Table of Contents

(Click on any of the following links to read the full story)

► Swift Investments, LLC, Dodge City, Kansas

► Star Storage, Hugoton, Kansas

► U Town Cycles, Ulysses, Kansas

► Kiowa County, Kansas

► City of Greensburg, Kansas

► Sitters & More, Inc. d/b/a/ Boots Bistro Garden City, Kansas

► L & F Aviation, LLC, Ulysses, Kansas

► Kalange Liberal Motel, LLC, Liberal, Kansas

► Law Office of Daniel J. Arkell, P.A., Dodge City, Kansas

► Charlie's Hardware, Bucklin, Kansas

► Cox/Montgomery, Inc., Pratt, Kansas

► A & M Parts LLC, Spearville, Kansas

► Critical Care Transfer, Inc., Ulysses, Kansas

► Ford County Area Mental Health Center

    Community Development Block Grant

► City of Bison / City of Minneola / City of Tribune

    Community Development Block Grant

► City of Greensburg, Kansas

► Finney County, Kansas

► Estes Enterprises, Inc., Dodge City, Kansas

► Wheatshock Capital, LLC, Abilene, Kansas

► CRS Coffee House, Inc., d/b/a/ Daily Grind, Wichita, Kansas

► Great Plains Development, Inc.

    U.S.D.A. Housing Preservation Grant

► Daylight Donuts, Dodge City, Kansas

► Sepulveda's Appliances, Liberal, Kansas

► Happy Trails Drive-In, LaCrosse, Kansas

► The City of Greensburg, Kansas

► Cole Communications, Liberal, Kansas

► Anderson Family chiropractic, Syracuse, Kansas

► Beck Sales, Dodge City, Kansas

► Business Nominated by GPDI Wins Annual SBA Honors

► City of Sawyer, Community Development Block Grant

► Mark 8 Inn, Wichita, Kansas

► Lenear Insurance Agency, Liberal, Kansas

► Tumbleweed Pizza, Cimarron, Kansas

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Swift Investments, LLC, Dodge City, Kansas

May 28, 2008

Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared a SBA 504 for the purchase of the Dodge House Motel in Dodge City. The participating bank is The Peoples Bank of Pratt, financing fifty percent. SBA, along with Great Plains Development, Inc. financed thirty-five percent of the project and the borrower injected fifteen percent. The current employees will be kept along with the creation of two more positions.

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Star Storage, Hugoton, Kansas

May 28, 2008

This is an expansion of 41 storage units to the existing self-storage business. Financing was provided by The First National Bank of Hugoton and Great Plains Development, Inc.’s Tax Credit Revolving Loan Fund. No additional jobs will be created.

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U Town Cycles, Ulysses, Kansas

May 28, 2008

This is a start up motorcycle sales and repair shop. Funding was made possible through the Grant County Micro Loan Program. The project will create two jobs in Ulysses. Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared the application and is the administrator for the county’s program. 

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Kiowa County, Kansas

May 21, 2008

The Kansas Department of Commerce awarded a Community Development Block Grant under the Urgent Need category for the purchase of a building to house the fire station and EMS equipment. The County’s grant is for $400,000.

Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared the application and will administer the project for the County.

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City of Greensburg, Kansas

May 2, 2008

The Economic Development Administration, a federal funded agency, has awarded the City of Greensburg $2,300,685 for the purpose of rebuilding four blocks of Main Street that was totally destroyed by the May 2007 tornado. Included in the project is the curb and guttering, electric, landscaping and etc. along the main business district on Main Street.

Great Plains Development, Inc., an EDA designated economic development district, prepared the application for the project and will administer the project for EDA. The City will provide the additional funds of about $168,000 to complete the project.

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Sitters & More, Inc. d/b/a Boots Bistro, Garden City, Kansas

April 17, 2008

This is for the purchase of the Red Baron Restaurant in Garden City. The purchase was financed with a SBA 504 with Great Plains Development, Inc. and SBA for 30%, The Peoples State Bank of Garden City for 50% and an injection by the borrower of 20%.

In addition, The Peoples State Bank received a SBA 7A Guaranteed Loan for inventory and working capital. The project will keep the 26 existing jobs and create three more positions.

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L & F Aviation, LLC, Ulysses, Kansas

March 31, 2008

This is a start-up business for the repair and maintenance for aircraft located at the Grant County Airport. Financing was obtained to construct a facility at the airport to do the service work. The Bank of Ulysses participated in the financing as well as Great Plains Development, Inc. through their EDA Revolving Loan Fund. The project creates two new jobs in Ulysses.

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Kalange Liberal Motel, LLC, Liberal, Kansas

March 18, 2008

Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared a SBA 504 for the purchase of the Super 8 Motel in Liberal. The participating bank is The Peoples Bank of Pratt, financing fifty percent. SBA, along with Great Plains Development, Inc. financed thirty percent of the project. In addition, GPDI financed five percent from their Tax Credit Revolving Loan Fund and the borrower injected fifteen percent. The current employees will be kept along with the creation of two more positions.

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Law Office of Daniel J. Arkell, P.A., Dodge City, Kansas

March 14, 2008

This project is the start-up of a new law firm in Dodge City. Mr. Arkell is fluent in Spanish and plans to serve many of the Hispanic people in the area. Funds will be used for the purchase of equipment and for working capital. The Fidelity State Bank of Dodge City and Great Plains Development, Inc. through one of their revolving loan funds financed the project to create four new jobs in Dodge City.

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Charlie’s Hardware, Bucklin, Kansas

March 5, 2008

Funding for the purchase of a hardware store in Bucklin has kept this business from closing. The previous owners were retiring and would either close or sell the business. Mr. Nagel purchased the business to keep this store in town. Funding was obtained through the Bucklin National Bank with a SBA 7A Guaranteed Loan. The project keeps two jobs in Bucklin.

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Cox/Montgomery, Inc., Pratt, Kansas

March 3, 2008

This company repairs and installs new power lines for cities and electric companies, mostly within the State of Kansas. It is a start-up business funded by several sources, including The Peoples Bank of Pratt, The Pratt County Micro Loan and Great Plains Development, Inc.’s Tax Credit Revolving Loan Fund. The funds will be used to purchase vehicles and equipment (all included on the Pratt County tax rolls) as well as for working capital. The business will create 10 new jobs.

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A & M Parts LLC, Spearville, Kansas

February 29, 2008

An application for funding from the City of Spearville’s Community Development Block Grant Revolving Loan Fund was prepared by Great Plains Development, Inc. to finance the purchase of equipment and inventory of an existing auto parts business.

The project keeps a business in Spearville and creates two jobs.

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Critical Care Transfer, Inc., Ulysses

January 30, 2008

Critical Care Transfer, Inc. is an existing business, transporting medical patients for area hospitals. Funding was obtained to construct a building to house the ambulances and for office space in Ulysses. Participating in the financing included The Bank of Ulysses for 50% and Great Plains Development, Inc. through a SBA 504 at 40% with the Barbo’s injecting 10%.

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Ford County Area Mental Health Center

Community Development Block Grant

January 29, 2008

The Ford County Area Mental Health Center received a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce for the renovations and construction of an addition to their existing facility. Funding was made possible through a Ford County application on behalf of the Center. $400,000, the maximum allowable, was awarded to Ford County for this project.  Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared the application to the state and is the administrator for the project.

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City of Bison

City of Minneola

City of Tribune

Community Development Block Grant Program

January 4, 2008

Three cities in southwest Kansas received funding from the Kansas Department of Commerce for residential housing rehabilitation for low to moderate income families. The three cities include Bison, Minneola and Tribune and received $377,516, $205,478 and 224,367 respectively. Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared the applications for the cities and is administering the grants.

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City of Greensburg, Kansas

December 10, 2007

The Kansas Department of Commerce awarded a $400,000 Urgent Need Grant to the city for street repair, new lights and curb and guttering throughout the city. The Urgent Need Grant was available due to the tornado that destroyed nearly the entire city in May 2007. Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared the application and is the administrator of the grant.

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Finney County, Kansas

November 20, 2007

A $30,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration was provided to Finney County for a feasibility study for three areas located just outside the city limits of Garden City. The scope of work is to determine the feasibility of extending city water and sewer lines to these areas. Matching funds were provided by Finney County and the City of Garden City.

Great Plains Development, Inc. is an EDA designated economic development district and prepared the application for Finney County.

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Estes Enterprises, Inc., Dodge City

November 19, 2007

This project was the purchase of the Long John Silver’s restaurant in Dodge City. The restaurant had been closed for several months. The facility was completely renovated and has a brand new look, both inside and outside. Funding was provided through the Dodge City Community Development Block Grant Revolving Loan Fund, an EDA Revolving Loan Fund through Great Plains Development, Inc. and the Dodge City Centera Bank.

Estes Enterprises also owns the A & W Restaurant in Dodge City. This new business will create 15 jobs in Dodge City.

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Wheatshock Capital, LLC, Abilene, Kansas

November 16, 2007

Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared the SBA 504 for the purchase of the America’s Best Value Inn in Abilene. This is a sixty-four unit motel with a full service restaurant located just off of Interstate 70.

GPDI is a SBA Certified Development Company and through this SBA program funded 35% of the project. The Peoples Bank of Pratt funded 50% of the project, with the borrower’s injecting 15%. The project will create two jobs and keep all of the existing personnel.

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CRS Coffee House, Inc., d/b/a Daily Grind, Wichita, Kansas

November 15, 2007

Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared a SBA 7A guaranteed loan application for The Peoples Bank of Pratt to finance the renovations, purchase of equipment and inventory and for additional working capital for this Daily Grind of Winchester, Inc. franchised coffee house in downtown Wichita. This is Colby Stull’s first business venture. A total of six jobs will be created.

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Great Plains Development, Inc.

U.S.D.A. Housing Preservation Grant

October 1, 2007

A $48,133 U.S.D.A. Housing Preservation Grant was awarded to Great Plains Development, Inc. The funds will be used in Dighton and Jetmore for the renovation of residential homes in conjunction with both of the city’s Community Development Block Grants for housing rehabilitation provided by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

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Daylight Donuts, Dodge City, Kansas

September 24, 2007

Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared a business plan for the purchase of this existing business. New owners, Scott and Lori Byrum purchased the business through a seller carryback. Three jobs will be retained through this purchase.

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Sepulveda’s Appliances, Liberal, Kansas

September 26, 2007

Adalberto and Purisima Sepulveda received funding from the Seward County Micro Loan program to purchase a building to expand their existing business. Sepulveda’s Appliance sells new appliances and does repair services. A portion of the funds will be used for the purchase of additional inventory and for working capital.

The First National Bank of Liberal participated in the project. Two additional jobs will be created through the expansion of the business.

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Happy Trails Drive-In, LaCrosse, Kansas

September 24, 2007

Great Plains Development, Inc. is the administrator for Rush County’s Micro Loan program and prepared the application for Jack and Sanna Landin to purchase an existing drive-up restaurant. In addition, the Bison State Bank participated in the funding with a SBA 7A guaranteed loan prepared by GPDI. The project created two jobs in LaCrosse.

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The City of Greensburg, Kansas

September 14, 2007

An Economic Development Administration (EDA) application was prepared by Great Plains Development, Inc. to fund a Recovery Coordinator’s position for the city. EDA is a federal agency who provides funding for projects owned and operated by a government entity. GPDI is an EDA designated economic development district.

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Cole Communications, Liberal, Kansas

September 6, 2007

Cole Communications, a start-up business as an Altel phone distributor, was funded through Seward County’s Community Development Block Grant Micro Loan Revolving Loan Fund. Great Plains Development, Inc. is the program administrator for the county and also prepared the loan application. Funds will be used to purchase inventory and for working capital. This new business will create five jobs in Liberal.

The Community Bank of Liberal participated in the financing of this project.

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Anderson Family Chiropractic, Syracuse, Kansas

September 6, 2007

An application for funding from the Hamilton County Micro Loan program was prepared by Great Plains Development, Inc. to finance the purchase of an existing chiropractic business in Syracuse. This purchase is an expansion of their practice in Johnson, Kansas. Two jobs will be created.

Valley State Bank of Syracuse also participated in the financing through a SBA 7A guaranteed loan.

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Beck Sales, Dodge City, Kansas

August 15, 2007

Beck Sales received a working capital loan from Ford County’s Community Development Block Grant Revolving Loan Fund. Funds will be used to expand their operations while creating three new jobs.

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Business Nominated by GPDI Wins Annual SBA Honors

August 3, 2007

A relatively young, but dynamic small business in Ulysses will be honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration at a reception on Tuesday, August 14th.  Critical Care Transfer, Inc. (CCT), owned by Kevin and Debra Barbo, has been named the Home-Based Business of the Year for 2007 by SBA's Wichita District Office.  The award is given annually to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs that have experienced both the rewards and difficulties of owning a home-based business.  The Barbos will receive their award at a reception from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Pioneer Electric Cooperative Conference Room, 1850 W. Oklahoma Avenue in Ulysses.  The event is open to the public.

CCT was founded by Kevin and Debra in 2003 as a result of Kevin's work as a paramedic with the Grant County EMS.  While on the job, he witnessed numerous occasions when the demand for ambulatory services was greater than the county could handle.  In those instances, other area county EMS services were utilized, leaving those counties in jeopardy should they have an emergency of their own.  CCT operates as a private ground ambulance service that supplements county services by providing extra ambulances and paramedics when needed.

The company also provides long distance transfers of patients out of their local EMS area, often to a facility that can provide more specialized care.  CCT's ambulances are outfitted with the technicians and equipment that enable them to function as a mobile intensive care unit or emergency room.  Operating independently and not as part of a particular county, CCT is able to serve a variety of patients, doctors, and hospitals in different locales.  According to Debra, it's not uncommon for what begins as a single transfer request to multiply.   "We had one situation where we left Ulysses to transfer a patient to Liberal.  When we arrived in Liberal, there was a patient that needed to be transferred to Wichita.  Since it was nearly midnight by the time we got to Wichita, Kevin and I spent the night.  Before we left Wichita, we received a call from the hospital asking if we were still in town because they had a patient that needed to go to Kansas City," she said.   

CCT recently purchased the equipment and software necessary to do in house billing, a service that was previously contracted out.  In addition to reducing its own operating expenses, the company hopes to increase income by performing billing for other ambulance services.  The Barbos may not be operating a home based business much longer, however.  In the near future, they hope to put up a building that can house all of their ambulances plus the billing service in one location.

The Barbos have utilized SBA's 7(a) loan guaranty program through the Bank of Ulysses on more than one occasion to finance their business and turn their dreams into reality.  The program is a key source of financing for viable small businesses that have real potential, but cannot qualify for loans from traditional sources.  By reducing the risk involved, SBA's guaranty gives small business owners access to reasonably priced, long-term financing through a lender of their choice.

The most important key to CCT's success, according to Debra, is the support she and Kevin received from friends, family, and employees that enabled them to get the business up and running.  "This was such a new concept and idea," she said.  "We just want to thank everybody that had a lot of faith in us and worked with us to get it off the ground." 

The Barbos and CCT were nominated for this award by Great Plains Development, Inc. of Dodge City. 

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City of Sawyer, Community Development Block Grant

June 22, 2007

The City of Sawyer was awarded a $127,201 Community Development Block Grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to make renovations to their lagoon system. The grant is being matched with $127,200 in other funding. The grant application was prepared by Faye Trent, Economic Development Specialist, Great Plains Development, Inc. and GPDI was hired to administer the grant. 54.7% of the benefactors are low to moderate income families.

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Mark 8 Inn, Wichita, Kansas

June 26, 2007

A SBA 504 fixed asset loan was obtained for the purchase of the Mark 8 Inn of Wichita. Fifty percent of the project was financed by The Peoples Bank, Pratt, Kansas. Thirty-five percent was financed by SBA through Great Plains Development, Inc. The balance came from the borrower.

The Mark 8 Inn is located on Broadway, one of the main arteries of the city and just one block from the Via Christi/St Francis Hospital. There are 62 clean, comfortable, rental rooms and employs eight persons.

Great Plains prepared the application for the bank and SBA.

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Lenear Insurance Agency, Liberal, Kansas

June 21, 2007

A loan was made through the Seward County Micro Loan Program for this start-up American Family Insurance Agency. Great Plains Development, Inc. is the program administrator for the county and also prepared the loan application. Funds will be used for working capital. The project will create two and one-half jobs in Liberal, Kansas.

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Tumbleweed Pizza, Cimarron, Kansas

June 19, 2007

Great Plains Development, Inc. prepared a SBA 7A Guaranteed Loan Application for the Sunflower Bank, Dodge City to finance the purchase of a pizza parlor. They are open for lunch and dinner. There is a dining area for those wanting to sit down for their meal and delivery service is available.

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