The Great Bend Innovation Center, a $7 million project in Kansas, has shared its luxurious design and ambitious goals, sparking widespread community reactions. However, with its goal of promoting optimism and growth, the center has met criticism from some citizens who doubt its feasibility.
Meanwhile, its advocates emphasize its potential for economic revitalization, referring to the state-of-the-art facilities the center promises. These will allegedly attract talent, cultivate innovation, and stimulate growth.
The center brings a multitude of features to the table, such as modern offices and conference rooms, commonly used for entrepreneurial collaboration and idea generation. These are intended to reshape Great Bend’s future.
Project implementation presses on amidst skepticism, with the center’s management stressing the holistic benefits for Great Bend. They ensure utmost transparency, hoping that as the center evolves, it will validate its worth and benefit the area.
Sara Arnberger, Director of economic development in Great Bend, challenges the notion that certain projects are impossible due to their location. She hopes to dismantle these geographic stereotypes and achieve extensive expansion and understanding within Kansas’s central region. She envisions active participation in opportunity exploration, entrepreneurship stimulation, and business growth.
The Innovation Center, located at the intersection of 10th Street and K-96 Highway, is funded entirely by grants and donations.
Great Bend Innovation Center: Community views and implications
It anticipates primarily these funds for infrastructure development, technological advancements, and skilled personnel. The center also aims to foster an atmosphere of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit, bolstered significantly by the state’s aid package.
Among the many facilities planned, a ‘Fab Lab’ stands out. Offering a vast range of resources for education and creation, it’s expected to propel technological innovation and entrepreneurial creativity. It also aims to be a community-driven space, encouraging collaborative learning.
The center also plans to feature a multipurpose commercial kitchen and a unique innovator space for tech startups. Further plans include a wellness center, art exhibition, and performance spaces – all catering to numerous community needs.
Arnberger stresses the project’s importance for the youth, aiming to show that quality education and career prospects exist within Barton County. The center is teaming up with Kansas State Research and Extension, The University of Kansas Health System, and Barton Community College, aiming for locality advancement and talent retention.
