2013

​December
  • The USD 349 STARS After School entrepreneurship students made hot cocoa mugs to sell as their business project.
  • The USD 350 LIFE After School entrepreneurship students made candles to sell as their business project.
​October
  • Occupied a booth at the annual Stafford Oktoberfest.
  • Program Director, Sydney Blanton attended the Kansas Leadership Summit.
​September
  • After-school entrepreneurship classes began in Stafford and St. John with Program Director, Sydney Blanton.
  • Assisted the Stafford Chamber of Commerce with their annual golf tournament.
  • Walkability assessments were conducted in our four biggest communities to assess their sidewalk appearances, conditions and safety.  Part of the Healthy Communities Initiative work.
​August
  • EcoDevo was selected for a Kansas Community Service Tax Credit award that would allow EcoDevo to generate $214,000 for housing development; specifically constructing a duplex to increase the inventory of rental housing.  This was the single biggest financial award the organization had received to date.

  • Carolyn Dunn gave a pitch about installing wind turbines at our County Schools at the Investment Connection Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
  • Gray's Studio was awarded a $75,000 grant from the Creative Economy Project Support through the Creative Arts Industry Commission Organization within the Kansas Department of Commerce.  Carolyn Dunn wrote this grant application for restoration of Gray's Studio in St. John.
​July
  • The Board added a full-time Program Director position and hired Sydney Blanton.
  • The third annual entrepreneuship competition was held at the Stafford County Fair for participants to win a chance at $600 in cash.
  • First Place: Lucas and Sarah Stoelting
  • Second Place: Jill Stimatze​
  • The 3rd annual photography contest was held at the Stafford County Fair for County residents to submit photos of what it's like to Live, Work and Play in the County.
​June
  • Partnered with the Barton and Stafford County Health Departments and Stafford County Extension to bring back a Farm and Art Market to the City of St. John.
May
  • ​Began the search for an Assistant Director/Project Manager.
​April
  • EcoDevo hosted a construction workshop and set up one of the five high tunnels.
  • Governor Brownback visited Hudson to tour Stafford County Flour Mills and the EcoDevo High Tunnel project owned by Mike and Amber Murphy.
​March
  • The high tunnel participants attended a workshop that included instruction of high tunnel management and food safety.
  • Awarded a $125,000 4-year Healthy Communities Initiative Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation in partnership with Golden Belt Community Foundation.
February
  • Senator Jerry Moran visited the City of Stafford at the Mercantile to present residents with the "Building Better Communities Award".
  • Assisted the Stafford Mercantile by partnering with Kiowa County Media Center to create a video to support an online funding campaign.
  • Hosted the first annual EcoDevo open house in the community room of the Courthouse Annex.
  • The supplies for the five high tunnel greenhouses were delivered to Stafford County participants.
  • Received a $25,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to complete a Healthy Communities Initiative plan.  This work encourages the development of more readily available healthy food and environmental changes promoting physical activity. ​
January
  • Gained our 501(c)3 status.  General housing development is accepted with this status and not limited to only low-moderate income guidelines.
  • Interviews of Stafford residents/business employees were conducted for a video that Senator Jerry Moran's Policy Advisor put together.