Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation

What Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation does

The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization founded in 1996 and headquartered at 101 E Wyatt Earp Blvd, Dodge City, Kansas. It functions as a joint public-private partnership between the City of Dodge City, Ford County, and approximately 80 board-member businesses, governed by an 80+ member Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Joann Knight, who has held the role for 29 years. The organization operates through five wholly-owned subsidiaries (Main Street Dodge City, Dodge City Festivals, Community Housing Association of Dodge City (CHAD), Rural Education and Workforce Alliance (REWA), and the Childcare Coalition of Dodge City), executing a portfolio of programs rather than a single technology product.

Its core offerings center on business retention and expansion (BR&E) site visits, workforce development through REWA and the University/Training Center (opened August 2020), comprehensive housing programs administered by CHAD (including United Village's 227-unit, $70M development and the 15th Avenue Development), Main Street downtown revitalization, the Childcare Coalition's Full Circle Childcare Center (groundbreaking April 2026), site selection and recruitment leveraging multi-certified shovel-ready industrial parks, and a Youth Entrepreneurship Competition. Go-to-market is relationship-driven: direct enterprise engagement with site selectors, participation in Team Kansas, SelectUSA, and Site Selectors Guild events, regional conferences, and familiarization tours targeting new and expanding businesses, existing industries, workforce housing seekers, working families, and entrepreneurs.

Revenue mechanics are membership-driven (City, County, and private business contributions), supplemented by state and federal grants (Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, USDA Rural Development, Kansas Children's Cabinet, Patterson Family Foundation) and administrative fees for fiscal agent services. The organization does not disclose revenue figures publicly; headcount is approximately 6-8 full-time staff. Strategic milestones since 2020 include University/Training Center opening, BNSF Railway certification of Dodge City Business Park (2022), United Village housing launch (2025), and Full Circle Childcare Center groundbreaking (2026).

Name

Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation

Legal name

Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation

Website

https://dodgedev.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public-private partnership founded in 1996 that drives economic development in Dodge City and Ford County, Kansas, through business recruitment, workforce housing, childcare expansion, workforce training, and downtown revitalization programs serving employers, working families, and entrepreneurs across southwest Kansas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial Park Owners Association Management (BPAJAHAH)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Workforce housing programs
• Business retention expansion
• Community development programs
• Site selection assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Dodge City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: Membership-driven partnership between City of Dodge City, Ford County, and private businesses providing operational funding
2. Grant Funding: Funding from state and federal sources for housing programs, workforce development, and community projects
3. Administrative Fees: Fiscal agent services for housing development projects and childcare coalition operations

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is a nonprofit economic development corporation that drives business recruitment, retention, and expansion in Ford County, Kansas through the Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Program, site selection assistance with certified industrial sites, workforce development via the Rural Education and Workforce Alliance (REWA), housing programs (CHAD, CHRP, Paint Dodge, United Village), the Childcare Coalition of Dodge City addressing provider shortages, and Main Street Dodge City downtown revitalization. These programs are delivered through a joint public-private partnership between the City of Dodge City, Ford County, and private business members, financed through member contributions, grants, and administrative fees.

Product overview

The Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation is a nonprofit economic development organization offering a portfolio of community development programs and services rather than a technology product. Its core offerings include the Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Program for local business support, Workforce Development Services coordinated through REWA, comprehensive Housing Development Programs (including CHAD, Paint Dodge, CHRP, and new construction initiatives), Main Street Dodge City for downtown revitalization, the Childcare Coalition of Dodge City addressing workforce childcare shortages, Site Selection & Business Recruitment services with certified sites, the University/Training Center for workforce education, and the Youth Entrepreneurship Competition supporting student entrepreneurs. These programs work together to promote economic growth, workforce retention, housing availability, and community vitality in Dodge City and Ford County, Kansas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Program Economic development outreach initiative that visits existing businesses to identify challenges, provide support, and foster growth across agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and services. Targets local employers in Ford County.
• Workforce Development Services (REWA) Workforce programs coordinated through the Rural Education and Workforce Alliance connecting employers with apprenticeships, training resources, career pathways, and the CAPS Network, Career Days, and Love Kansas initiatives for regional job seekers and employers.
• Housing Development Programs (CHAD, CHRP, Paint Dodge, NRP, RHID, USDA programs) Comprehensive housing programs including the Community Home Renovation Program (CHRP), CASH, Weatherization (KWAP), Paint Dodge, Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), Rural Housing Incentive District (RHID), USDA Rural Development support, and the Abandoned Housing Program. Delivered for working families and workforce housing seekers in Ford County.
• Main Street Dodge City Downtown revitalization program supporting local businesses, community events, historic preservation, and economic growth in the Dodge City downtown district through a wholly owned subsidiary nonprofit.
• Childcare Coalition of Dodge City (CCDC) Coalition initiative addressing Ford County's critical childcare shortage through provider recruitment, training seminars, the Full Circle Childcare Center, and bilingual outreach to expand licensed childcare capacity.
• Site Selection & Business Recruitment Economic development services including Kansas Certified Sites, BNSF Certified Site, and Sunflower Electric certified industrial park development, investor attraction, and coordination with Team Kansas and the Kansas Department of Commerce for business recruitment.
• University/Training Center Workforce education facility operated by REWA offering Fort Hays State University degree programs (RN to BSN, Master of Social Work), Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center courses, and professional development trainings for Southwest Kansas.
• Youth Entrepreneurship Competition (YEC) Annual youth entrepreneurship competition where Ford County students pitch business concepts; winners advance to the state-level competition at Kansas State University through NetWork Kansas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13.1% job growth with 2,000+ new job openings over five years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BNSF RailwaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2022Premier Parks, Sites and Transload program certification for Dodge City Business Park; ensures rail-served site availability for immediate industrial development
• Sunflower Electric Power CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Site certification partnership for Dodge City Business Park; provides electrical infrastructure and certified sites program; dual certification with Kansas Department of Commerce
• Rural Education and Workforce Alliance (REWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Workforce development coalition across Southwest Kansas; coordinates with Fort Hays State University, Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center; operates University/Training Center
• City of Dodge CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for economic development; city serves as fiscal agent for housing and childcare projects; provides permitting, utilities, and infrastructure support
• Ford CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for economic development; county provides funding, support, and governance for development initiatives
• Kansas Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner for business recruitment, SelectUSA participation, housing programs (MIH, KHITC), and economic development initiatives; co-sponsor of KEDA conferences
• Team KansascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide economic development partnership for business recruitment, trade missions, and investment promotion including Ad Astra FAM Tour and SelectUSA
• Site Selectors GuildcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional association of site selection consultants; engagement through Site Selector Partners (SLP) receptions and direct relationship building at national events
• Site Location PartnershipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSite selection consultancy for industrial recruitment and business location services
• Dodge City Community College (DC3)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Building Construction Technology Program with CHAD; workforce training, degree programs through University/Training Center; hospitality and technical education
• Childcare Coalition of Dodge CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition addressing childcare shortage; led Full Circle Childcare Center development ($6M+ funding); provider training seminars; serves as organizational member of development corporation
• Community Housing Association of Dodge City (CHAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) housing organization addressing workforce housing; abandoned housing program; renovation projects; Paint Dodge; partnership with DCCC for student-built homes; 15th renovation completed
• Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers Moderate Income Housing (MIH) program and Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credit (KHITC) supporting workforce housing developments including United Village and 15th Avenue
• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail recruitment through ICSC conventions and trade shows for Frontier District Shopping Center and STAR Bond District expansion
• M.R. BuildercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$70M workforce housing developer for United Village (227 units); donated Cinema Circle building and land for Full Circle Childcare Center; general contractor for childcare construction
• OMA ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper for 15th Avenue Development (22 single-family homes, 1 duplex); partnered with KHRC and development corporation for affordable workforce housing
• Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance (WKREDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development alliance covering 55 counties; quarterly conferences; shared learning and partnerships across western Kansas
• Kansas Economic Development Alliance (KEDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide economic development alliance; hosts KEDA Fall Conference; site certification program originally administered by KEDA
• Fort Hays State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRN to BSN and Master of Social Work programs delivered through University/Training Center via hybrid delivery
• Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPermanently relocated to University/Training Center to provide law enforcement training for western Kansas region
• Child Care Aware of KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner for childcare provider training, licensing support, and Child Care Community Champion recognition for coalition
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild care licensing requirements and field services for provider certification
• Dodge City Area Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for childcare provider events, Leadership Dodge program, and community business initiatives

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Liberal Economic Development Corporation: Liberal is a neighboring SW Kansas EDC serving a similar rural, agriculture-anchored economy with overlapping business retention, workforce, and housing initiatives, making it one of the closest operational comparables.
• Hays Area Chamber of Commerce: Hays serves as a regional anchor in western Kansas with a chamber and EDC functions that perform business recruitment and workforce programs for communities comparable in scale and rural setting to Dodge City.
• Manhattan Area Economic Development: Manhattan Area Economic Development is a comparable Kansas community EDC performing site certification, business recruitment, and workforce attraction for a regional Kansas economy anchored by manufacturing, education, and bioscience sectors.
• Greater Topeka Partnership (GO Topeka): GO Topeka is a Kansas-based public-private economic development organization that performs the same core functions — business recruitment, retention, workforce, and housing — for a similar Kansas community, making it a comparable EDC structure though at a larger scale.
• Salina Area Chamber of Commerce / Salina EDC: Salina's chamber and EDC function performs analogous business recruitment, workforce development, and industrial park promotion for a mid-size Kansas community, making it a comparable peer in scope and structure.
• Garden City Area Economic Development Corporation: Garden City is the closest direct peer — a Kansas rural economic development corporation serving a comparable agriculture- and beef-processing-dependent county in southwest Kansas with similar business recruitment and workforce programs.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Wichita Partnership: Greater Wichita Partnership is the largest regional EDC in Kansas, operating a similar business recruitment and workforce-development model across the Wichita metro but at substantially greater scale and with broader industrial focus than DCFC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dodge-city-ford-county-development-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation