Barton County Core Community Receives $1,000 Sharing Success Grant

June 11, 2026

Great Bend, Kan. – Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) announced today that Barton County Core Community has been awarded a $1,000 grant from the Sharing Success Fund to support program resources that help individuals and families move from poverty to lasting economic self-sufficiency.

Barton County Core Community provides a safe, supportive program where individuals and families experiencing poverty gain the tools, education, and support needed to overcome isolation, build stability, and achieve long-term success. Through structured classes and mentorship, participants set goals, increase income, reduce debt, and create a more secure future for their families.

The program’s impact is measurable. Multiple Core families have successfully moved out of poverty and now live at 200% or higher of the federal poverty guidelines. Families are achieving greater stability through homeownership, reliable transportation, driver’s licenses, improved access to healthcare, and strengthened personal and community connections.

The Sharing Success grant will help fund instructional materials and essential program support to ensure effective, high-quality program delivery.

The Scott Community Foundation began formally accepting applications for grants from the WEC Sharing Success Fund from community-based organizations on December 1, 2012. Since then, the application process has been moved internally and is currently handled directly by WEC. This year, WEC and CoBank have once again each contributed $10,000 to the fund. The program will continue to run until the funds are exhausted. Since 2012, WEC’s Sharing Success Fund has made $195,000 available to community-based organizations and projects across their service territory.

Community based organizations interested in receiving funding from the WEC Sharing Success Fund can apply online. Questions should be referred to Alli Conine, director of member services and corporate communications, at 620-874-4563 or aconine@weci.net.

Barton County Core Community, represented by Janice Perez (left), was awarded a Sharing Success grant presented by Mary Hoisington (right), member service and key accounts manager at WEC. Grant funds will be used to purchase materials, technology and staffing to help ensure the program is able to meet educational outcomes and program objectives.