Kansas Main Street Program Seeking New Communities, Hosting Application Workshop

TOPEKA – The Kansas Main Street program announced today it is seeking new communities to join the program in 2023. On Monday, November 14, at 10 a.m., the program will host a virtual application workshop for communities interested in the program.

“My administration rebuilt economic development tools like the Kansas Main Street Program, and it has since been a crucial part of preserving and growing Kansas downtowns,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I encourage more Kansas communities to join this program and strengthen their economy.”

Kansas Main Street provides technical assistance and support for communities working to revitalize their downtown area by focusing on four points — economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization. 

Communities wishing to submit applications will be required first to attend the virtual application workshop, which will explain the Main Street Approach and the process for successfully completing the application.

Applications for the Kansas Main Street program will open on December 5 and close on February 3, 2023. Applications will be reviewed in February, with new communities announced in March.

“Since Governor Kelly brought the Kansas Main Street program back in 2019, ten communities have been added, bringing the total number of designated communities to 35,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These Kansas communities once again have the resources and tools they need to enhance the quality of life and breathe new life into their communities and historic commercial districts.”

Benefits of earning designation as a Kansas Main Street community include: 

• Comprehensive technical assistance from the state and national programs to further economic development downtown.
• Training in strategic planning, program capacity-building, and organizational management for the Main Street organization.
• Individualized training for Main Street managers, boards, and other Main Street participants.
• Attendance to statewide quarterly training and professional development opportunities for participant communities.
• Access to design services to help downtown property owners undertake effective rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive reuse, and infill projects, as well as reimagining public spaces within the district.
• Access to business assistance such as recruitment and retention, succession planning, business plan development, and entrepreneurial development.
• Membership in the Main Street America network.

“The Main Street Approach has been around nationally since the 1980s and is a proven economic development tool, especially for small, rural communities,” said Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell. “Opening up the program to more communities in Kansas is a positive step forward for our state.”

Registration for the November 14 application workshop is required, which can be completed here. 

For more information on the Kansas Main Street program, visit https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/main-street/ or contact Director Scott Sewell at (785) 296-7288 or [email protected].