Great Bend Economic Development announced today that after completing phase one of construction on the Great Bend Innovation Center, further construction will temporarily pause as the organization works to close the remaining funding gap to finish phase two.

The multi-million project, designed to serve as a hub for entrepreneurship, workforce development, and innovation in central Kansas, has been funded through a combination of state and federal grants, private contributions, and local private investment. While several expected grant sources did not materialize due to changes in federal policy earlier in 2025 that redirected or reduced available funding opportunities, this challenge was further compounded by the recent government shutdown, which closed remaining federal grant programs fo

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