WICHITA, Kan. (AP) After years of financial struggles, Wichita’s Indian Center is out of debt and optimistic about the future.
Officials at the Mid-America All-Indian Center say they have control of the center’s finances after debts forced the center to close in 2005.
The center is sponsoring its second American Indian Festival this weekend, which highlights the diverse tribes in the Wichita region.
The center opened in 1976. It briefly closed in 2005, with the city taking over its operations because of financial issues and missing artifacts. The center took out a $175,000 loan from the city and paid it off in two years.
The Wichita Eagle reports staff and programs were reduced at the center, which now has enough savings to stay open for at least 10 months.