New Initiative Encouraging Mask Wearing in Reno County Announced

Through a partnership with the Kansas Leadership Center, a sub-committee formed from the Visit Hutch Tourism Coalition is excited to announce an initiative called ‘Caught in the Act Hutch’ (#GetCaughtHutch), with its mission to encourage mask wearing in Reno County.   

After announcing the statewide public health initiative “Kansas Beats the Virus” (#KSBeatsTheVirus) on November 18, the Kansas Leadership Center put forth the goal to activate and connect local leadership to combat the spread of COVID-19.  The Leadership Reno County organization was one of the many statewide network of partners who fulfilled the role of ‘Facilitator’, which resulted in over 1,000 meetings across Kansas.

The 13-week project kicks off on Monday, January 25 and will reward members of the public who are “caught” wearing a mask at one of the participating Host businesses.  If you are “caught”, you will be given a Caught in the Act sticker and can then enter online for a weekly gift card drawing from one of the Host businesses.  A $3,000 grant was awarded by the Kansas Leadership Center to fund this initiative.  

The Host businesses participating are:  Airport Steakhouse, Apron Strings, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Cosmosphere, Heartland Credit Union, Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm, Holly’s Sweet Treats, Hutchinson Zoo, Metropolitan Coffee, Reno County Museum, Scuttlebutt’s at The Clayworks, Strataca and The Wool Market and DIY School.   

An added benefit of this initiative is that all of the $3,000 grant monies will be spent in the local Reno County economy to help small businesses.   

“Small businesses in particular were tremendously impacted by COVID-19,” said LeAnn Cox, Vice President of Operations & Tourism for Visit Hutch.  “Our organization continues to work on positive initiatives like ‘Caught in the Act Hutch’ to help small businesses prosper.  The Chamber and Visit Hutch remain focused on encouraging the community and our visitors to practice good public health so our businesses can remain open,” she added.

For more information about the Caught in the Act Hutch project, please email LeAnn Cox at leannc@hutchchamber.com or citahutch@gmail.com.