Client Spotlight
Hutchinson Refugee Project
Facing ongoing workforce shortages and limited return from traditional resident recruitment efforts, Hutchinson needed a new approach. BowerComm helped reframe the problem—not just as a marketing challenge, but as a community-building opportunity.
THE CHALLENGE
Thousands of dollars had been invested in efforts to attract new residents, with minimal impact. Employers still needed workers, and the community needed a strategy that could create meaningful population growth and long-term local benefit.
OUR APPROACH
BowerComm developed the Hutchinson Refugee Project in partnership with the International Rescue Committee, making Hutchinson the first community sponsor program in Kansas. Funded through a workforce development grant supported by City of Hutchinson ARPA dollars, the initiative brought together more than 70 trained community volunteers to welcome and support refugee families as they resettled in Hutchinson.
THE OUTCOME
The project brought 10 refugee families and 48 new residents to Hutchinson, including families from Syria, South Sudan, Congo, and other countries. Many are now employed full time or pursuing training at the local community college, while their children are active in local schools. The project concluded with a community “Meet the Neighbors” picnic celebrating friendship, peace, and cultural exchange.
WHY IT MATTERS
This work reflects BowerComm’s ability to think creatively and strategically about complex community challenges—bringing together funding, partnerships, volunteers, and vision to create solutions with lasting impact.
"Sometimes I’m taken aback when I realize how much I’ve benefitted. I’ve become a much richer person for having gone through this experience up close and in person. It’s different from, say, sending a check to some organization that helps people relocate. When you’re in it, and your hands are dirty, it’s a wonderful experience."
- Refugee Project Volunteer