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To the community of Great Bend & Barton County, our local businesses, and everyone who is a part of this incredible community... I would like to start with the two words I keep coming back to since the day my wife and I landed in Great Bend: Thank you. When we moved to Great Bend, we were newcomers. We didn't grow up here. We hadn't spent decades building relationships in this community. And yet, from our very first days, you welcomed us. You embraced us. You made us feel lik

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Great Bend, Kansas – March 18, 2026   Child Care Aware of Kansas is proud to recognize Advancing Barton County Child Care as a Child Care Community Champion, honoring their outstanding dedication and commitment to strengthening local child care systems. This recognition is a part of the Child Care Friendly Communities initiative, a statewide program that uplifts community- led efforts to make child care accessible, sustainable, and supportive for Kansas

Entrepreneurial energy is building once again as the IGNITE Business Competition  prepares to launch a new year of innovation, opportunity, and bold ideas. Applications will open soon, and Great Bend Economic Development is inviting aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners to take their shot. Inspired by the popular “Shark Tank” format, IGNITE gives participants the chance to pitch their business concepts to a panel of judges — and to a supportive community eager to see new

GREAT BEND — Fridays on Forest will return in 2026 with another season of live music, food, and downtown energy, and organizers are now seeking business sponsors for the popular monthly event series. The event will take place the last Friday of each month from April through October, bringing residents and visitors to downtown Great Bend for evenings featuring live entertainment, local food vendors, extended retail hours and family-friendly activities. The series has become a

GREAT BEND, KS — The next generation of entrepreneurs took center stage on March 4 at the Youth Entrepreneur Challenge (YEC) held at the Great Bend Event Center, where five student-run businesses presented their ideas to a panel of judges and members of the community. The Youth Entrepreneur Challenge is a statewide competition that encourages high school students to develop real-world business concepts, build business plans, and pitch their ideas to industry professionals. Pa