Stronger communities start here.
The Kansas Community Empowerment Program supports volunteer-led efforts to revitalize, inspire, strengthen, and elevate communities across Kansas. Backed by the Kansas Department of Commerce, this program provides tools, training, and funding that help local leaders turn great ideas into lasting impact. Whether it’s downtown beautification, civic engagement, or leadership development, we’re here to help your community move from intention to action—and from action to transformation.
Comunicado de prensaLatest News from KCE
Stay up to date with the latest developments across the KCE communities. Here, you will find announcements about upcoming events, groundbreaking projects, new grant opportunities, and recent awards aimed at supporting community growth, new ideas, and strengthening connections across Kansas.
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Saving Energy at Home: Getting Kids Involved It’s never too early to teach kids about saving energy, instilling good habits that’ll last throughout their lives. Plus, the cooped-up-inside winter months are the perfect time…
Save Energy this Holiday Season Between the colder weather, holiday lighting, and extra cooking, the holidays can mean more energy…
The Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) Special Enrollment Period is now officially open, offering communities across the state an opportunity to…
The Kansas Pride Inc. Board, doing business as Kansas Community Empowerment, will hold its regular monthly board meeting on December…
Prepare Your Home for Winter Temps It’s been a little cooler lately. Now is the perfect time to prepare your…
Unplug ‘Energy Vampires’ and Save on Your Bill Did you know there are appliances in your home that consume electricity…
Keep Your Air Conditioning Working Smoothly We’re used to hot summers – and even falls – in the Midwest, but…
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Department of Commerce has assumed the administration of…
| Community of Growth | Community of Action | Community of Excellence | |
| Volunteers | Minimum (3) | Minimum (5) | Communities < 3,000, Minimum (5) Communities > 3,000, Minimum (10) + 2 external members |
| Annual Goals | Minimum (1) | Minimum (3) | Minimum (5) |
| Meetings per Year | Minimum (1) | Minimum (2) | Minimum (4) |
| Community Assessment | Recommended every 3-5 years, not required | Required within 6 months of enrollment and updated every 5 years | Required within 6 months of enrollment and updated every 3 years |
| Annual Project | – | Minimum (1) project valued at $500 | Minimum (1) project valued at $1,000 |
| Reporting | Twice per Year | Twice per Year | Twice per Year |
| Grants Eligibility | Kickstart Grants (up to $2,000) | Kickstart Grants (up to $5,000) | Kickstart + Impact Grants ($2,000-$15,000) |
| KCE Summit Access | Day Sessions | Day Sessions | Day Sessions + Evening Reception |
| Events & Hosting | Invited to Pop-Ups | Invited to Pop-Ups + Eligible to host board meetings and pop-ups | Invited to Pop-Ups + Eligible to host board meetings and pop-ups |
| Special Recognition | Annual Awards | Annual Awards | Annual Awards + Opportunity to be on Community Impact Tour |
| Resources & Training | SÃ | SÃ | SÃ |
REPLACEMENT: Filling term held by previous representative.
Michael Billinger
Midwest Energy
PO Box 898
Hays, KS 67601 [email protected]
Sponsor Rep 1 (Term Concludes in 2026) REPLACEMENT
Jada Ackerman – Past Chair
Networks Plus – Blue Valley Network of Companies
1559 Pony Express Hwy.
Home, KS 66438 [email protected]
Past Chair
Sponsor Rep 2 (Term concludes 2026)
OPEN
Sponsor Rep 3 (Term concludes)
Doug Helmke – Chair Elect
Kansas Rural Water Association
6847 SE 29th St. Tecumseh, KS 66542-9571
(785) 640-4701 [email protected]
Sponsor Rep 4 (Term concludes 2024 – REPLACEMENT)
OPEN
Sponsor Rep 5 (Term concludes)
Craig Freeman – Chairperson
Wilson Comunicaciones
[email protected]
Sponsor Rep 6 (Term concludes 2027)
Dylan Cox
Evergy [email protected]
Sponsor Rep 7 (Term concludes 2025 – 2nd Term)
Cindy Wegener
Nex-Tech
145 N Main St, Lenora, KS 67645
[email protected]
Sponsor Rep 8 (Term concludes 2025 REPLACEMENT)
Amy Bickel
IdeaTek
[email protected]
Sponsor Rep 9 (Term concludes 2027)
OPEN
Community Rep 1 (Term concludes)
Tress Jacobson and Deb Schreiner
Friends of Vermillion
[email protected]; [email protected]
Community Rep 2 (Term Concludes 2026)
OPEN
Community Rep 3 (Term concludes)
Marcia Davis and Donna Houser
Iola PRIDE
2 W Jackson Iola, KS 66749
[email protected]; [email protected]
Community Rep 4 (Term concludes 2027)
Laura Musil
Equipo de Acción Comunitaria de Blue Rapids
[email protected]
Community Rep 5 (Term concludes 2027)
OPEN
Community Rep 6 (Term concludes)
Greg Howard
Lecompton PRIDE
[email protected]
Community Rep 7 (Term concludes 2025)
Denise Gillespie
Grainfield, KS 67737
[email protected]
Community Rep 8 (Term concludes 2025)
Alexander Leslie
Moreland, KS
Masons Community Representative
[email protected]
Community Rep 9 (Term concludes 2027)
Bruce Chladny
Kansas Association of Counties Rep
[email protected]
(Term concludes 2026)
Kerry Pancoast
Liga de Municipios de Kansas
[email protected]
(Term Concludes 2026)
Rick Peterson and Deborah Kohl
Investigación y Extensión de K-State
Universidad del Estado de Kansas
101 Umberger Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
[email protected]; [email protected]
Kayla Savage
Directora de Compromiso con la Comunidad
Departamento de Comercio de Kansas
915 SW Harrison St
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 213-7056
[email protected]
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