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Innovation Center back on track
Eco Devo asking Great Bend for $400K in 2027
innovation center may 2026
Work has resumed on the Ignite Innovation Center in Great Bend. This photo of the front of the building on 10th Street, seen from the northwest corner, was modified by AI to remove the chain-link fence obstructing the view. - photo by photo by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune

Great Bend Economic Development Executive Director Jason Kuilan told the Great Bend City Council on Monday that work has resumed on the Ignite Innovation Center. He also said his organization will ask the city council for $400,000 next year, up from $350,000.

“A lot of exciting things since last time I was up here,” Kuilan said. “The good news on the Innovation Center that I’m sure everybody saw, we are back, resuming construction. We’re right on schedule. We need to be finished ahead of the time when the grant requires us to be in the building. That’s a mid-September finish right now. All things are looking good there; the Sheetrock guys were out there today. So, I’m sure in a couple days, that building is going to kind of look like a real building.”

In mid-April, a letter signed by Kuilan was distributed seeking “community investment.” It also mentioned that work would resume:

“We’re moving Forward! Because of this community, the Innovation Center has secured the funding commitments to continue and complete construction,” the letter stated.

“Securing the construction funding was the first summit. The work to fully outfit the Innovation Center, the tools, equipment, maker space resources, incubator kitchen, technology infrastructure, and the programming, workforce development, education, and community initiatives that will make this center truly transformational, that work continues. We are continuing to raise the capital needed to ensure that when the doors of the Innovation Center open, they open to something that maximizes every square foot of potential for this community.”

Other “exciting things” mentioned in Monday's report:

  • The first Fridays on Forest event for 2026 had a “great turnout.” The monthly event will continue through October.
  • “We’re also now in full force planning for Big Bend Bash.”
  • Advancing Barton County Childcare has identified a new site director for Bright Beginnings in Great Bend as Debbie Stephens will move into the executive director role while ABCC prepares to open a Claflin childcare center.
  • “We’re trying to plan and get everything set up and a license for the child-care center in the Innovation Center as well.”

Kuilan said he sent the quarterly financial report to council members earlier that day. He also sent his funding request, which he described as a “pretty substantial document.” The council plans to have a work session on that request, where they will go through it in detail.