In an effort to support the starting of a new business in Great Bend, the City Council Monday night approved passing along Great Bend Foundation funds to the local entrepreneurs.
Chris Umphres and the other owners of Big Bend Batters Box approached the council asking that any money donated to the foundation for support of their business be released to them. Foundation representative Barry Bowers supported the idea.
“Their project would complement our sports complex, City Administrator Howard Partington said.
Umphres wants to apply for a E-Community grant through the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. In order to do this, he and his partners had to have approval of the foundation funds.
The Big Bend Batters Box is a local indoor sports facility at 2207 Washington in Great Bend. This 4,000 square foot building will have artificial turf flooring, four moveable batting cages, pitching mounds and other features, Umphres said.
“This is something the city has been lacking,” Umphres said. And, there is considerable interest in such an operation.
He said their plans are to open Wednesday. They hope to offer individual and family membership packages, non-member rental rates, team rates, private lessons, and camps and clinics.
The business will focus on baseball and softball, along with other sports that will be able to utilize this facility also during available times. The owners of the building include Umphres, Chris Smith and Roger Ward.
“We have taken an older building and given it a face lift and brought some pride to the area,” Umphres said. “This will be a great place to continue the baseball and softball tradition here in Great Bend.”
The City of Great Bend has already began the process by building the Great Bend Sports Complex, Umphres said. “We have a vision beyond just this building. We believe that not only this town but the surrounding area has been waiting for an opportunity to further the involvement of kids in baseball/softball.”
He said the owners are getting with the local and surrounding area teams and working on even more tournaments and league games within the community. This also includes showcase tournaments and recruiting opportunities that have never been here in the area.
“Great Bend needs to be the central hub to the surrounding teams of Hays, Larned and Pratt,” he said. “We would be honored to take the lead and organize this vision.”
 The hotels, restaurants, shopping and concessions will take advantage of the increased flow of players in the city.
Use of the Great Bend Foundation is not uncommon, Partington said. It was formed in 1991 and is governed by a volunteer board made up of former city officials.
The goal is to channel funds raised through court diversion fees and private donations to help with projects of all sizes throughout the city. Funds for the city’s purchase of the Convention Center were funneled through the foundation.