1999 Annual Report Executive Summary*
Wichita County Enterprise Community
The Wichita County Enterprise Community was designated in January of 1999. The community spent the first seven months reprioritizing projects in their strategic plan and adjusting the budget to reflect the level of funding appropriated for a Round II Enterprise Community.
More than 150 residents of the Wichita County Enterprise Community participated in the reprioritization process by attending community meetings and committee meetings in seven identified areas: Business Development, Retention and Expansion; Education; Health Care; Housing; Infrastructure; Natural Resources; and Cultural Arts, Recreation and Tourism. A total of 18 benchmarks were adopted during this community process for the first two years of the initiative.
The Wichita County Enterprise Community signed the Memorandum of Agreement on August 14, 1999.
The Wichita County Enterprise Community successfully recruited a $10-12 million feedmilling operation to locate in the EC area that will employ 35-40 people once it is completed. This business will also create new markets for local grain producers. Additional spin-off businesses are anticipated.
A dentist was also recruited to establish a dental practice in the EC area. The Enterprise Community is not served by a dentist and access to dental care is very limited outside the EC area.
The Wichita County Enterprise Community has organized an arts alliance to serve the cultural and artistic needs of the residents. In December, the arts alliance held it's first event, a Holiday Artists Studio Tour, which drew a crowd of more than 60 people.
The Wichita County Enterprise Community began preserving an 1887 Santa Fe Railroad hand-dug well as a tourism attraction. A 1920's Santa Fe Railroad depot has been purchased and located at the site as an information center and railroad history museum.
The Enterprise Community sponsored a Homebuyers Workshop in March of 1999 to assist low-income residents in obtaining loans for housing purchase or repair. A total of $324,425 in loans were made in 1999 through six (6) USDA 502 loans, one (1) 504 loan and one (1) guaranteed loan.