HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) – The recent closures and layoffs in Hutchinson have raised questions about the local economy and the future of the city.
The director of StartUp Hutch says local businesses are often overlooked as they drive the local economy and these businesses offer different jobs than those in a corporation.
Jackson Swearer says local businesses tend to be run by local people in the community, not just impacting their customers.
“They’re really invested in our community,” Swearer said. “These are the people who contribute to the local basketball team and attend the local parades, so I think it’s really great to try to strengthen those businesses.”
Kathy Reffner is a co-owner of Reffner’s and says what sets the local businesses apart is that they are involved in the community and want to see their home succeed.
“We are part of this community,” said Reffner. “We live here, we shop here, our kids, grandkids go to school here, so we want it to thrive as well as the residents here because we’re local.”
Over a dozen business owners recently completed a course with StartUp Hutch on how to grow and improve their business.
“The fact that we have all these local businesses that are doing well and looking to expand provides a resilience that helps protect our local economy in the face of broader national economic trends,” Swearer said.
Express Employment Professionals owner Levi Julian says they have a role to play with everyone who walks through the door, no matter where they’re from.
“I think it’s very important that when these people visit our local stores, they get good service or good quality, either a unique product and a unique experience that attracts them and keeps them coming back,” said Julian.
They say that as they work to grow as individual companies, it’s important that the entire community work together, stay local, and support one another.
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