ELLINWOOD – Sunflower Bank and the City of Ellinwood announced Thursday that a grant request submitted in partnership by Becca Maxwell, Sunflower Bank community development officer, and Chris Komarek, Ellinwood city administrator, has been approved. The grant will fund an update to the WHERE EAGLES SOAR billboard on U.S. 56 at the southeast corner of Ellinwood that welcomes guests and visitors to the town. 

The County and Community Grant in the amount of $1,385 from the Golden Belt Community Foundation, which will go towards the billboard project, has been awarded to The Ellinwood Foundation. 

“We look forward to working on this project in early January and make things happen,” said Komarek. “You will be hearing more about this project and many more in the next few months, and we will be sure to keep everyone updated as things move forward.” 

The grant aims to promote community service and community projects/programs that focus on the enhancement of Barton, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford counties.  This grant was open to a variety of issues and target populations.  

Successful applications met the criteria of fulfilling the grant’s mission to enhance the quality of life, today and in the future, and support community growth for future generations. 

Maxwell assisted in writing the grant as part of Sunflower Bank’s mission to actively participate with the communities it serves to help meet their needs. 

“To be able to share our financial expertise and assist in grant writing for our communities, allows us to bring people together and access important services and funding for projects,” said Maxwell. “Sunflower Bank is proud to support these initiatives through our Community Affairs commitment to enhance our Ellinwood communities.”