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Message from the director To the Citizens of Ellis County: However you measure it, 2022 was a tremendous year for Ellis County and Grow Hays. Major accomplishments were achieved, investments for the future were made, and there is every reason to feel very good about our future. At Grow Hays, we added two new members to our team, and the impact was felt immediately. David Clingan accepted the Director of Recruitment and Retention position, and James Robben was added as Director of Business Creation and Special Projects. Thanks to the hard work of David, James, and Ernee, we accomplished some amazing things: Grow Hays MicroFactory In 2022 we received over 4 million dollars in grants and interest-free loans to construct a 30,000 sq ft MicroFactory. This facility will serve as an incubator for manufacturing startups and will provide manufacturing-friendly space for start-up firms for decades. Housing The Heart of America Tallgrass 2nd Addition development has been a great success, with construction complete or underway on all 36 lots in Phase 1 and street construction nearing completion on the 18 lots in Phase 2. The homes, with a maximum sales price of $225,000, have provided much-needed housing to our very tight housing market. Construction continues on the 42 units in Ellis Estates and the Frontier Apartment projects and will begin soon on the 33 units at 4th & Fort Street in Hays. Completion of these projects will provide a wide range of living choices for both existing and new members of our community. Business Over 21 new businesses were started or acquired in 2022. Grow Hays assisted several of these businesses with E-Community Loans and Patterson Family Foundation Grants. With our events, classes, e-community loans, and strategic partnerships, we continue to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in our community. School Bonds The citizens in USD 489 in Hays and USD 388 in Ellis voted to pass bond issues in 2022, making significant investments in their educational facilities. These investments, along with outstanding educators, will ensure that our community is an attractive place to live, work and raise a family. The achievements in 2022 give us much to be proud of. As we look to 2023, we must maintain momentum and build on what has been accomplished. One of my favorite quotes is from Roberto Goizuetta, the former chairman of the Coca-Cola company, which represents we believe at Grow Hays. “At the end of every day of every year, two things remain unshakeable, our constancy of purpose and our continuous discontent with the immediate present” Be assured we will work every day to do our part in making Ellis County a great place to live, work and play. Here is to another successful year in 2023!
Doug Williams Executive Director
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Our board of directors 2022
Joannah Applequist
Jason Ball
Lance Bickle
Joseph Boeckner
Brian DeWitt
Karen Drieling
Cory Eberle
Eddie Herrman
Brandon Hines
Bob Muirhead
Kris Munsch
Gina Riedel
Errol Wuertz
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead
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Our staff Doug Williams, Executive Director Doug joined the Grow Hays Board of Directors in January of 2018 and was named Executive Director in January of 2019. He has a strong entrepreneurial background having founded a number of local companies including System Solutions, Inc, Infinitec, Inc., Medical Business Resources and Williams Real Estate. His extensive real estate experience has proven valuable for providing leadership and insight in Grow Hays housing initiatives.
Ernee Sly, Director of Operations Ernee joined Grow Hays in 2007 and has served as the organizations Office Manager since that time. In this role Ernee is responsible for day to day activities including event organization and scheduling, management of the BriefSpace coworking space, marketing activities including social media promotion and accounting functions.
David Clingan, Director of Recruitment and Retention David Clingan joined Grow Hays, Inc. in January 2022 in a newly created position of Director of Recruitment and Retention. He will be responsible for establishing and conducting GHI efforts for recruitment of new organizations to the community including commercial, industrial and retail entities. Duties will also include developing and maintaining relationships with existing businesses to understand needs, ensure retention and explore opportunities for expansion.
James Robben, Director of Business Development and Special Projects James Robben joined Grow Hays, Inc. in June 2022. In his role as Director of Business Development and Special Projects, James is responsible for assisting entrepreneurs in pursuing their business goals and overseeing the many projects in which Grow Hays is currently involved. These projects include the E-Community loan program, Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, PitchIt Series, TriSpectives Series, The Grove Community Center, and multiple housing developments in our area.
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Our Partners
“Alone we can do so little, Together we can do so much” Helen Keller
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Our Investors
LEADER
INVESTORS
FRIENDS
City of Hays
AdamsBrown LLC
Hess Services
Ellis County
Astra Bank
Northwestern Printers, Inc.
HaysMed
Bank of Hays
Paul-Wertenberger Construction, Inc.
Heart of America Development
Coldwell Banker Executive Realty
The Furniture Look
Midwest Energy
Commerce Bancshares Foundation
Schmidt Foundation
Emprise Bank
OTHER:
Equity Bank
144 Design Co.
PREMIER
Glassman Corporation
Big Smoke BBQ
Sunflower Electric
High Plains Farm Credit
Clarity Consulting
Commercial Builders
Homes by Cornerstone
Field Abstract & Title
Nex-Tech
Insurance Planning Inc.
First Kansas Bank
Platinum Group
Joe Bob Outfitters
RE/MAX
Werth Wealth Management, LLC
Nex-Tech Wireless
Tree Top Security
Sizewise Sunflower Bank Turn-Key Properties Vyve
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give” Winston Churchill
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Our Programs & Events
BriefSpace-Co-Working Space E-Community Loan Program Robert E. Schmidt Entrepreneurship Series Housing Rehab Program Tri-Spective Speaker Series Pitch-it Entrepreneur Competition Quarterly Luncheon Series Growing Rural Business Series Ice House; Think Like an Entrepreneur Series Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Think Tank
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Snap Shots - City of Hays
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Snap Shots - Ellis County
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Snap Shots - Residential Real Estate
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USD 489 School Bond In May of 2022, Hays School district, USD 489, passed a $143.5 million school bond to build a new high school, renovate the current high school into a middle school, and renovate the current middle school into an elementary school.
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USD 388 Ellis Schools Bond In September 2022, Ellis school district, USD 388, passed a $4.5 million bond to improve junior and senior high facilities, including a secure entry, new exterior doors, partial roof replacement, and renovated science labs.
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Grow Hays Microfactory The Grow Hays Microfactory is designed to provide cost-effective infrastructures and early-stage support for scaling up new and growing rural manufacturing operations. This 30,000 sq. ft. incubator will positively impact the community and the economic growth of Ellis County.
Photo from Left to Right: Kansas State Representative - Ken Rahjes, President of Commerical Builders - Gary Weatherbee, Anderson Knight Architects - Heather Peterson, Kansas State Representative Barbara Wasinger, Executive Director of Grow Hays Doug Williams, Lt. Governor David Toland, Hays Mayor Mason Ruder, Innovation Center President/CEO Scott Sproul, Heart of America Nathan Legleiter
Kansas Lt. Governor Toland spoke at the MicroFactory groundbreaking.
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Heart of America Development Heart of Ameria’s Tallgrass 2nd Addition workforce housing development continues to be a huge success. In 2022 all 36 lots were sold, and over 20 homes were completed and sold. The remaining 16 homes in Phase I will be completed in 2023. Infrastructure improvements are underway on the 18 lots in Phase II, allowing construction on new homes to begin in the spring of 2023. Infrastructure is scheduled to begin on the 12 lots in Phase 3 in 2023.
Homes in this development are to be a minimum of 1,000 square feet, have two car garages and composition roofs. There are a mix of homes with basements and slab-on-grade construction all with a maximum sales price in Phase 1 of $225,000
Construction on Phase 2, which will contain 18 additional lots is scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2022. Projections are for Phase 1 to be completely built out by the middle of 2023
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BriefSpace BriefSpace is a coworking space with a creative environment and sense of community from like-minded professionals, independent contractors, start-up entrepreneurs and travelers who need businesses resources. We bring together people who work independently but are interested in being part of a like-minded professional community and creating and experiencing the synergy that occurs when working with others. You can utilize stunning work spaces to be productive, as well as functional meeting and training spaces for networking and collaboration. We offer access to the professional services of Grow Hays, Inc. and the vibrant, diverse local business community of Hays, Kansas. In early 2021 renovations and improvements to BriefSpace were complete. Cubicles were created throughout the main floor and back mezzanine to give members a better feel of having an office. Membership has continued to grow as has bookings in the downstairs Training and Conference Rooms. Podcast equipment was also added to give members another amenity.
Any questions please contact Doug Williams at: doug@growhays.com or (785) 628-3102