Oct 21, 2024
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1.5 million is available for a fifth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. These grants help close the financial gaps for communities striving to…
Read MoreSep 27, 2024
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) has received two 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for their Rural Champions program. The awards were given specifically for the department’s work in the Innovative Economic Development and Regional or Cross-Border…
Read MoreSep 23, 2024
Governor Laura Kelly announced today the 14 grant recipients of the Rural Champions program’s second cohort. The selected Rural Champions will join a growing statewide network of grassroots individuals tackling critical projects in their respective rural communities. “Since day one, my administration has been focused on the needs of our…
Read MoreSep 13, 2024
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today that $250,000 will be available through a third round of Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grants. The SEED program supports economic development and revitalization efforts in smaller counties across Kansas through investments in quality-of-life initiatives. “SEED grants…
Read MoreJun 18, 2024
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced more than $390,000 in Emergency Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (E-HEAL) grants has been awarded to five recipients. More than $770,000 private local matching funds will be added to that total, to help bring rural downtown buildings back from…
Read MoreJun 7, 2024
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that 12 communities and organizations will receive a combined $78,800 to allow 20 new murals and public art projects to revive public spaces and engage residents and visitors. “Murals and public art installations welcome people to our rural communities while developing community pride…
Read MoreApr 29, 2024
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced that the Office of Rural Prosperity has opened applications for the second cohort of Rural by Choice Champions. Offered in collaboration with the Patterson Family Foundation, the Rural Champions program funds dedicated development assistance for rural communities that lack…
Read MoreApr 18, 2024
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced significant changes to the Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) program that could increase participation in student loan repayments for people moving to rural Kansas counties. Individuals who earn an associate degree or higher and move to a designated ROZ county they…
Read MoreFeb 23, 2024
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced a total of $75,000 is available for a new round of Rural Mural and Public Art program funding. The program helps rural communities design engaging new art that improves the local aesthetic – making the community more appealing not only for…
Read MoreFeb 1, 2024
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today $500,000 will be available under the Emergency Response Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (Emergency HEAL) program to bring rural downtown buildings back from likely demolition or collapse and rehabilitate them into productive commercial use. Emergency HEAL was created to…
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