Great Bend Economic Development hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the IGNITE Innovation Center on Thursday, December 12, at the site of the future center, located at the frontage lot on Farmers Plaza at K-96 and 10th Street.
This $7 million facility will serve as a community hub focused on childcare, entrepreneurship, workforce, and health care.
The keynote speaker, local entrepreneur Ryan Fairchild, stood at a podium in front of a row of shovels and hard hats. GBED provided a table of cookies, hot coffee and hand warmers. Those who attended could view an artist’s rendering of the future site and a floor plan of the complex.
Fairchild listed some of the partnerships behind this project:
• Advancing Barton County Childcare
• Barton Community College
• The Center for Counseling and Consultation
• K-State Extension & Research
• Kansas Workforce One
• Small Business Development Center
• University of Kansas Health System
• Kansas Children’s Cabinet & Trust Fund
• The Patterson Family Foundation
• The Dorothy Morrison Foundation
“This project has been a long time in the making, working with Tessere, Brentwood Builders, Innovative Groups, Seton Construction and various maker organizations, non-profits and resources, to ensure we build the finest facility that will stand proudly and enforce the message that Barton County is open for business,” Fairchild said.
Andy Mingenback with Brentwood Builders also spoke briefly, commenting, “I really appreciate the community support.” Along with the team of contractors, with Great Bend Economic Development as the driving force, he said, “I think it takes a community’s support as well to make something like this happen.”
He described the center as a facility where businesses can start and flourish as new ideas are introduced. “It’s truly going to be a really cool project.”
Fairchild expanded on Mingenback’s explanation of the purpose of the Innovation Center:
“From classes for youth, job skills training, evening daycare, supporting non-traditional learning, computer labs, a Fab Lab (fabrication lab), commercial kitchen space, on-site entrepreneur support – even a leafy green farm pod ... the Ignite Innovation Center will open doors for community members from all stages of life, including businesses established and new alike, with an eye on vocational tools, unlike anything else in the area, making Barton County all that more attractive a place to live, relocate, raise a family and start a business. Because when a community loves itself and shows the desire to improve others take notice.
“Quality of work for workforce, life and education are the foundation of a healthy local economy. Just as the oil boom did for this area, new and innovative opportunities are a must to continue to thrive as a community.”
The final remarks were from Rep. Tory Marie Blew (R-Great Bend).
“I’m very excited about what is to come,” she said. Looking out at the partners, she invited them to take part in the groundbreaking. “Let’s go turn some dirt!”
