Commerce Announces $2M in CDBG-COVID Resiliency Competitive Grants

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced 15 Kansas communities would receive their share of $2 million from the Community Development Block Grant-COVID Resiliency (CDBG-CVR) competitive grant program. This program was funded via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

CDBG-CVR was designed to empower Kansas businesses to enhance their resiliency in the face of future community illnesses and public health emergencies.

“These grants will be a game-changer for many Kansas businesses,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “This investment in pandemic resiliency not only will help retain jobs but help our state attract new businesses, further boosting our emerging economy.”

The grants support a wide range of projects, including technology and infrastructure upgrades, professional development, and other initiatives aimed at preventing future closures due to public health crises. The awardee communities will distribute their funds to local businesses previously identified in their proposals.

The CDBG-CVR competitive grant program focused on the following key areas:

• Upgrades to ensure business continuity
• Technology, hardware and software upgrades
• E-commerce updates
• Professional development and training

The 15 awardees represent a diverse range of businesses across Kansas, each with projects that align with the program’s objectives.

Fourteen communities each will receive $141,642 for distribution. They include the cities of Baldwin City, Holton, Horton, McPherson, Smith Center and WaKeeney, as well as Cloud, Graham, Lincoln, Mitchell, Rawlins, Rooks, Smith and Sumner counties. The city of Columbus was awarded $17,000.

The grants will help businesses survive challenging times and position them for long-term success.

CDBG-CVR is the fourth and final round of the Kansas CDBG-CV program, which has had a profound impact, providing essential assistance to 1,356 small businesses across the state. Since 2020, the program has disbursed more than $16.1 million in grant funds, demonstrating Commerce’s commitment to supporting the resilience of local enterprises. These investments were key to small business survival during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Kansas Department of Commerce works tirelessly to advance the economic well-being of the state by promoting job creation, workforce development and business growth,” Community Development Director Kayla Savage said. “Through grants like CDBG-CVR, the department seeks to create a thriving and prosperous Kansas for all.”

The Kansas Department of Commerce extends its congratulations to the awardees and commends their dedication to business resiliency.