Jun 2, 2023
The ORP spotlight of the month is the small rural community of Mildred. Located in Allen County, Mildred is home to around only 20 people. This community might be small, but it has a mighty “store” that will surprise you. Recently featured in the Kansas City Star, the store has…
Read MoreJun 2, 2023
When the La Crosse grocery store closed in August of 2022, Rush County Economic Development jumped to action to restore this critical service in their county. Brad Penka let us know that, with its closing, it left the entire county without a grocery store within a 25-mile radius and would…
Read MoreJun 2, 2023
Rendering of final project The ORP spotlight of the month is the City of Clyde's SEED project called "The Village Green"! Located in Cloud County, Clyde is a small town of 800 people. Their project focused on beautifying their downtown. They demolished two dilapidated buildings between their library and city…
Read MoreJun 2, 2023
In October, Lissa Sexson was hired by the County of Wallace to serve as the Rural Champion, or point-person, to move forward efforts of Community Development within the county. Prior to being awarded the Rural Champion grant, Wallace County had not had any official form of community or economic development…
Read MoreFeb 3, 2023
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that 37 murals were completed in 14 Kansas communities in 2022 through the Office of Rural Prosperity’s (ORP) Rural Mural and Public Art Grant Programming. These grants helped communities with fewer than 10,000 residents create murals and public art projects to beautify public…
Read MoreDec 16, 2022
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the award recipients for the new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. In total, 61 recipients will receive nearly $2.7 million to invest in small communities across the state. “SEED grants provide funding for quality-of-life enhancements in some…
Read MoreOct 18, 2022
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the 12 grant recipients of the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions) that launched earlier this year in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation. The selected Rural Champions will be a part of a statewide network of grassroots individuals tackling critical projects in…
Read MoreAug 10, 2022
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced a unique opportunity for rural communities throughout the state – the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions). This one-year pilot program will create a network of grassroots individuals who will tackle critical community projects and identified needs integral…
Read MoreJun 20, 2022
~Governor Kelly Breaks Ground on Soybean Processing Facility, Tours Small Business and Celebrates the Grand Opening of Office of Rural Prosperity Facility~ MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Today, Governor Laura Kelly celebrated new beginnings for rural economic development during a several-stop visit to Southeast Kansas. First, she traveled to Cherryvale to break ground…
Read MoreSep 28, 2021
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today encouraged Kansans looking for employment to participate in this week’s KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair. The virtual job fair that begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, and ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30, will give job seekers the opportunity to…
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