be out here for it,’” Hayden said. “The community is the fulcrum of this whole thing. We have to have a community that comes to the table and says, ‘We’re ready for growth, we’re positive, we’re encouraged, and we love our area.’ And we have that.”

Francis said everyone can play a part in building and maintaining a stronger Great Bend.

“If you want to keep your community strong, invest in it,” Francis said. “Support the activities that are happening at your local schools, and (through) the civic groups, and fundraisers.”

Though he said part of that means shopping locally when possible, the investment needs to be more than just financial. Time is a resource that everyone has, and he encouraged people to continue to use that resource through volunteering, even if it’s just a little bit. Time is the best way for the average citizen to reinvest in their community, and it’s something he said Great Bend already has a strong base of.

“If you get 100 people to give an hour a week (of their time), you’ve done a lot,” he said. “If you go to the park and rake leaves, or if you just take an hour to pick up some trash, that makes a huge difference.”