By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
The new Downtown Hays Development Corporation Executive Director said she has “hit the ground running” in her new shoes. Sara Bloom is a 2005 graduate of Fort Hays State University and was formally introduced to the Hays City Commission at Thursday night’s work session.
“I was so excited to get the opportunity to interview and so humbled and blessed to serve in this position,” Bloom said. “This is only my fourth week on the job, and it feels like I’ve been here for four months.”
Throughout her first month on the job, Bloom has been busy revitalizing two events for the downtown area. On April 17, the DHDC will bring back “The Taste” — a spinoff of an event that was cut in 2012.
“This was brought back by the request of our retailers. They missed it and they wanted 
it back.” Bloom said.
The revitalized event will feature several types of businesses in the downtown area in order to deliver a full perspective of the area.
“There’s going to be fashion shows, demos and beauty treatments — everything you can imagine to get people into the doors to experience what we offer. Not only with food, but in our retail shops.” Bloom said.
The event is limited to 300 people and tickets will sell for $12.
DHDC also is in the process of revamping Blues, BBQ & Bargains, which will include renaming the summer event to Fire on the Frontier Classic, which will take place on June 12 and 13.
“This opens us up for more possibilities,” Bloom said. “We were very limited with Blues and BBQ. … This is going to open us up to bigger and greater opportunities.”
In the board room, the DHDC Board and administrators are working on figuring out what their role is on business recruitment. According to DHDC President Sandy Jacobs, the National Federation of Independent Businesses recently rated the Hays downtown as one of the top 10 places to open a small business in the state of Kansas.
“We don’t spend enough time talking about those kinds of things enough and all of the things we do,” Jacobs said.
The board plans to send out a postcard to several businesses throughout the region emphasizing the benefits of coming to the downtown area.