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Stafford County Economic Development sponsors an annual photography contest for images that will be used on promotional materials and/or our website. A $25.00 prize will be given to the winner in each of the 3 categories listed below, and an unlimited amount of honorable mention winners will receive a $5.00 prize for each entry.

The new rental houses completed earlier this year in St. John and the currently under construction in Macksville are part of the nine house county-wide rental housing Stafford County Economic Development (EcoDevo) started building in September 2021. The first house was built in Hudson and completed in February 2022. Three houses in Stafford were completed in June 2022. The three houses in St. John were completed in January 2023. And the final two houses in Macksville should be completed by August 2023. 

This is the audio from our monthly radio show — Focus on Stafford County. This show aired live at 11:30 am central time on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Kathleen Norman announced the hiring of Ryan Russell as the new executive director and gave several other updates.

For updates on Stafford County Economic Development activities.

EcoDevo is having to slow down its plan for a New Housing Development Program that would have built 10 more houses. Its fall 2022 application for a Moderate Income Housing Grant was not awarded funding. The Kansas Housing Resource Corporation received around $19 million in Moderate Income Housing grant requests in its fall grant cycle and was only able to award about $5 million in funding.  

This is the audio from our monthly radio show: Focus on Stafford County. This show aired live at 11:30 AM CT on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Kathleen and Carolyn give updates on housing, childcare, and the Stafford County Port Authority.

Stafford County Economic Development has engaged Housing Opportunities Inc (HOI) a nonprofit in Great Bend to take over property management of their rental properties effective March 1. Stafford EcoDevo’s rental portfolio has grown from three units to eleven in just over a year with two more houses still under construction. 

This is the audio from our monthly radio show: Focus on Stafford County. This show aired live at 11:30 AM CT on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Kathleen talks about her plans to step down as executive director later this year and that the organization is currently hiring for her replacement. She also gave updates on other activities including housing, childcare, etc.

Kathleen Norman has announced her decision to step down as the Executive Director of Stafford County Economic Development. Norman has applied to the Peace Corps and anticipates her placement starting this fall. She will find out later this spring when and where she is being sent.

Stafford County Economic Development has been awarded a $49,125 SEED grant from the Kansas Dept. of Commerce to help fund 3 projects in the categories of libraries and food retail.