SALINA – Great Bend was one of three Kansas cities to rejoin Kansas Main Street Program, which targets preservation and revitalization of downtown districts, Great Bend Economic Development Inc. President Sara Hayden said. The announcement, which also included Hays and Salina, was made Thursday afternoon at the Stiefel Theatre in Salina by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly
According to the Kansas Department of Commerce which oversees the program, “Kansas Main Street helps communities preserve and revitalize their downtown districts by helping them develop a comprehensive strategy.”
“Great Bend Economic Development recognizes that the eyes into any rural community are viewed through the downtown,” Hayden said. “Our organization has worked hard throughout the last two years to make sure our downtown exemplifies the excellence we see for our city. We are pleased and excited to rejoin the Kansas Main Street program knowing that our visions and goals align and that will be able to help each other to see success in our downtown corridor.”
“I am thrilled to see Great Bend rejoining the Kansas Main Street program,” said Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Megan Barfield, who was in Salina for the announcement. “We already have a beautiful and vibrant downtown and now it’s time to level-up.
“It will take strong partnerships and access to robust resources like the Main Street program to keep the momentum going,” Barfield said. “The Chamber saw it as a no-brainer to support the application submitted by Great Bend Economic Development.”
“The Kansas Main Street network continues to grow, and it’s great to see communities that were previously part of the program rejoin this year,” Laura Kelly said. “Today’s announcement is a sign for the future of our state’s vibrant downtowns and the state’s economy. It’s clear the Kansas Main Street program is not only back on its feet — it’s now stronger than ever.”
About the program
The Kansas Main Street program, initially launched in 1985, has helped dozens of primarily rural communities work toward maintaining and enhancing the viability of their downtown districts. The program is a self-help technical assistance program focused on organization, design, promotion, and economic restructuring.
The Gov. Sam Brownback administration ended the program in 2012. It was restarted in 2019 by Governor Kelly with support from the Kansas Legislature.
These communities were in the program during its first 27 years of existence, and since its return, these three communities have expressed interest in rejoining. With these three communities rejoining, the Kansas Main Street program has added ten communities in the past two years, bringing the total number of Designated communities to 35.
“Our main streets speak volumes about our state and its communities,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “We’re pleased to see three outstanding communities rejoining Kansas Main Street this year. Strong and vibrant main streets make it clear that Kansas is open for business, and we have outstanding cities and towns where people want to live and where businesses want to invest.”
Since Governor Kelly announced the Affiliate program in late 2020, more than 40 Affiliate communities have gained access to resources from the state and national offices to assist in their downtown revitalization efforts. The Affiliate program helps smaller communities that may not be ready to meet the requirements of a Designated community.
The Kansas Main Street program is affiliated with the National Main Street Center. While there are no federal funds provided directly to Main Street communities, designated cities are eligible for training and technical assistance designed to help them become self-sufficient in downtown revitalization.
“I want to join the Governor and Lieutenant Governor in welcoming these wonderful cities back to the Kansas Main Street program,” Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell said. “To those communities that have returned to the program, we are excited to have you and appreciate that you saw the value in the services and technical assistance provides. The state office is here to guide you and support you in your efforts, and we look forward to your success.”
