Depot Ribbon Cutting

The Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce, Dodge City Ford County Economic Development Corporation and Convention and Visitors Bureau are now officially in the Santa Fe Depot.

A ribbon cutting was held to mark the occasion along with tours of the newly remodeled facility on Wednesday, August 16th.

The depot is now 100 percent occupied with the new tenants along with the Depot Theater, Amtrak and the Public Transit. "It gives the city one central location under one roof for people to come in that want to invest in Dodge City," Mayor Rick Sowers said. "We were able to make it possible with grants and Sen. (Pat) Roberts was instrumental in that along with the Historical Society and partnerships with the county."

Plans for the move began around 2015 with construction on the renovation taking place in 2016. At the time the Chamber was located near 3rd Avenue and Spruce Street along with Economic Development, the CVB was located in Military Plaza. According to economic development director Joann Knight, the chamber and development corporation have been together for more than 30 years.

Economic Development is responsible for bringing new businesses to Dodge City, the Chamber then helps foster growth and success for those businesses and the Convention and Visitors Bureau works to bring in tourism from around the state, out of state and even from out of the country which has a huge economic impact on businesses and our city as a whole.

While Economic Development, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chamber are separate entities, we do all work together in some capacity week to week. "We worked hard with ear marks back when there were ear mark funds to make this happen," Roberts said. "It took efforts on the local and state levels and was a tremendous team effort from the community. "There were what I would call tough meaningful dialogue on getting the city ownership of the property as well. "There were private donor ship along with the wonderful example of how a community can work together for the arts and city government."