(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of articles about the assessment of sites on the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway.) As the largest community along the local scenic byway, Great Bend has some of the better opportunities for development, but it also has some of the challenges to be faced.Barton County Finance Office Janet Crane reported recently on reports from the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway Internal Marketing Committee to the Barton County Commission and she noted that they show a mix of opportunities for continued growth in the county.The report documents input about local communities and their potential for growth.What follows are excepts from those reports.Great Bend:Strengths — Great Bend offers all “seven slices of the day” providing the full range of infrastructure elements to travelers—food, lodging, entertainment, information. Great Bend has the only paid professional tourism marketing staff in the region, supported with a lodger’s tax. As the largest town on the byway, it provides a nucleus for services; their marketing program complements the other six byway communities.