Home - Innovation Center

Commited to Northwest Kansas

Innovation Center provides economic and entrepreneurial assistance to businesses in rural Northwest Kansas. The private operating foundation serves 26 counties in the region with a variety of programs.

Learn More About Innovation Center

Cybersecurity Opportunities

Introducing our Cybersecurity Pathway, a collaboration with Grow with Google and EnterpriseKC, offering valuable resources and career pathways.

Learn More About Cybersecurity

Connections to Skilled Jobs & Workers

We’ve created Connect NWK to serve as a systematic approach to initiate effective communication between employers and applicants, and among individuals and communities.

Visit Connect NWK

Your Career:
Google Certified

Prepare for a new career in a high-growth field in three to six months, no experience required! You’ll get professional training designed by Google.

Google Career Certificates

Innovation Center Housing Resources

Explore our comprehensive Housing Resources page, your gateway to valuable information and assistance for all your housing needs. Discover a wealth of resources, tailored to help you make informed housing decisions.

Learn More About Our Housing Resources

Childcare Solutions For Our Region

Innovation Center provides a variety of services to assist communities in addressing their childcare needs.

Learn More About Our Childcare program

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Welcome to the Innovation Center

Innovation Center provides economic and entrepreneurial assistance to businesses in rural Northwest Kansas. The private operating foundation serves 26 counties in the region with a variety of programs.

Our Programs

Communication is key. Connect NWK streamlines connecting businesses and the workforce effectively, cutting through the noise.

Explore our comprehensive Housing Resources page, your gateway to valuable information and assistance for all your housing needs.

Introducing our Cybersecurity Pathway, a collaboration with Grow with Google and EnterpriseKC, offering valuable resources and career pathways.

Prepare for a new career in a high-growth field in three to six months, no experience required! You’ll get professional training designed by Google.

Thriving communities need education for young families. NW Kansas Cares for Kids offers a variety of programs, fostering early childhood education.

Our comprehensive Business Services suite empowers entrepreneurs and existing businesses to maximize their potential and seize opportunities.

Serving 26 Northwest Kansas Counties

Our area includes: Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, and Wallace counties in Kansas.

Click on a county for local economic development director contact information.

Local economic development directors.

CN

DC

RA

CD

EL

EW

GO

GH

JW

LC

LG

MC

NT

OB

OT

PL

RP

RO

RS

SA

SD

SH

SM

TH

TR

WA

Cheyenne County

Teryn Carmichael

Bird City Century II Foundation

107 W. Bressler

PO Box 174

Bird City, KS 67731

teryn@birdcity.com

Cheyenne County

Kris Oldsen

Cheyenne County Development Corporation

107 Washington St

PO Box 255

St Francis, KS 67756

director@ccdcks.com

Cloud County

CloudCorp

606 Washington St

Concordia, KS 66901

Decatur County

Sharee Dempewolf

Oberlin-Decatur Economic Development

104 S. Penn – Suite #1

Oberlin, KS 67749

sdempewolf@oberlinkansas.gov

o-daedc@oberlinkansas.gov

Ellis County

Doug Williams

Grow Hays

219 W. 10th Street

Hays, KS 67601

doug@growhays.com

Ellis County

Julie Rider

Downtown Hays Development Corporation

106 W. 12th Street

Hays, KS 67601

dhdc@downtownhays.com

Ellsworth County

Stacie Schmidt

Ellsworth County Economic Development

114 1/2 N. Douglas Ave

PO Box 321

Ellsworth, KS 67439

ewcountyeconomicdevelopment@gmail.com

Gove County

Jason Moses

Gove County Economic Development

102 Sunset Ave

Quinter, KS 67752

govecoed@ruraltel.net

Graham County

Dan Steffan

Consultant for Graham County Economic Development

410 N. Pomeroy

Hill City, KS 67642

dans.nwk@gmail.com

Jewell County

Kyra Lampe – Coordinator

Jewell County Economic Development

118 N. Commercial St.

P.O. Box 154

Mankato, KS 66956

jccda@nckcn.com

Lincoln County

Kelly Gourley

Lincoln County Economic Development

216 E. Lincoln Ave

Lincoln, KS 67455

lcedfdirector@outlook.com

Logan County

Oakley City Admin.

209 Hudson Ave

Oakley, KS 67748

Mitchell County

Emily Benedick

Solomon Valley Economic Development

209 E. Main Street #104

Beloit, KS 67420

ebenedick@beloitks.org

Norton County

Dallas Gosselin

Norton County Economic Development

205 S. State

Norton, KS 67654

dallas@nortoncountyks.gov

Osborne County

City of Downs Economic Development

715 Railroad Ave

Downs, KS 67437

Osborne County

Stacey Jackson

City of Osborne Economic Development

130 N. First St

Osborne, KS 67473

osborneed@ruraltel.net

Ottawa County

Katie Vanderhoff

Choose Ottawa County

Minneapolis, KS 67467

katie@chooseottawacounty.com

Phillips County

Phillips County Economic Development

205 F Street

PO Box 604

Phillipsburg, KS 67661

director@pcedks.org

Rawlins County

Deb Minkler

ACE Foundation & Rawlins County Economic Development

Atwood, KS 67730

deb@rawlinscounty.org

Republic County

Republic County Economic Development

Director – Jenny Russell

PO Box 178

Belleville, KS 66935

rcedc@nckcn.com

Rooks County

Roger Hrabe

Rooks County Economic Development

115 N. Walnut

Stockton, KS 67669

roger@rookscounty.net

Russell County

Maggie Holloway

Russell County Economic Development, Tourism Director

331 E. Wichita Ave

Russell, KS 67665

Russell County

Mike Parsons

Russell County Economic Development, Economic Development Director

331 E. Wichita Ave

Russell, KS 67665

rced2@russellks.net

Saline County

D. Mitch Robinson, CEcD

Salina Area Economic Development

120 W. Ash

PO Box 586

Salina, KS 67401

mrobinson@salinaedo.org

Sheridan County

Kerissa Payne

Sheridan County Community Foundation & Economic Development Corporation

736 Main Street

PO Box 445

Hoxie, KS 67740

programs@growsheridancounty.org

Sherman County

Julica Oharah

Goodland Area Economic Development

204 W. 11th

PO Box 59

Goodland, KS 67735

julica.oharah@gogoodland.org

Smith County

City of Smith Center Economic Development

219 S. Main

Smith Center, KS 66967

sced@smithcenterks.com

Thomas County

Vernon Hurd

Thomas County Economic Development Alliance

350 S. Range – Suite 12

Colby, KS 67701

director@thomascounty.com

Trego County

Cheryl Gibson

Trego County Economic Development

216 N. Main

PO Box 355

WaKeeney, KS 67672

cheryl.gibson@tregocountyks.com

Wallace County

Lissa Sexxon, Director

Wallace County Community Development

313 Main Street

Sharon Springs, Kansas

785-443-3217

wacokscommdev@gmail.com

wallacecountyks.gov/164/Wallace-County-Community-Development

Lissa Sexson, Director of Tourism & Marketing

Wallace County Visitors Bureau

313 Main Street

Sharon Springs, Kansas

785-443-3217

travelwallacecounty@gmail.com

travelwallacecounty.com/

By working with existing businesses or entrepreneurs throughout the coverage area with targeted programs, Innovation Center strives to reverse the outflow of people and businesses from Northwest Kansas. Through its current and future initiatives that extend resources to these businesses and entrepreneurs, Innovation Center hopes to increase population and to foster economic innovation in Northwest Kansas.

Innovation Center Stories

Stay informed about the latest developments at the Innovation Center and stay updated on the current activities developing in the Northwestern Kansas region.

Rural landscape featuring 'UPDATES' and 'PARTNERSHIP & RESULTS' with MakeMyMove and Innovation Center logos.

MakeMyMove & Innovation Center | Regional Relocation Program

July 29, 2024

MakeMyMove & Innovation Center | Regional Relocation Program MakeMyMove Partnership The Innovation Center has partnered with MakeMyMove with the goal of relocating

Rural landscape featuring 'UPDATES' and 'PARTNERSHIP & RESULTS' with MakeMyMove and Innovation Center logos.

MakeMyMove & Innovation Center | Regional Relocation Program

July 29, 2024

MakeMyMove & Innovation Center | Regional Relocation Program MakeMyMove Partnership The Innovation Center has partnered with MakeMyMove with the goal of relocating