Reno County communities prioritize jobs, housing and blight in annual survey results

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Residents across Reno County want a stronger economy, cleaner neighborhoods and better housing options — and more than 600 of them have volunteered to help make it happen.

Those findings emerged April 2026 during the Hutchinson Community Foundation's "Love Where You Live" study session at the Hutchinson Art Center, where community leaders, elected officials and residents reviewed the program's 2025 Reno County Benchmarking Report.

Jan Steen, senior program officer with the foundation, walked attendees through survey data showing that while residents hold deep emotional attachment to their communities, confidence in long-term direction remains low.

"Vision" ranked as the weakest category across the county, with residents expressing a desire for clearer communication and more defined goals. Smaller cities reported stronger levels of trust and community connection than larger ones.

Despite those gaps, top priorities remained consistent across communities: attracting businesses and improving wages, addressing blight and visible decline, and expanding housing options.

The three-year initiative, now backed by more than $670,000 in foundation grants, has already funded community gardens, senior center improvements, public art installations, entrepreneurship workshops and downtown revitalization efforts across Reno County.

Program Officer Kari Mailloux noted that residents are not looking for large, long-term projects — they want visible results they can point to.

Steen echoed that sentiment regarding the more than 600 residents who have indicated a willingness to volunteer across two years of surveys. "People do want to help," he said. "Communities just need to meet them halfway."

Foundation President and CEO Aubrey Abbott Patterson opened the session with an account of Sylvia, a small community that organized volunteer workdays, built a garden behind city hall and revitalized a local park — drawing 112 residents to a single celebration.

"It's not top-down," Patterson said. "It's contagious."

Reno County Commission Chairman Ron Hirst recognized the foundation's role in convening the conversation. "We appreciate what the Hutchinson Community Foundation is doing to bring people together," he said.

Following the presentation, local officials discussed shared obstacles including grant eligibility barriers tied to population thresholds, aging infrastructure, vacant properties and the challenge of balancing growth with preserving community character.

The Love Where You Live initiative is in its third year. Foundation officials outlined the 2026 timeline at the close of the session.