Hutch Chamber News and Media

Plaza/Astle Realty Receives Small Business Award

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Astle Realty was started by Joe Astle, who was a local home builder. Joe joined the Hutchinson Board of Realtors in 1959 and opened Astle Realty Company in 1964. In 1986, when Joe was ready to retire, he sold the company to his daughter, and 3 other Realtors who scaled and grew the company to become what the community now recognizes as Plaza Astle Realty. Over the last 59 years the company has remained locally owned and operated by local Realtor Owner/Brokers. There have been 10 total company owners at one time or another. The current owners - Tina Martinez...

Cris Corey Agency - State Farm Insurance Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

We are honored to present the July Small Business Award to Cris Corey Agency - State Farm Insurance. Cris moved back to Hutchinson in 2005 from Kansas City, with his wife, Laura. The company that Cris had been working for unexpectedly pulled out of the KC market and left him with a choice to make - potentially move to the East coast and apply for the same position he had (which wasn’t available) or look elsewhere. At the time, his father, John, a State Farm Agent, had two of his employees leaving and starting their own agencies...

Reno County Child Care Task Force Secures More Than $2.4 Million in Accelerator and Innovation Grants

Friday, June 23, 2023

Reno County Child Care Task Force Secures More Than $2.4 Million in Accelerator and Innovation Grants HUTCHINSON, KS – June 23, 2023 – The Reno County Child Care Task Force, in cooperation with the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, is thrilled to announce the receipt of two significant grants: a Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant of $2,173,887 and an Innovative Communities Grant of $247,600. These grants, funded by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Kansas Office of Recovery, will substantially boost local child care capabilities. These funds will be invested in...

Bornholdt Plantland Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Jarrod Bornholdt’s Great Grandfather Vernon Bornholdt was a big horse guy and started Bornholdt Feed and Seed in 1943 at 4th & Walnut. Besides selling horse feeds and other livestock feeds, they also had gardening seeds as well and a few tomato plants. Once Jarrod’s grandfather, Jim, returned from the Korean War and started helping they continued adding more products including fertilizers and weed killers, shade trees and evergreens. In 1959, they moved locations to 1518 West 4th and continued growing and adding a bigger selection of retail products and landscaping services. In 1967 Vern retired and Jim took over and changed the name to Plantland. Later...

The Wool Market & DIY School Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Andrea Springer formed the LLC for the Wool Market & DIY School with her husband Steve Snook in 2016 based on the fact she had been knitting for over 50 years, and she had worked as an instructor at two previous yarn stores to pay for her yarn habit. She and her husband Steve started organizing retreats over a Friday through Sunday schedule and taking knitters to Airbnbs off the beaten path in Kansas. Full Circle was the theme of their retreats, and they encouraged attendees to bring a project they had yet to finish or something they wanted to...

Good Vibrations Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

"I love people, cars and music!", says Bill Meyer. He started Good Vibrations Auto Sound Inc in 1984 with confidence that he could provide the people of Hutchinson the car stereos and window tint they needed. Bill's entrepreneurial spirit drove him and the store to expand in several directions in the vehicle modification arena from remote starts, wheels, and tires, to truck accessories, lift kits and more. Good Vibrations has expanded service offerings to include commercial signage and vehicle wraps and most recently Home Audio equipment and installation. Bill’s son Mitch has worked in car audio since he...

Growth, Inc. Awarded $2 Million in BASE 2.0 Funding

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Today Governor Kelly announced awardees of nearly $50 Million to thirty-eight projects across Kansas. Included in the announcement was a grant award of $2 Million to Growth, Inc., a division of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. The grant application was written by the staff of Greater Hutch, the economic development partnership for Reno County, which is funded by public-private partnership funding. “This BASE 2.0 funding will be instrumental in helping us move plans forward for infrastructure for industrial development in Reno County along the K96 corridor, including a portion of the funds...

Virtual Open House for the Downtown Hutch Master Plan is live!

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

The Virtual Open House for the Downtown Hutch Master Plan is live! The intent for this virtual open house is to ask questions on the current issues and opportunities that exist in downtown Hutchinson and to gain feedback on the initial design ideas that have been generated at this stage of the process. Click the link below to be directed to the Virtual Open House. Downtown Hutch - Virtual Open House | Olsson Studio (konveio.com) We encourage the public to provide virtual feedback on the materials from the Planning & Design...

Child Care Accelerator Grant

Monday, April 03, 2023

Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant, a County Collaboration Hutchinson, Ks- On April 15, 2023 the Hutchinson Reno County Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Reno County Child Care Task Force will host an open meeting with all organizations interested in being a part of a collaborative application to the Kansas’ Children’s Cabinet Accelerator Grant opportunity. This Accelerator Grant is specifically focused on expanding full time, full year child care capacity in communities by offering capital funds for expansion, renovation, new construction and the implementation of sustainable solutions for licensed child care providers. The...

The Rock Group Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Shane Iwashige started Rock Rentals in early 2013 after helping friends purchase and remodel two houses, which he then leased and managed for the owners. As they got started, Shane and his wife Dorcas extended an offer to several friends to assist with remodeling if they invested in rental properties. By the end of 2013 they were managing 13 units, and by the end of 2014 that number had grown close to fifty! What began as a side hustle became Shane’s full-time job. Just two years later, in 2016, Shane had obtained a real estate license and split the company’s rental...

Hutch Chamber Hiring Event

Friday, March 17, 2023

Hutch Chamber Hiring Event Hutchinson, Kansas (March 17, 2023) – Due to requests from members who are interested in reaching out to the recently laid off workers in our community, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a new hiring event opportunity. The Chamber has made two conference rooms available by reservation for on-site interviews from March 20th-31st. If your company is interested in holding on-site interviews at the Chamber or our adjacent Boys & Girls Club conference room, you may sign up by contacting the Chamber...

Reflections Salon Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Kelly Alger graduated Sidney’s Hairdressing College in 1996 and began her cosmetology journey working at a couple of different salons. In June of 2002, she opened her own shop – Reflections Salon on West 2nd Avenue after Kelly remodeled an empty business location. In 2010, Kelly and her husband purchased the former Salt City Land & Title Building and remodeled it to accommodate two businesses with separate entrances for Reflections Salon and her husband’s barber shop. Kelly prides her salon on pampering their clients with a complete list of services and keeping their prices affordable for everyone...

Hutchinson asking for your input on Downtown Hutch Master Plan

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Hutchinson asking for your input on the Downtown Hutch Master Plan Hutchinson, Kansas (January 31, 2023) - The planning process for the creation of a new Downtown Master Plan has launched! The first step in designing a successful forward-looking master plan for Downtown Hutchinson is to gather public input. Public input is being collected through a digital public survey to get a better understanding of what residents and stakeholders desire for the future of downtown Hutchinson. The survey asks the public to share their thoughts on the current state of downtown, as well as opportunities for its future...

The Phoenician Salon & Day Spa Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Jaimie McComas bought The Phoenician in 2005. The 1,800 sq. ft. space was located just south of 13th Street on Main Street at the time. She began with hair and nails services and 6 employees/booth renters. In 2010, she purchased the new location at 1303 North Main Street. The new 5,500 sq. ft. location had to be completely reroofed and remodeled. The added space allowed Jaimie and her staff to add massage, facial, eyelash extension, wig & extension services, in addition to a boutique offering of clothing, purses, and jewelry. Over the past 17 years The Phoenician has doubled in...

Dental Center - Dr. Travis Gillespie, DDS Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

The Dental Center began in Hutchinson at 200 E. 30th Ave in the late 1960’s. It was a well-established practice when Dr. Gillespie purchased in the Fall of 2016. During the past six years, Dr. Gillespie has expanded services provided, facility capacity, staff positions, and the patient base with steady, and often times tremendous growth. Though the bulk of their dentistry practice is routine – cleanings, fillings, and crowns, Dr. Gillespie has completed advanced training in many additional areas of dentistry. He believes their patients appreciate being able to get most of their dental needs taken...

2022 Agri-Business of the Year

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The Agri-Business of the Year Award is intended to honor the agri-businesses in Reno County and thank them for the important role they play in strengthening the local ag economy. This year’s Agri-Business of the Year Award went to Kauffman Seeds. Kauffman Seeds entered the seed business in 1965, when founder Edward Kauffman began an alfalfa seed cleaning business. It wasn’t long after that certified seed wheat was added to the business followed soon by soybeans. In the mid 90’s Midland Genetics was born through partnership with other seed companies. More changes, including cover crops, followed a...

2023 Farm Focus Family

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The Farm Focus Family Award began in 1985 as part of National Farm City Week. There have now been over 100 families in Reno County that have been recognized for their contributions to Reno County Agriculture. This year’s Farm Focus Family Award goes to Matt and Becky Mullins. Matt, originally from Yoder, met his wife Becky while taking a year off after graduating from Pittsburg State to participate in the Mennonite Voluntary Service in Arizona. After getting married and returning home, Matt began his career in agriculture. Just a few short years later and he was farming around 150 acres...

Advanced Physical Therapy Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Advanced Physical Therapy began in Hutchinson as Preferred Physical Therapy in 2007 with 3 staff. Shane Katz saw a need in the community for Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy services, he and staff began reaching out to referral sources in the area about the unique services they could provide for their patients. They have relocated twice to accommodate patient and staffing growth. In 2014, their name changed to Advanced Physical Therapy and today is located at 2803 N Lorraine and have 16 employees. What makes Advanced Physical Therapy unique is they offer OT and PT services...

The Hickory Stik receives Small Business Award

Tuesday, November 01, 2022

Aaron Bruce and business partners chose to open a new barbeque restaurant in Hutchinson, as the partners were having success in McPherson with Woods BBQ. They found and renovated a building in downtown Hutchinson in 2017 and opened Hickory Stik with 9 employees. The shifts have grown in duration and has the number of employees to 15. Besides adding employees, they have added to their menu, a new smoker, and new fryers to keep up with their growth. According to Aaron, not all BBQ is the same. Hickory Stik creates their own seasonings for meats, and they...