$11 Million in Community Development Block Grants Awarded for Community Improvement Projects

Topeka, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced that 23 communities will receive federal grants for a variety of community improvement projects, including sewer and water projects, housing rehabilitation and community facilities improvements. These communities will share a total of $11,019,485 in federal grants.

Through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, 12 Kansas communities will share a total of $6,806,637 in federal grants for water and sewer projects, two Kansas communities will share $600,000 for housing rehabilitation and nine communities will share $3,612,828 for community facility projects.

“Vital public services including water, sewer and community facilities are essential to all communities in Kansas,” said Secretary David Toland.  “The CDBG grants will help provide the funding needed by these 23 communities to ensure improved quality of life for their residents.”

The CDBG program, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, provides federal funds to local governments for the development of viable communities by addressing their housing, public facilities and economic development needs. To be awarded funds, local government units must meet at least one of three program objectives:

The grant will benefit low and moderate-income persons

The grant will prevent or eliminate slums and blight

The grant will resolve an urgent need where local resources are not available to do so

The CDBG funds are one of the Department of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s small, predominantly rural communities.

The following communities have been awarded CDBG grants:

The City of Assaria will receive $433,840 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide $433,840 in matching funds it secured from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment.

The City of Beloit was awarded $300,000 in CDBG Funds and pledged $41,000 in matching funds.  The City has a population of 3,835 and is in Mitchell County.  This grant will rehabilitate eight homes for owned and rental units and demolish two unoccupied dilapidated housing units.

The City of Bird City will receive $200,50 in CDBG grant funds to complete a street project throughout the city.  The city will contribute $200,507 city funds towards this project.

The City of Brewster will receive $409,980 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide $409,980 in matching funds it secured through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment.

The City of Caney is being awarded $600,000 in CDBG funds to make waste water system improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide $2,900,000 in matching funds it secured with USDA Rural Development.

The City of Carbondale will receive $600,000 in CDBG grant funds for a Public Library. The city will contribute $901,754 in city matching funds.

The City of Chanute will receive $700,000 in CDBG funds to make wastewater system improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide $767,805 in matching funds it secured through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment.

The City of Downs will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water treatment plant improvement for the city.  The city will provide $1,580,532 matching funds it secured from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment in the amount of. The city is also contributing $900 of their local funds.

The City of Frankfort will receive $265,656 in CDBG Grant Funds to complete a street project in the city.  USDA Rural Development will contribute $265,657 in matching funds.

The City of Girard will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to complete a street project in the city. The Kansas Department of Transportation and the city will contribute $833,820 in matching funds.

The City of Greenleaf, located in Washington County, the City has a population of 331.  This $300,000 grant will rehabilitate approximately nine homes for low-to-moderate income families and demolish two unoccupied dilapidated housing units.  The CDBG funds will be match with $10,750 in local funds.

The City of Gridley willimprove its wastewater treatment system through a CDBG grant for $600,000.  The city will provide matching funds from USDA Rural Development in the amount of $2,107,557.

The City of Junction City will receive a CDBG grant for $425,000 to complete a street project in the city.  The city will contribute $389,855 in city matching funds.

The City of McPherson will receive a CDBG grant for $220,000 to complete a street project in the city.  The city will contribute $387,500 in city matching funds.

The City of Neodesha will receive a CDBG grant for $600,000 that will be used to improve their cities gas distribution system. USDA Rural Development will contribute $1,766,719 in matching funds.

The City of Oberlin will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make improvements to its water distribution system.  The city will provide all matching funds themselves in the amount of $475,045.

The City of Phillipsburg will receive $462,837 in CDBG funds to make improvements to its water distribution system throughout the city.  The city will provide $460,738 in matching funds they have secured through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. The city is also contributing $2,100 of their local funds.

The City of Russell is being awarded $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide all matching funds themselves in the amount of $893,300.

The City of Strong City is being awarded $600,000 in CDBG funds to make wastewater improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide $4,685,000 in matching funds they have secured through USDA Rural Development for final financing.

The City of Tipton will receive a CDBG grant for $101,665 to complete a storm drainage project in the city.  The city will contribute $101,665 in city matching funds.

The City of Troy will receive a CDBG grant for $600,000 to complete an electrical improvements project in the city.  The City will be contributing $685,476 in city matching funds.

The City of Turon is being awarded $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide matching funds through USDA Rural Development in the amount of $748,000.

The City of Washington will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city.  The city will provide $7,668,350 in matching funds they have secured through USDA Rural Development.