Jun 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 28, 2023
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced multiple opportunities to support the creation of murals and public art in the state through coordinated funding programs from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) and the Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP). The programs will provide funding for communities to…
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 MoreJul 19, 2022
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced 14 communities will receive funding through the Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Mural and Public Art grant program. The $93,500 in grants enables communities with fewer than 10,000 residents to create new murals and public art projects that will beautify community gathering spaces…
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 MoreMay 2, 2022
Topeka – Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland announced that grant applications are open for the Rural Mural and Public Art program. The Kansas Department of Commerce will provide matching funds for communities to create new murals and public art projects that will engage community residents and create a place…
Read MoreOct 12, 2021
~Agribusiness Bartlett to invest $325 million in Southeast Kansas to create new soybean facility~ TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today applauded plans from Bartlett, a Savage Company, to invest $325 million in a large soybean crushing facility project in Montgomery County that will create 50 new jobs in Southeast Kansas.…
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