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Grant County Economic Development Corporation is tasked, among other things, with recruiting new businesses to Grant County and working in collaboration with the city and county on projects that make a positive impact on the community. City representative on the Economic Development Board, David Norton, presented the 2024 Annual Report to the Ulysses City Council March 26.
Norton’s four-year term expired March 31.
“I’ve appreciated serving as the city’s rep, I have learned a whole lot in the process,” Norton said. “It’s definitely gotten me more engaged in local government.”
In 2024, Economic Development offered its Business revitalization Program to area for-profit businesses. The program benefitted 32 businesses.
Eco Devo worked with a consultant to develop a strategic plan to bring all county entities together, “So we can all come together and develop something to get us all on the same page, moving forward,” Norton said. “Not only helping Eco Devo align with this council, but with the county commissioners and with some of the major stakeholders in the region.”
Norton said the biggest identified issue was the need for housing, which led to the development of a housing committee.
Economic Development has two sides - the operations side that funds the day-to-day activities – and the Economic Incentive Fund that helps the community.
“Through that fund, we made loans of more than $216,000,” Norton said. “$163,000 of that went to fund gap loans for the purchase of businesses which the community might have otherwise lost if it wasn’t for us to provide some gap funding so they could get their loans and make that transfer.”
Those loans benefitted R&R Liquor and Cigars, Tiger Blooms, Rolling Rentals and Quick Lube Plus. The Economic Incentive Fund ended the year with $327,234.35.
“We were also, through this fund, able to help Grant County Drug get a generator system installed,” Norton added. “We did not cover the majority of that cost, we split that with them 50-50.”
Norton said the board provides Economic Development Director Bob Dale with direction.
“In my opinion, he has been excellent on executing that direction, Norton said. “He provided consults for five different businesses. He helped with four different transitions, he has entertained a bunch of different companies looking for places to open businesses here in Ulysses and Grant County.”
Dale worked with an individual to remodel a restaurant downtown and is working on creating a downtown historic district.
Among the goals for 2025 are completing a Website for available rental properties, create a regional application for small housing projects across six counties in southwest Kansas, provide exterior beautification grants for the beautification program, create and complete entrepreneurial education programs for business owners and startups, and conduct a fundraiser during Grant County Gives to take advantage of the matching funds.
Norton did address councilman Mark Diaz directly in relation to comments he made at the February 12 council meeting. In that meeting, the council was discussing plans for Frazier Park, and Diaz said he wanted to see improvements to other parks and to Main Street itself, adding the city and Economic Development have neglected Main Street.
“If Economic Development is not going to step forward for us then what we need to do is stop funding them,” Diaz said February 12. “Take $40,000 and let’s fund the Chamber, let’s give them the money and let them find the businesses, because we’re not getting that interest in people to come in, so we need to search out whether it’s through Luke, because of his strong desire for the community to grow and go through Luke and find out what we can do to even bring the small businesses.”
Norton, in his final days as the city representative on the Economic Development Board, took issue with the comments and said so at the March 26 meeting.
“Mark, you said if Economic Development is not going to step forward for us, what we need to do is stop funding them,” Norton said. “I take that as a personal attack. I spent four years working on this, I put four years seeing what happens in that committee. All of the points you laid out about developing downtown, helping businesses, are being addressed in (the annual report).
“And it really frustrates me that out of the four years I’ve been doing this, you’ve talked to me for 15 minutes outside of this building about what happens in that board. I hope the evidence in front of you will help change your mind, because I don’t think it was a fair attack.”
Diaz responded that, in his time on city council, March 26 was the first time he had been provided such an annual report.
“I appreciate your information that you gave me, and I spoke out as I did,” Diaz said. “But I will share, from my side of the city council, this is the first time in four years anything has been brought by from you guys other than a sheet when you want money.
“And so, some of the things that have been brought forward on the paper is because all we have heard in the past is housing, and I know that there’s a lot of money that has been spent in Grant County and I’m going to speak for the people that vote for me that they were upset. If you had publicized this and showed the people what economic development is doing instead of not showing and then criticizing what I bring forth even at city council.
“Like I said, this (the annual report presented) is the only thing I’ve ever seen. Bob Dale, yourself, or nobody else has ever brought anything forward other than when it comes at the beginning of the year when you want money.”
Diaz said the council has to be careful how those tax dollars are used.
“I pay taxes just like you do,” Diaz added. “I’ve also approached Bob Dale personally and talked to him to try to get this information and it has never been given to us.”
Norton said one of the goals moving forward was to improve two-way communication, “Which is what I feel like we’re doing here,” Norton said. “And to provide some cold, hard facts. Hopefully that improves relations going forward instead of some of this antagonism that I’ve felt over four years.”
Diaz added that city administrator Luke Grimes has been instrumental in letting the council know where economic development is coming from.
“It makes a big difference when you have that communication that we’ve opened up with him,” Diaz said.
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