The 2005 Census estimates show that Wichita County experienced a decrease in population of -8.8% to 2,309 since the 2000 census. Since the census is only an estimate, the EC also gauges population fluctuation through school enrollment numbers. From the 2005-2006 school year to the 2006-2007 school year, the school district experienced a slight increase of 9 students. The Wichita County Enterprise Community spent much of 2006 building upon benchmarks previously implemented, implementing business retention efforts and fostering community communication and collaboration.

Several benchmarks implemented during the existence of the EC continue to be successful. The Revolving Loan Fund made two loans in 2006 to assist new business startups, bringing the total number of businesses assisted through the RLF to twelve.

The EC continued to provide business and entrepreneurial education and support through the Wichita County Business CARE Center and Incubator. The CARE facility, which stands for Create, Attract, Retain, Expand, houses a 25 wireless laptop lab and video and telephone conferencing capabilities which enables the EC to provide a wide variety of classes and workshops. Among the programs provided in the Business CARE Center include Mi Negocio, a business development class in Spanish, and community English language classes for non-English speaking residents. The incubator houses the EC youth entrepreneurship program and youth-operated vinyl sign business, Cutting EDGE Graphics and Design, LLC. The EC continues to participate in the multi-county Enterprise Facilitation pilot program, which provides free one-on-one business assistance to entrepreneurs and business owners in the county and has expended to include a youth business and financial entrepreneurial management education program.

The EC implemented the HOPE Program, Homestead Opportunities for Prospective Employees, in 2006. This employee recruitment program provides a matching cash incentive, a 0% interest loan for home down payment assistance, and other community gifts and relocation assistance to help existing businesses attract employees to move to Wichita County and to fill jobs that businesses have had difficulty filling. This program has helped to retain businesses in the county by helping them address their labor shortage issues.

As part of the marketing of the employee recruitment program, the EC addressed the need to make a better first impression to visitors to the community by developing a new logo and theme for the community and incorporating them in new signage at the entrances to the community. Newly designed pole banners adorn downtown street poles, and an enhanced website provides numerous information about the Wichita and its’ surrounding area.

To encourage more community collaboration and communication, the EC began sponsoring monthly Leadership Luncheons. The chairpersons of 25 county entities and organizations participate in the luncheons where they discuss their current projects, future goals and any issues or opportunities they are facing. The EC also continues to publish the newspaper, The Progressive Times, as a method of promoting the county and keeping residents informed of EC activities and accomplishments.

The EC enjoyed their largest and most successful annual meeting in 2006, which also celebrated the 10th anniversary of its lead implementing entity, Wichita County Economic Development, Inc.

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