Great Plains Development outlines loan, grant and outreach services for Seward County

Great Plains Development provided Seward County commissioners an overview of its programs and recent local activity, including small-business lending and an upcoming outreach event with the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The agency, represented by executive co-director Bob Wetmore and associate director Hannah Sparks, summarized its two primary roles: municipal grant assistance (including Community Development Block Grant applications) and small-business loan packaging and technical assistance. Wetmore said Great Plains began in 1987 as a merger of regional planning and certified development organizations and that its staff helps local governments and small businesses prepare applications, navigate state processes in Topeka and pursue gap or packaging funds.

Wetmore and Sparks described services that include help with CDBG and USDA programs, assistance to local economic development staff on loan packaging, and three internal revolving loan funds that Great Plains can access for clients. They reported that since late 2024 the office handled seven loan inquiries through Seward County Economic Development, with six full applications and four loan awards to date in 2025. Wetmore also noted a partnership between Network Kansas and the Patterson Family Foundation that can convert part of some loans into grants for borrowers.

Wetmore invited county officials to Great Plains’ Oct. 29 “regional excellence” initiative in Dodge City, coordinated with the Kansas Department of Commerce and described as an opportunity for Commerce staff to hear county needs in person. He also asked commissioners to consider a voluntary annual dues contribution for member counties; he cited a per-capita calculation listed in the handout and noted a decline in other state funding that had previously supported the regional agency.

During a brief question-and-answer period, a commissioner asked why some older project entries in Great Plains’ records were labeled “destroyed.” Wetmore explained that “destroyed” indicates files have been shredded under the agency’s records-retention policy and that some older files predate current recordkeeping. He said staff can attempt to retrieve nonproprietary historical information if commissioners request a work session. Wetmore also noted Hannah Sparks received a scholarship to a national training program and will take on an expanded role locally.

The presentation was informational; no formal action or county funding decision followed the update.