785-628-3102

219 West 10th Street, Hays, Kansas, 67601

WE ARE IMAGINING THE FUTURE OF ELLIS COUNTY

November 20, 2024

Who We Are

What We've Done

What You Can Do

Survey

Imagine Living In

Ellis County

Who We Are

Imagine Ellis County (IEC) is an engaged group of Ellis County citizens collaborating on a strategic vision for their communities and the region.

Ellis County, Kansas, is rich in history and community pride. The people who live here are compassionate and sincere, but they are also resourceful, courageous, and ambitious. They value working together to accomplish goals. Those traits make the area a progressive place to gather and grow. A place that continually strives to move forward, not backward.

Imagine Ellis County is about discovering and creating opportunities to strategically invest in people, create a better place to live, and boost prosperity. We invite you to come imagine with us!

What’s Happening

What cities are in Ellis County, Kansas?

Ellis | Population: 1,900
Hays | Population: 21,000
Schoenchen | Population 170
Victoria | Population: 1,100

Unincorporated cities: Catharine, Munjor, Antonino, Emmeram, Pfeifer, Toulon, Walker, Vincent, and Yocemento

Imagine Living In

Ellis County

What Have We Done?

Imagine Ellis County formed following a Strategic Doing gathering hosted by the Heartland Community Foundation. Since beginning in 2019, the group has engaged residents from across the area to help our communities identify their most critical needs and hopeful futures.

Information gathering happens through public community town halls and online surveys.

Imagine Ellis County is also working closely with Eagle Communications to create beautiful, descriptive videos to tell the stories of residents living in Ellis County. Four videos featuring those who call Hays home have already been released. The videos feature a retired grandmother, a couple who could live anywhere but choose rural, a young couple who moved back home, and a young college-aged woman.

See Our Survey Results!

Survey period has ended. Please check the link below for our reuslts!

2023 Survey Results

Contact a task force member.

Are you working on a project that would benefit with more people involved? Do you see a need that needs filling? Do you have questions about specific initiatives already underway? Please, reach out to one of our many task force members. We’d love to visit with you.

Who’s at the Table?

James Robben, Grow Hays, Inc.
Imagine Ellis County Chair
Home is: Hays

Sandy Jacobs, City of Hays
Home is: Hays

Collin Bielser, City of Hays
Home is: Hays

Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Commission
Home is: Hays

Sara Bloom, Kansas Department of Commerce, Community Development Specialist
Home is: Hays

Scott Cason, Fort Hays State University
Home is: Hays

Curtis Deines, City of Hays
Home is: Hays

Melissa Dixon, Hays Convention & Visitors Bureau
Home is: Hays

Pauleen Edmonds, USD 388 (Ellis)
Home is: Ellis

Clare Gustin, Sunflower Electric
Home is: Hays

Eddie Herrman, HaysMed
Home is: Hays

Brandon Hines, Hays Public Library
Marketing Committee Chair
Home is: Ellis

Pat McGinnis, Breathe Coffee House
Home is: Hays

Daniel McClure, Fort Hays
State University
Home is: Hays

Janis Lee, Community Advocate
Home is: Hays

Sarah Meitner, Heartland Community Foundation
Home is: Hays

Jerry Michaud, DSNWK
Home is: Hays

Darin Myers, Ellis County
Home is: Hays

Gina Riedel, Grow Hays, Inc.
Home is: Victoria

Ernee Sly, Grow Hays, Inc.
Home is: Plainville

Shae Veach, HaysMed
Home is: Hays

Sarah Wasinger, The Chamber
in Hays, Kansas
Home is: Hays

Ron Wilson, USD 489 (Hays)
Home is: Hays

Neal Younger, Ellis County
Home is: Munjor

Upcoming Events

Attend any events to see what we do next!

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Ways to Get Involved

Volunteer

Take a look at what you can do in our community for Ellis!

Events

View our up and coming events!

Visit Our Office

Grow Hays, Inc.
219 West 10th Street
Hays, Kansas, 67601

Phone Number:
(785) 628-3102

Grow Hays, Inc.

Grow Hays, Inc.