This is the audio from our monthly radio show Focus on Stafford County. This show aired in December. It includes discussion on Giving Tuesday, Stafford County’s commercial kitchen, the partnership between Stafford County Economic Development and the Ida Long Goodman Memorial Library’s Lunch and Learns, a new gazebo for the St. John Square and some upcoming grant writing workshops.
By Ryan Russell
Stafford County leaders have been working to finalize details in opening a commercial kitchen at the Stafford County Annex in St. John.
While some of the initial construction has yet to be completed, the county commission has generously given to help get the kitchen going. In addition, Stafford County Economic Development Inc. was awarded a grant by South Central Community Foundation to hold Youth Entrepreneur Challenge (YEC) this year with a focus being on value added food creation.
The YEC youth are challenged to create a business concept and compete against each other.
Stafford County Economic Development will offer an entrepreneurship training program in 2024 — that is food related, once the kitchen is completed and licensed.
Additional programming will be in partnership with 4H extension with their youth programs to create commercially viable products. We will also work with 4H extension to create year-round programming.
The idea behind this is that Stafford County has an abundance of raw food materials from the flour mill, produce farmers, a number of small farms producing high-quality meat and dairy products; however, there is a lack of value-added products that are marketable.
Additional funds are needed.
The goal is to raise $10,000 for the operational and programming costs connected to the Commercial Kitchen. This will include the costs of bringing in people with the technical skills and knowledge to help with training in packaging and food processing. We will also be putting in a gas stove and other equipment that may be needed depending on who uses the kitchen.
Here’s how that money can be raised:
Beginning in November, South Central Community Foundation is doing a matching day on Giving Tuesday. They have a pool of $70,000 to use in matching. Each organization has an opportunity to get the funds they’ve raised matched, and an endowment created that will gain interest every year to be used for whatever projects an organization has to fund.
Though Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, individuals can give throughout the month of November. Stafford County Economic Development is participating in South Central Community Foundations month of giving.
So, give generously this November and help Stafford County Economic Development spur economic growth in Stafford County’s nascent food product industry. To donate to support this important program, click on the link. https://www.sccfmatchday.org/nonprofits.cfm?id=1830
By Beccy Tanner
Stafford County’s two area community foundations are gearing up one of the largest global giving days ever – Giving Tuesday, which falls this year on Nov. 28.
Worldwide, it’s a movement that promotes “radical generosity,” according to the organization’s website: www.givingtuesday.org.
Locally, it means the Golden Belt Community Foundation and the South-Central Community Foundation are promoting local nonprofits and encouraging residents to give as generously as they can to support their favorite nonprofits.
For Golden Belt Community Foundation, this is their 10th year in promoting Giving Tuesday.
They have 100 local nonprofits participating in this year’s event.
“You can give to your favorite nonprofits and those funds can move directly to them or you can give to your favorite nonprofit endowment fund and that money can stay here with us and can grow that fund to continue to support that nonprofit organization,” said Teresa Powelson, program officer for Golden Belt.
The Golden Belt’s Community Foundation area covers counties in Barton, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford County.
In year’s past, the foundation raised more than $288,000 in Giving Tuesday.
“Last year was one of our biggest giving years,” Powelson said. “I think the thing that means the most to us is that we get to continue to support the nonprofit agencies in our community. This is a way that we can continue to help them grow, build their programs and serve the community just by allowing them to participate in Giving Tuesday.
“I think that’s one of the greatest benefits we can provide to the community.”
People who have participated in Giving Tuesday with Golden Belt before can expect to receive forms in the mail informing them of Giving Tuesday.
If they haven’t participated before and would like to, they may go to the Golden Belt Community Foundation’s Facebook page or website or stop by the foundation’s office in Great Bend to find out more information.
The office is located at 1307 Williams St, Great Bend, KS., 67530.
The website is www.goldenbeltcf.org.
The South Central Community Foundation in Pratt represents Barber, Comanche, Kiowa, Kingman, Rice and Stafford counties.
This is the foundation’s first year participating in Giving Tuesday and has 10 nonprofiit organiztions signed up to participate.
“It’s a big deal,” said Holly Launchbaugh, the foundation’s executive director of this year’s event. “It’s not just about the actual monetary donations but about giving back to your community, as well. It’s volunteering in every capacity. It has a lot of different meanings, for sure.”
Through a grant with the Patterson Family Foundation, which was established to reinvest in rural communities, the South Central Community Foundation is able to provide for the first time up to $70,000 in matching funds.
“We have a matching pool,” Launchbaugh said. “So, if we raise $70,000 or above, we will receive that full amount. Of course, if we received from the community, $30,000, that’s what we will get. So, it depends on how much you raise up to $70,000.”
Last summer, the South Central Community Foundation did a listening tour of each of its seven participating counties. The counties are, of course, all rural and all face similar issues with housing, childcare and the workforce topping the main concerns.
“When we received this opportunity to receive this grant, we really wanted to help out the nonprofits that serve our counties,” she said. “Helping our communities is something that we all support.”
The money goes straight to the nonprofit of choice.
“So, it’s really helping with whatever the nonprofit’s specific need is,” Launchbaugh said. “This is open-ended to let the nonprofit select where the money goes.”
The Patterson Family Foundation grant opened up an opportunity this year for the SCCF, Launchbaugh said. In the past, much of the foundation’s dollars was spent specifically on other grants or scholarships. The Patterson grant allowed the foundation to participate for the first time in Giving Tuesday.
People wanting to participate in Giving Tuesday can drop checks off at the office beginning Nov. 14th in Pratt or by mailing checks to the office. The office is located at 114 W. 5th, Pratt, KS., 67124.
“As long as the check is postmarked by Nov. 28, they will be counted for that matching grant this year,” she said. South Central’s website is https://www.sccfmatchday.org/.
Stafford County Economic Development, Inc.
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Our Office
311 N Broadway St, Saint John, KS 67576
620-549-3527
Mailing Address
PO Box 233, Saint John, KS 67576
Our Mission
To promote economic and population growth throughout the County by assisting our local businesses, engaging in community activities, and promoting Stafford County as a great place to live, work, and play.
We are an equal opportunity provider and employer.