By Great Bend Economic Development, Inc.
GREAT BEND, Kan. — The stage was set, the anticipation palpable, and the excitement electric as the IGNITE Rural Business Competition Grand Finale returned for its second year on October 10th at the iconic Crest Theater in downtown Great Bend, Kansas. This thrilling event marked the culmination of an exhilarating journey that began with 17 businesses competing in the first round in June.
With 1,294 total viewers tuning in to the live stream, IGNITE continues to capture widespread attention. igniteks.com saw 551 visitors directly to the site, with an additional 394 coming from Facebook. Over the last 30 days, the website attracted a total of 1,079 sessions, reflecting the growing engagement surrounding the competition.
One of the standout moments of the evening was the People’s Choice award, which was presented to Ruhe Rituals. Not only did they capture the audience’s admiration, but they also walked away with an additional $5,000, thanks to securing 44% of the votes. A total of 1,116 votes were cast via the Slido.com platform during the event. Host Sara Arnberger asked, “What does winning People’s Choice mean to you?” to which Danielle Hunter, owner of Ruhe Rituals, responded, “It means everything to us. It means that our clients believe in our dreams, just like we do.”
The esteemed panel of judges—Kari Smith, Jason Mayers, and Jerrod Westfahl—carefully evaluated the top five finalists, each delivering a compelling 10-minute pitch followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. After thorough deliberation, the judges announced the winners of this year’s competition:
- 1st Place: First Response Cleaning & Restoration – awarded $50,000
Tallen Smith, the owner, said, “This is surreal, to be honest. I want to thank everybody for the opportunity… thank you so much, we are so grateful.”
First Response Cleaning & Restoration - 2nd Place: Proper Boards & Picnics – awarded $30,000
Paxton Rein, the owner, expressed, “I think what this really means to me is that the community loves what I’m doing and that I’m headed in the right direction. I appreciate that confidence and support, so thank you so much.”Paxton Rein (Proper Boards & Picnics) - 3rd Place: Ruhe Rituals – awarded $10,000
Reflecting on the third-place finish, Danielle Hunter said, “This means everything to us. It means our business can grow beyond what we have already.”Ruhe Rituals
These businesses exemplified outstanding dedication and vision, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in Barton County.
Hosted by Shannon Towns and Sara Arnberger, the event was filled with humor, sponsor shout-outs, and opportunities for the audience to engage with the contestants. The evening proved to be a true celebration of entrepreneurship in the region.
Launched in 2021, the IGNITE Rural Business Competition, organized by Great Bend Economic Development, seeks to empower local entrepreneurs and promote innovation in Barton County. The competition offers a platform for emerging businesses to showcase their ideas, gain exposure, and contribute to the community’s economic growth.
A special thank you to our platinum sponsors, Network Kansas and the Department of Commerce, for their continued support of Barton County entrepreneurs. We also extend our gratitude to all our sponsors for making this event possible.
To relive the excitement of the second IGNITE Rural Business Competition Grand Finale, visit www.igniteks.com for streaming highlights and stories about the Top 5 finalists. You can also watch the entire live-streamed finale on the website.
Be sure to tag us in your posts on social media using #IGNITE2024! If you have an idea for a new business and haven’t started yet, consider taking one of GBED’s entrepreneurship classes. Reach out for help and get ready for the next IGNITE Rural Business Competition!
About GBED (Great Bend Economic Development):
Our goal is to sustain Barton county’s long-term economic health and vitality through the retention, expansion, and attraction of businesses and development that enhance property values, increase personal income, and positively contribute to the citizens’ quality of life of Barton County.
Great Bend Economic Development leads the charge in creating workforce initiatives to sustain our current employers as well as initiatives that will help to support new employers that move to the community. Employers and jobseekers are encouraged to reach out to GBED with questions and concerns and GBED will either pair you up with a workforce partner to help you accomplish your goals, or work with you one-on-one to create solutions and positive outcomes. Together we will create a strong and sustainable workforce pipeline that will enable us to continue to grow Barton County.
For more information about GBED visit: www.gbedinc.com, call 620-796-2407, or email [email protected].
About IGNITE:
IGNITE Rural Business Competition is a dynamic platform aimed at empowering entrepreneurs in Barton County. The competition encourages creativity, innovation, and community engagement, offering valuable grants to deserving businesses to fuel their growth and success. For more information, visit igniteks.com.
