The Great Bend City Council Monday night approved a conditional use permit for a group daycare center to operate at 4507 Farmers Plaza Lane at the request of Great Bend Economic Development Inc. President Sara Hayden on behalf of Advancing Barton County Childcare Inc. 

Farmers Plaza is located across from the 10th Street-K-96 junction.

Notice of the request and of a public hearing on the request were given to surrounding landowners within 200 feet. Notice was also published in the Great Bend Tribune. 

A public hearing was held on Sept. 26, before the planning commission. There were no surrounding landowners who attended the meeting, Building Official Logan Burns said.

The property was purchased from Farmers Enterprises Inc. by ABCC. The site is currently vacant.

The facility will be a 501c3 non-profit under the umbrella of GBED called Advancing Barton County Childcare Inc. They would hire a director to run this center and then the subsequent centers in other county communities.

They are building new instead of retrofitting an existing building. To meet stringent Kansas Department of Health and Environment standards, this makes more sense.

The cost will be about $1.2 million. Most of the funds have been raised.

Last year, ABBC, in partnership with the Golden Belt Community Foundation, received a Community Service Tax Credit Program grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce. In addition, the City of Great Bend (through economic development funds) and Barton County and contributed, along with private donors, have kicked in money.

The facility will provide services for 59 children.