On October 20, 2022, the Kansas Department of Commerce held its annual To the Stars: Kansas Business Awards banquet in Topeka. Great Bend Economic Development was nominated and won the North Central Region in the category, Apprenticeship Champions and Partners. Nominated by Lana Gordon, Kansas Grant Manager for Hamilton-Ryker TalentGro division, this award is given to companies that excel in providing registered apprenticeship programs in Kansas. Sara Arnberger, GBED’s President, exemplifies this award as she has and continues to connect businesses with the resources they need to create apprenticeship programs. In making these connections, Hamilton-Ryker assisted KMW Loaders, one of Great Bend’s manufacturers, in creating an apprenticeship program. The KMW Learning Academy began its inaugural class with a full roster and a waiting list for those not able to begin in September.