One year has already passed since I took over as the Director of Downtown Hays Development Corporation and what a year it was! It was a year of change,

growth, and new adventures and 2016 will be no different.

DHDC was established 15 years ago and since its onset has felt the need to locate our office in Downtown Hays. We had not been successful in locating a property of the right size and price until now.

We are happy to announce our new address as of February 1 is 109 West 11th Street.

The need to locate Downtown was not one of discontent with our current location. We have appreciated the synergy/partnership we have shared with our Welcome Center building mates, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Heartland Community Foundation, Hays Area Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition for Economic Development, but we serve Downtown. I have made a commitment that despite our move Downtown, I will continue to collaborate with each of these entities and continue consistent conversations with all.

Our goal is to continually bring awareness to what’s happening on The Bricks of Downtown Hays. We want to see Downtown become a gathering place, an environment that enhances the quality of life, and an area that is an economic driver for our community. I feel DHDC can’t fully commit to these goals unless we are located in the area we serve.

The new location will allow us to improve connections with downtown merchants as well as local and out of town patrons, provide an avenue to focus on development opportunities, and room for growth.

You probably hear this all the time now. The Bricks in Downtown Hays is home to shopping, dining, arts, entertainment, and the historic Chestnut Street District. Now it’s finally our home too.

I hope you can all be excited with us and visit us in our new home soon because Downtown belongs to all of you as too. Your contributions have helped make Downtown Hays the premier shopping district in Northwest Kansas. We are so grateful to you for helping to create and support the heart and soul of our community.

Our work in Downtown Hays is never done. We promise to continue to work for the betterment of our community. We will be accountable to the coming generations who will be the judges of what we do today, and we will not disappoint. If you’d like to know more about the difference DHDC makes or partner in our efforts please don’t ever hesitate to call or email me. Thank you for supporting our mission.

Sara D. Bloom
Executive Director, DHDC
O. 785-621-4171
C. 785-639-6671
109 E 11th, Hays, KS 67601
www.downtownhays.com