Commerce Launches Blueprint to Build Grant Program for Community Centers

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the launch of the Blueprint to Build program, an innovative new Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding round. This program provides rural Kansas communities a faster, more affordable way to construct state-of-the-art community centers.

Blueprint to Build enables communities to select from three community center models that have already been designed, providing major savings and speeding up the process of building new facilities. Centers are designed for energy efficiency and are intended to be placed in walkable downtowns or near existing community spaces as a way to both reduce infrastructure costs and support the cores of Kansas towns.

“Finding affordable solutions for community facilities can be difficult for many Kansas communities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said, “This innovative new CDBG program is a gamechanger, providing immediate resources to build vibrant community spaces across Kansas. These investments in quality of place can completely transform communities by making them more attractive to new businesses and creating high quality spaces for residents to gather.”

With $14 million available to help reduce overall construction costs, the Blueprint to Build program makes it easier for Kansas communities to develop modern, energy-efficient community centers.

By investing in “off-the-shelf” blueprint designs, Commerce’s goal is to save communities hundreds of thousands of dollars and months of architectural work. Proposals should focus solely on construction expenses, making it easier for communities to get started and to develop manageable budgets to build and operate these facilities.

If a community intends to hold a special election to approve the issuance of bonds or to pass a sales tax (for example) to support a project, the community must: a) provide evidence of this intent in the form of a governing body resolution; and b) commit to holding this election by no later than Tuesday November 4th, 2025. If those conditions are met applications will be reviewed with a presumption of passage of the special ballot question and, if awarded, such awards will be expressly contingent upon passage. Should the ballot question fail, any award will be automatically rescinded.

Each approved Blueprint to Build community center design will include:

Multi-purpose room with flexible use options
Serving kitchen with fixed equipment
Fitness center
Telemedicine office
Welcoming lobby with small gathering area
Restrooms
Storm shelter
Customizable, durable exterior and interior finishes
Covered patios and overhead doors for fitness and multi-purpose rooms and outdoor farmers’ markets

Applicants may also incorporate optional features, such as gymnasiums or aquatic amenities that have also been pre-designed.

Cities and counties under a population of 2500 may apply for up to $1.5 million. Communities above 2500 may apply for up to $2.5 million. Eligible applicants include all non-entitlement cities and counties (i.e., those that do not receive direct CDBG funding from HUD). The following entitlement communities are ineligible for funding: Kansas City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita and Johnson County.

Interested cities and counties are required to submit a pre-application and will be contacted within 10 business days with further instructions. Only those with an approved pre-application will move forward with a full application. Approval of a pre-application does not guarantee funding.

The application period for the program opens May 1 and will close November 14, 2025. Those interested in submitted a pre-application should visit here.

For additional information, including renderings, for Blueprint to Build, visit the webpage here or contact the Kansas CDBG team at [email protected].

Large Model