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SEED Grants

Strategic Economic Expansion and Development

The purpose of SEED grants is to support the economic revitalization of Kansas communities under 5,000 population through investments in quality-of-life initiatives.   

SEED grants are funded under the Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Development and Expansion Act (KS Stat § 9-2324 [2021]), which was enacted in 2021 to promote and facilitate the development and growth of trust banks in Kansas; regulate fiduciary financial activities and custodial services and Kansas; and to locate trust bank office space in economic growth zones in rural Kansas.  

The SEED grant program is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce

Awardees

Awardees are located in communities Fwith a population of 5,000 or less, as required by (KS Stat 9-2324 [2021]). They are required to provide a minimum 10-percent match as well as complete the projects within 12 months. Projects must be focused on economic development and revitalization efforts through one of the following quality-of-life categories: 

  • Childcare and senior programming – projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment 
  • Community vibrancy – projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals and signage 
  • Food retail – projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation and/or expansion 
  • Libraries – projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture and building improvements 

Funding for the SEED program, which is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, is provided through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions (TEFFI) Development and Expansion Fund. The TEFFI Act was enacted in 2021 through bipartisan legislation to promote economic development throughout the state. 
The 2022 SEED grant recipients include:  

County Organization Category(s) Requested Amount 
Allen Thrive Allen County Food Retail, Library $49,125  
Anderson Anderson County Development Agency Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library $43,860  
Barber Medicine Lodge Day Care Inc. Childcare $49,125  
Bourbon The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc. Community Vibrancy $33,882  
Brown Hiawatha Foundation for Economic Development Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library $25,049  
Chase Chase County Chamber of Commerce Community Vibrancy, Library $26,661  
Chautauqua City of Sedan Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Cherokee Weir & Galena Public Library Library, Senior Programming $32,118  
Cheyenne Cheyenne Community Development Corporation Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Clay Grow Clay County Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, Library $46,571  
Cloud The City of Clyde Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Coffey Coffey County Library Library $49,125  
Doniphan Doniphan County Economic Development Childcare, Library $49,125  
Edwards Edwards County Economic Development Corporation Childcare, Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Elk  Elk County Community Foundation Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Ellsworth Wilson Czech Opera House Corporation Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Gove Gove County Economic Development Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Food Retail $47,289  
Greeley Growing the Vision Food Retail, Library $48,383  
Greenwood City of Eureka Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Hamilton Hamilton County Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Harper Harper County Community Foundation Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Harvey City of Halstead Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Jackson Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, Library $49,125  
Jewell City of Jewell Community Vibrancy, Library $37,040  
Kearny City of Lakin Childcare $39,300  
Kingman City of Kingman Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library $48,179  
Kiowa Haviland Heritage Foundation Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Labette City of Edna Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Lincoln Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, Library $49,125  
Linn Linn County Library District 1 Library $49,125  
Logan Logan County Community Foundation Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, Library $28,701  
Marion Peabody Township Library Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Marshall Friends of the Vermillion Community, Inc. Community Vibrancy $37,974  
Meade The Community Enhancement Foundation of Plains Food Retail $14,738  
Mitchell Mitchell County Childcare $49,125  
Montgomery City of Cherryvale Library $46,875  
Morris Little Huskies Childcare Center Childcare $24,563  
Nemaha Rural Development Association of Northeast Kansas Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, Library $48,030 
Neosho Thayer FRC City Library Library $35,687  
Ness Ness City Chamber of Commerce Food Retail  $49,125  
Osborne City of Osborne Economic Development Childcare, Food Retail, Library $46,712  
Ottawa Ottawa County Community Development Foundation Childcare, Library $49,125  
Pawnee City of Rozel – Park Committee Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Phillips Phillipsburg Child Care Center Childcare $42,408  
Rawlins Atwood Public Library Library $25,054  
Republic Belleville Chamber and Main Street Food Retail $49,125  
Rice Rice County Community Foundation Childcare $49,125  
Rush Rush County Economic Development Food Retail $49,125  
Russell Bunker Hill Lions Club Community Vibrancy $34,388  
Sheridan Sheridan County Childcare, Library, Senior Programming $49,125  
Sherman Sherman County Community Development Corporation Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
SmithCity of LebanonFood Retail$49,125  
Stafford Stafford County Economic Development Food Retail, Library $49,125  
Stanton Stanton County Community Foundation Community Vibrancy $36,480  
Stevens Heritage Christian Academy Childcare $49,125  
Sumner Sumner County Economic Development Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Trego WaKeeney Travel & Tourism Community Vibrancy $49,125  
Wabaunsee Office of Economic Development, Wabaunsee Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Wallace City of Wallace Community Vibrancy $32,397  
Wilson City of Fredonia Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library $49,125  
Woodson Woodson Co. Revitalization Alliance/Revitalize YC Community Vibrancy $49,125  

Program Guidelines

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements: 

Eligible Communities:   

  • Communities with populations of not more than 5,000 people located in one of the following counties: Allen, Anderson, Barber, Bourbon, Brown, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Comanche, Decatur, Doniphan, Edwards, Elk, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jewell, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Labette, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Meade, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Morton, Nemaha, Neosho, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Rawlins, Republic, Rice, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Trego, Thomas, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Washington, Wichita, Wilson or Woodson 

Eligible entities: (all projects must occur in a community of not more than 5,000 people in the eligible counties listed above) 

  • County or municipal governments 
  • Economic Development Organizations 
  • Local Chambers of Commerce 
  • 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations 

Projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving grant funds. 

Funds must be used for tangible projects.  Funds cannot be used for strategic planning, consultant reviews, community conversations or related activities.   

Eligible Projects

Eligible Projects – Projects must fit into one of the following categories

Community vibrancy – This category intends to refresh, re-energize and unlock the beauty in each community. Projects should be permanent and low maintenance. Projects may include but are not limited to:    

  • Permanent public art installations
  • Murals  
  • Community placemaking improvements such as downtown seating, equipment for main street sound systems or projectors for gathering places
  • Park and recreation equipment improvements
  • Signage for communities, including welcome signs, downtown light pole banners, and wayfinding signs
  • Downtown façade improvement or beautification of downtowns

Childcare & Senior Programming – This category intends to support and enhance high-quality early childhood care and senior programming services for Kansas children, seniors, and families. The following items are examples of eligible use of these funds for childcare programming

  • Educational materials such as books, art supplies, developmental toys and learning activities 
  • Program supplies, including but not limited to, materials needed for safe sleep and nutrition 
  • Indoor and outdoor play and recreation items 
  • Culturally inclusive learning materials 
  • Educational curriculum 
  • Developmental health screenings and materials 
  • Supports for breastfeeding (e.g. information, privacy room, refrigerator, etc.) 
  • Materials and support for family engagement and outreach 

The following items are examples of eligible use of these funds for senior programming

  • Health, wellness and nutritional materials, equipment, and resources 
  • Indoor and outdoor recreational materials, equipment, and resources 
  • Technology 
  • Art materials, equipment, and resources 

The funding cannot be used to support one-time programming such as speaker fees, event fees, or salaries.  

All project funding for both childcare & senior programming and libraries must comply with the following policies from the National Association for the Education of Young Children Program Accreditation Standards and the Standards for Kansas Public Libraries 2020-2024:

National Association for the Education of Young Children Program Accreditation Standards: “The classroom materials and equipment used to implement the curriculum (books, music, dolls, puzzles, toys, dramatic play props) should be representative of the lives of the enrolled children and their families. Curriculum materials should also represent the diverse languages, ages, abilities, and genders found in society as a whole. Include materials that accommodate children with special needs.”

Standards for Kansas Public Libraries 2020-2024: “As the basis of a youth services collection, the library provides a wide range of materials for use by and with youth. It serves current as well as anticipated needs and reflects a diverse and multicultural society.”

Libraries – This category intends to support public libraries and empower them to continue to provide free and open access to a broad range of materials and services for people of all ages and backgrounds. Funding in this category will support the following uses: 

  • Purchase of books and related reading materials
  • Laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hot spots and other equipment to help patrons access reliable internet outside of library facilities and to help them connect to employment, education, general information, and essential telehealth services 
  • Physical improvements to library facilities including but not limited to carpet, roofs, entryways, or meeting rooms
  • Purchase of furniture to benefit library patrons, such as new reading chairs, installation of coffee makers, tables and kiosks, etc.    

All project funding for both childcare & senior programming and libraries must comply with the following policies from the National Association for the Education of Young Children Program Accreditation Standards and the Standards for Kansas Public Libraries 2020-2024:


National Association for the Education of Young Children Program Accreditation Standards: “The classroom materials and equipment used to implement the curriculum (books, music, dolls, puzzles, toys, dramatic play props) should be representative of the lives of the enrolled children and their families. Curriculum materials should also represent the diverse languages, ages, abilities, and genders found in society as a whole. Include materials that accommodate children with special needs.”

Standards for Kansas Public Libraries 2020-2024: “As the basis of a youth services collection, the library provides a wide range of materials for use by and with youth. It serves current as well as anticipated needs and reflects a diverse and multicultural society.”


Food Retail – This category intends to support local food sourcing entities with development, renovation and/or expansion. Eligible entities are those selling food including mobile markets and farmer markets. The following projects are examples of eligible use of these funds: 

  • Coolers, appliances, display tables, containers or furniture  
  • Cash registers or similar equipment and technology  
  • Energy efficiency improvements 
  • Building rehabilitation  

The funding cannot be used to support salaries or to purchase inventory.  

Applicants must show full project budgets and proof of matching funds with the application.   

An applicant may apply to use funds to support a project within each category, multiple projects in a category or another combination. For example, applicant A may apply for $5,000 for childcare and senior programming, $20,000 for libraries and $25,000 for community vibrancy. The total may not exceed $50,000 per application. Furthermore, applicant B may apply for $50,000 for childcare and senior programming to provide materials to 4 childcare facilities and 1 senior center. 

Additional Scoring Points

Additional Scoring Points: 

  • Greater match than 10% 
  • Organizational support from at least one other community partner (ED, Chamber, Main Street, City, County, Foundation, etc.)  
  • Projects that are “shovel ready” and can be completed in 12 months
    • Shovel ready means the site/building is ready for construction/ rehabilitation, has completed any needed environmental/ historical inspections and infrastructure is in place at the site.
Programming Timing

Program Timing: 

  • Applications will open on Monday, August 29, 2022, and will close on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 11:59PM.  
  • All applications will be reviewed by the Department of Commerce for allowability and will be competitively scored. Awards are expected to be announced at the end of October.  
  • Grant activities must begin within 4 months of a fully executed grant award document. 
  • All grant activities must be completed within one year of the award date. 
  • Expenses must be incurred AFTER execution of a grant agreement with the Department of Commerce to be eligible for funding under SEED grants.    
SEED Grant Webinar Slides

SEED grants

The purpose of SEED grants is to distribute grant funding to the economic growth zones in Kansas for the implementation of economic development projects or opportunities; promoting and facilitating the development and growth of trust banks in Kansas; fidfin activities and custodial services in Kansas; and to locate trust banks’ office space in an economic growth zone.

Kansas Main Street
Community Service Tax Credits