The south-central Kansas county that peaked at more than 12,500 people in 1910 hasn't seen population growth since then, falling more than 40 percent in the past 100 years.

In 2010, the county had 4,437 people, and Dunn hopes the efforts of herself and others can reverse the downward spiral.

The latest endeavor came in the form of a $41,615 grant from the Kansas Department of Agriculture via federal funds. Dunn, the county's new economic development director, will funnel the money to five applicants interested in building high tunnel greenhouse operations.

The project will provide assistance for local growers to extend their growing season.

The grant makes sense in a county that already has a number of specialty crop growers, including a Christmas tree farm and a hydroponic lettuce operation, as well as growers who market watermelon and pumpkins to Dillons and Wal-Mart.

Dunn said the 1,400 square feet of growing space could extend the growing season to 10 months of the year. Applicants do not necessarily have to implement the project as a full-time job, but she stressed it is not a hobby project.

"We want people to look at this as a business venture," she said. "We're trying to cultivate five producing growing ventures."

Her office will do market assessment, looking for institutions likes restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and grocers in Stafford and surrounding counties that might want to purchase produce.

"This isn't so much for the farmers market side of things," she said. "If they want to pursue those channels, they can go for it. But we are trying to establish an ongoing business venture throughout the year."

It's all part of an effort to grow the community that has lost residents the past 10 censuses. Dunn was hired in 2011 as a part of a grant program through Kansas Farm Bureau. The development group is now a non-profit organization.

Boosting population and the tax base is the key, she noted. Communities want to keep their schools and not consolidate. Residents want to keep the hospital.

"I very much have those things in mind when we carry out programs," she said. "I want to maintain society in these smaller areas, I see that as a really strong call to action. We are going to have to get serious about pulling up the bootstraps and keeping things going."

Stafford County became a Network Kansas Entrepreneurship Community in 2011. Through the designation, which allows a town or county to raise seed money for local entrepreneurs through donations, the economic development group has made five loans. That includes loans to help establish a day care, as well as the recently opened Stafford Mercantile soda fountain.

Other new businesses include a fitness center in St. John, as well as two restaurants and a hair salon.

"We're trying here in Stafford County to develop some opportunities," said Mary Jo Taylor, superintendent at Stafford Schools.

Many youth want to return to their rural communities or live in a community similar to what they grew up in, she said.

"Their big concern is jobs," Taylor said. "We want to make jobs, a certain quality of life, available.

"We're all in there to improve the county and the quality of life of these communities."

About the grant

Stafford County Economic Development will accept applications from county residents for its high tunnel program though Nov. 28. The board plans to announce the recipients by the end of the year. For more information, call Carolyn Dunn at (620) 549-3527 or visit staffordecodevo.com for an application.