TOPEKA, KS (WIBW) – Around $275,000 is coming to 13 rural Kansas communities to help revitalize the economy.
Kansas Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland recently announced the new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development grant awardees. In total, 13 grantees will receive approximately $275,000 to invest in local communities across the state.
“Our state’s smallest communities are finding new and effective ways to become more economically viable and productive,” said David Toland, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce. “The quality-of-life investments being made through this program will generate economic development success and prosperity for Kansans now and in the future.”
According to Commerce officials, all recipients are located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less, as required by state law. They must also give a minimum of 10% match and execute the projects within one year. Projects must focus on economic growth and regeneration initiatives in one of the following ways:
- Childcare and elder programs – projects such as building upgrades, instructional materials, supplies, and equipment that support or enhance these services.
- Community vitality refers to projects that revitalize and enhance the appeal of rural areas, such as art installations, murals, and signage.
- Food retail – projects involving the development, renovation, and extension of food retail enterprises.
- Libraries – programs that promote free and open access to a wide range of products and services, such as reading materials, technology, furnishings, and building renovations.
The Kansas Department of Commerce administers the program’s funds, which come from the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Development and Expansion Fund.
| Awardee | County | Award Amount | Category |
| Doniphan Darlings Inc. | Doniphan | $22,189 | Childcare and Senior Programming |
| Blue Rapids Community Action | Marshall | $12,085 | Community Vibrancy |
| Cimarron Community Development | Gray | $18,069 | Community Vibrancy |
| City of Beloit | Mitchell | $25,000 | Community Vibrancy |
| City of North Newton | Harvey | $25,000 | Community Vibrancy |
| City of St. Francis Tri-Angle Park | Cheyenne | $25,000 | Community Vibrancy |
| City of Zenada | Kingman | $24,512 | Community Vibrancy |
| Hodgeman Co. Eco-Devo | Hodgeman | $24,129 | Community Vibrancy |
| Smith County | Smith | $7,200 | Community Vibrancy |
| Woodson County Revitalization | Woodson | $25,000 | Community Vibrancy |
| City of Hillsboro | Marion | $25,000 | Food Retail |
| Galena Public Library | Cherokee | $16,800 | Libraries |
| Mary Cotton Public Library | Nemaha | $25,000 | Libraries |