Economic Development

Community Overview

Great Bend is a vibrant community of more than 16,000 people located in the heart of America; near the geographical center of Kansas. The central location of the city allows for short travel to anywhere in the state, including Wichita and Kansas City. Denver is also just a mere six hours drive away.

The people of Great Bend enjoy conveniences of a lager city, like first rate educational, medical and recreation facilities. For all of the large city conveniences the community still retains its small-town sensibilities and values. Those sensibilities and values have given rise to innovators and entrepreneurs who have shaped the modern world. Noble Laureate Jack Kilby, inventor of the integrated circuit and pocket calculator spent his formative years in Great Bend. Adventurer and co-founder of JanSport, Skip Yowell, is an alumnus of Great Bend High School.

Incentives available through the City of Great Bend, Barton County, and the State of Kansas make relocation or expansion in the community competitive. Companies in Great Bend enjoy an adaptable and hard working regional labor pool of close to 66,000. Through partnerships with Barton Community College and the State of Kansas, the community has the ability to rapidly train or retain the existing workforce to meet the needs of business.

Statistics

Population
2010 Census Population – 15,995
Male – 7,753
Female – 8,242
Under 35 – 7,282
35 to 64 – 5,628
Over 65 – 2,656
Hispanic or Latino – 3,164
Non Hispanic or Latino – 12,831
Source: 2010 Census

Housing
Total Units – 7,113
Occupied Units – 6,483
Owner Occupied Units – 4,133
Renter-Occupied Units – 5,205
Vacant Units – 630
Vacant for Rent – 190
Vacant for Sale – 70 
Source: 2010 Census

Labor Force
Kansas Department of Labor - https://klic.dol.ks.gov

Taxes
Sales Tax Rate– 6.15% (state) + 1.75% (local) = 7.9% total
http://www.kansascommerce.com/index.aspx

Incentives
The State of Kansas and the City of Great Bend offer a variety of incentives for new and existing businesses that create jobs or capital investments in the Great Bend community. Contact Jan Peters, jpeters@greatbend.org, for additional information.

Transportation

Highways Serving the Community
Interstate (E-W): I-70 40 miles
Interstate (N-S): I-135 61 miles
U.S./KS Highway (E-W): US-56/KS-156 0 miles
U.S./KS Highway (N-S): K-96/US-281 0 miles

Motor Carriers
16 serving the Great Bend area

Local Terminals
7 serving the Great Bend area

Railway Infrastructure
Great Bend is served by the Kansas & Oklahoma (K&O) Railroad. Piggyback ramp not available. Intermodal services not available. Nearest piggyback service is 95 miles.

Public Transportation Network
The Great Bend Senior Center operates the public transportation system in Great Bend. They operate three mini-buses and a cab mini-van that provide service by appointment. The public transportation system is funded jointly through KDOT and the City of Great Bend.

Airport Infrastructure
The City of Great Bend operates the municipal airport 2 miles west of Great Bend at the industrial park. Great Bend Municipal Airport is a full ILS airport with an 8,000 foot concrete runway plus a 4,700 foot crosswind runway. Its self service fueling station attracts planes from all over the Midwest to stop and fuel up en route to their destinations. The airport fire station is equipped with a crash/fire rescue apparatus.

Distances to Metro Areas
Chicago is 753 miles driving distance. Two days by truck, three days by rail. Dallas is 480 miles driving distance. Two days by truck, two days by rail. Denver is 396 miles driving distance. Two days by truck, two days by rail. Kansas City is 252 miles driving distance. One day by truck, two days by rail. Los Angeles is 1,356 miles driving distance. Three days by truck, four days by rail. Minneapolis is 672 miles driving distance. Two days by truck, four days by rail. New York is 1,442 miles driving distance. Four days by truck, four days by rail. St. Louis is 502 miles driving distance. Two days by truck, four days by rail.

Utilities

Water
Provider: City of Great Bend
Well Average Depth: 100 feet
Treated: No
Rated Capacity: 4.5000 mgd
Temp Range: 54 degrees farenheit
Average Capacity: 1.9000 mgd
Connection Fee: unknown
Peak Demand: 3.5000 mgd
Cost/1000 gallons: $0.00
Storage Capacity: 0 gallons
Major Source: groundwater
Hardness: 360.0 ppm
Phone: 620-793-4100

Sewer
Provider: City of Great Bend
Ownership Type: Municipal
Average Daily Demand: 1.190 mgd
Rated Capacity: 3.6400 mgd
Connection Fee: unknown
Peak Demand: 1.68000 mgd
Cost/1000 gallons: $0.00
Phone: 620-793-4100

Electricity
Provider: Wheatland Electric (within city limits)
Location: Great Bend, Kansas
Ownership Type: Cooperative
Peak Demand: 492 kW
Customers Served: 8,964 
Phone: 620-793-4223

Provider: Midwest Energy (outside city limits)
Location: Great Bend, Kansas
Ownership Type: Cooperative
Peak Demand: 338 kW
Customers Served: 90,000 
Phone: 620-792-1301

Natural Gas
Provider: Kansas Gas Service
Location: Great Bend, Kansas
Gas Transportation Available: unknown
Phone: 800-794-4780

Telecommunications
Provider: AT&T
Location: Great Bend, Kansas
Service Type: Local & Long Distance Telephone & Data Services
Fiber Optics: unknown
DSL: yes
Phone: 620-665-1647
Web address: www.att.com

Provider: Cox Communications
Location: Great Bend, Kansas
Service Type: CATV, Data, Digital Telephone
Fiber Optics: yes
DSL: unknown
Phone: 620-792-2576
Web address: www.cox.com

Provider: Nex-Tech
Location: Great Bend, Kansas
Service Type: Local & Long Distance Telephone & Data Services
Fiber Optics: unknown
DSL: yes
Phone: 620-792-3908
Web address: www.nex-tech.com

Local Government

City of Great Bend
The City of Great Bend is made up of four wards with two representatives elected from each ward to serve staggered two-year terms on the City Council. The Mayor is elected at large by citizens of Great Bend to a two-year term. The City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1209 Williams in Great Bend, Kansas. www.greatbendks.net

Barton County
Barton County is made up of five districts with one representative elected from each district to serve staggered four-year terms on the County Commission. The County Administrator, County Clerk, County Treasurer, and other staff positions also report to the commission. The County Commission meets each Monday morning at 9 a.m. in room 106 of the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main Street in Great Bend, Kansas. www.bartoncounty.org

Leading Area Employers

Great Bend, Kansas is located within Barton County and is home to a wide variety of companies, ranging from manufacturing to agriculture to financial service to education to healthcare. Our local economy has been kept strong over the years by oil and agriculture, but our major employers represent all industries and skill levels. To see a complete list of Great Bend’s leading area employers, click here.

Resources

If you are looking to launch a new small business or expand on a business that already exists, there are numerous resources available to entrepreneurs in the Great Bend, Kansas area

Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development
Jan Peters, CEO/President
1125 Williams Great Bend, KS
67530 620-792-2401
jpeters@greatbend.org
www.greatbend.org

Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC)
Ron Newman, Director
Fort Hays State University
600 Park St. Custer Hall 105
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-5615
ksbdc.kansas.gov

Programs You'll Want to Know About

Neighborhood Revitalization Plan
If you are building new construction or making improvements on a residential, commercial, or industrial property, the project may be eligible for this tax rebate. This program is designed to give property owners the opportunity to receive a five or ten year incremental rebate on the additional property taxes that might be incurred as a result of constructing new buildings or making improvements to existing ones. For more information, click here

Central Kansas Development Inc.
If traditional loans aren't enough to fill your funding needs for a small business start-up or expansion, then Central Kansas Development, Inc. (CKDI) may be able to help. CKDI issues loans to entrepreneurs who are creating new jobs, and have a 93% success rate. For more information, email ckdi@ruraltel.net

E-Community Grant & Loan Funding
Great Bend, Kansas was among the first six communities in Kansas to be participate in the state’s E-Community pilot program. Communities with this designation establish and administer privately raised funds for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Applicants are selected based on a scoring system that factors in financial soundness, owner/operator experience, business plan, potential economic impact, third party funding, future prospects for growth, and quality of life impact. To see complete criteria for E-Community grants or loans, or to complete the application, click here

Other Resources

Kansas Department of Commerce - www.kansascommerce.com
Kansas Department of Labor -  www.dol.ks.gov/index.html
Small Business Administration - www.sba.gov
KansasBio - www.kansasbio.org