The Community Housing Association of Dodge City (CHAD) will be hosting a series of home maintenance classes for the public. The “How To Series: Home Maintenance Edition” classes will focus on teaching the basic skills you need to maintain your home and the knowledge to know when it’s time to call a professional. The classes will be free to the public, offered in the evening at the newly remodeled University/Training Center in Hennessey Hall located at 240 San Jose Drive in Dodge City.The first class, Homebuyer Education Class, will be held on Thursday, July 23rd from 6:00pm -8:00pm in English and Spanish. Local experts will share their knowledge on the homebuying process, educating individuals who are looking to purchase a home. Local home mortgage lenders, realtors, home insurance representatives, title company staff and home inspectors will all provide information about their trade.On Tuesday, August 18th at 6:00 pm, Pat Shiew, Instructor for the Dodge City Community College Building Construction Technology Program will teach participants how to use basic tools and fasteners needed to maintain your home. He will focus on how to hang decor on your walls and how to change a lockset. Future classes will include everyday electricity, energy efficiency and drywall repair. Registration and more information can be found at www.DCCHAD.org. Local business sponsors include Western State Bank, Fidelity State Bank, RE/MAX Villa, Black Hills Energy and Victory Electric. For more information contact Mollea Wainscott with the Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation, at 620-371-3869 or housing@dodgedev.org.

The Dodge City Farmer’s Market will begin its season on Saturday, June 6^th at its new location, along front-street between 1^st & 2^nd Avenue. They will be open every Saturday from 7 am – 12 pm. The new location allows the farmers to expand into Eisenhower Park to accommodate new vendors. The Dodge City Farmer’s Market offers produce and products that are made, baked, and grown locally.

In order to promote public safety, all booths will be set up 10 feet apart and have hand disinfectants available.  Vendors will wear personal protective equipment and the public is encouraged to wear face masks.  Please remember to wash all produce before consumption.

Follow the Dodge City Farmer’s Market on Facebook at @DCfarmersmarket to stay current.  If you are interested in becoming a vendor for the farmer’s market, please contact Maxine Xiloj at 620-430-7122 or message them on their Facebook page.

Camp Destination Innovation partnered with Network Kansas for the first-ever Kansas Youth Virtual Entrepreneurship Challenge, an event designed to engage currently quarantined youth and spark innovation and creativity for a chance to win cash prizes and the youth of Kansas showed up.

Over 140 young people across the state of Kansas submitted video pitches and 75 went on to compete for cash prizes. Dodge City/Ford County Youth Entrepreneurship Competition winner, Laurent Seachris, competed by entering a virtual video pitch with her business Lauren’s Treat. Lauren received 2nd place in the Middle School division, winning $250.00.

The Community Housing Association of Dodge City (CHAD) is excited to continue the Paint Dodge program for 2020. Paint Dodge provides paint and supplies to qualifying homeowners who live in Ford County. Since its creation in 2017, Paint Dodge has successfully painted eighteen homes and has two more in the pipeline to be completed this spring. Paint Dodge is currently accepting applications.

Paint Dodge provides paint and supplies to qualifying homeowners to enable them to repaint the exterior of their homes. If the homeowner is elderly or disabled, CHAD will help find volunteers to provide the labor. Painting is one home improvement strategy that is cost effective, produces immediate results and keeps your home protected from inclement weather. Exterior painting can enhance the value and prolong the lifespan of homes while alleviating deteriorating housing conditions within the county.

Residents must meet the following requirements to qualify for Paint Dodge:

• Applicants must own the land and residence and have permanent residence.

• Applicants may not own more than one property.

• Applicants income must be at or below 200% of poverty relative to federal low-income guidelines. A two persons household income must be $34,480 or less.

• Applicants must be current on property taxes.

 Homeowners interested in receiving assistance ­­­can apply through the Community Housing Association of Dodge City. Applications are available online at www.dodgecityhousing.com, in person at 101 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd, 2nd floor or can be requested by emailing housing@dodgedev.org.

Paint Dodge is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas and partners with Sherwin Williams.