Ford County Overview
Dodge City and Ford County. The legend began in 1872 when famous lawmen tamed the wickedest city in the west.
Since then, tourists have made Dodge City the number one destination in the State of Kansas and local agricultural industries have made Dodge City one of the fastest growing small cities in the country. The future of our industry is bright as well. Two large beef packing plants employ thousands of people. Cargill Meat Solutions and National Beef have shown their commitment to the future of Dodge City by continuing multi-million dollar expansions, making them two of the largest beef packing plants in the world.
Ford County is a great place to raise a family and be a part of the community. The booming economy, exciting attractions, top quality health care and excellence in education makes the area a wonderful place to locate.
In 2010 Dodge City was designated as a Main Street community. This program is a self-help technical assistance program that targets preservation and revitalization of historic downtown districts.
Dodge City and Ford County have also been designated an E-Community, a partnership with Network Kansas. We invite you to take a look at what our E-Community loan can do for you and your business in Ford County.
Additionally, Ford County was deemed the least economically stressed county in the nation. Watch what CNN had to say when they made a visit to our community!
Entrepreneurship Community (E-Community) Key Contacts
Joann Knight, Executive Director
Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation
311 West Spruce
P.O. Box 818
Dodge City, KS 67801
jknight@dodgedev.org
Office: 620-227-9501
Ford County Application and Process
Links
Official Ford County Website:
Links:
http://www.fordcounty.net/
Key Resources:
Kansas Small Business Development Center, Garden City Community College
www.westernkansas.net/sbdc
The Kansas Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) help both pre-venture & existing businesses address the challenges of today’s business world through free & confidential business counseling services. Center counselors help solve business problems or plan for new market opportunities. Together the owner(s) & the counselor will develop a plan of action. Wherever the issue is, the experienced business consultants can assist in determining potential solutions. The SBDCs also offer quality training & educational programs at reasonable fees. Courses & seminars taught by these experienced instructors provide the “how to’s” of operating a business. In addition to general consulting, this SBDC has special expertise in food services & sanitation, day care providers, retail clothing, franchising, agri-tourism, appraisals & real estate.
Kansas Department of Commerce, Business Development Division,South West Region
www.kansascommerce.com
The Business Development Division promotes the growth, diversification, and retention of existing business and industry in Kansas, the Division is also responsible for the recruitment of new business to the state and the creation of new job opportunities for Kansans. The Division is comprised of six sections: business assistance, business finance, national marketing, workforce training, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, and the Kansas Film Commission. In-state resional offices are located in and serve the regions surrounding the following cities: Garden City, Hays, Manhattan, Pittsburg, Topeka, and Wichita. The three out-of-state regional offices perform prospect business recruitment activities.
Kansas Department of Commerce, Office of Rural Opportunity, Southwest Region
www.kansascommerce.com
The KDOC ORO serves as a contact point for rural communities seeking assistance with community development to help attract businesses, workers, and investment.
Great Plains Development,Inc.
www.gdpionline.com
GPDI provides assistance in the preparation of business plans, prepares loan applications using federal, state, county, city, investment groups & in-house sources; makes direct loans with in-house funds; administers many county, city & investment business funding programs as well as in-house programs; prepares applications & administers grants for county & city infrastructure & economic development projects using federal & state programs; & continuous updating of a comprehensive economic development strategic plan for our district. GPDI has developed valuable partnerships with many agencies & refers clients to these agencies for specific assistance.
USDA Rural Development, Area 5
www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks/
Community & Business Programs(C&BP) encompasses a broad range of programs that can be instrumental in effecting economic development in rural areas. The diversity of the programs offer a multitude of opportunities.
Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation
www.dodgedev.org
Growing & developing existing business. Aggresively & efficiently pursuing quality new businesses to promote the socio-economic viability of the region.
K-State Research and Extension, Ford County
www.oznet.ksu.edu
100 Gunsmoke, Dodge City, KS 67801 (620)227-4542
An informational and educational organization of the land-grant University that functions through a network of Extension offices in every county across Kansas. The educational resources are targeted to audiences of agriculture, family, community, and youth.