HUMBOLDT — Thrive Allen County makes its way to different communities within the county to hear of their progress. Monday night Thrive board members met in Humboldt.
Larry Tucker, Humboldt city administrator, told Thrive members of the city’s current projects, the first being housing.
Many of the people who work in Humboldt don’t live there, Tucker said. When those non-residential workers were surveyed many said they would live in Humboldt if the city had adequate housing. Tucker said they have tried different ideas to provide affordable housing and have applied for a $100,000 grant to buy older houses and rehabilitate them.
The Business Action Team is trying to help new business. Team members are trained on how to be a business coach and help guide business owners to resources. The Downtown Action Team has stayed very busy. Recently the city bandstand was listed on the state and national historic register lists. A performance at city bandstand from 3 to 6 p.m. on April 12 will help celebrate the official designations.
“We want to maintain the infrastructure of the downtown area,” Tucker said. “We have submitted a grant for a streetscape project.”
The new design would have more than 50 acorn style light posts, trees and sidewalk improvements.
“Neosho River Park has been an example of the community coming together,” Tucker said.
Community members raised their own money to help build a handicap accessible fishing dock and a rock amphitheater. The group has applied for a $5,000 grant from Enbridge to help build a bathroom in the park. A pond that the city owns on Franklin Street will be stocked with fish soon by the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department. They will lease it from the city for $1,000.
David Toland, Thrive executive director, was impressed with the community’s progress.
“They aren’t talking about what they want to do, they are out doing it,” Toland said.
On June 14 Humboldt will host the regional Kansas Pride event. Humboldt has been recognized as a community of excellence by the Kansas Pride Program.
Humboldt thrives with progress
