The Kansas Department of Commerce is seeking applications for its Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grants to support the economic revitalization of Kansas communities under 5,000 population through investments in quality-of-life initiatives.
Donor Name: Kansas Department of Commerce
State: Kansas
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/27/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $25,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
SEED grants are funded under the Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Development and Expansion Act, 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.
Funding Information
Grants up to $25,000 will be available.
Project Period
Projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving grant funds.
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
- 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:
- 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
- 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:
- 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.
- 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:
- 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
- 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:
Eligibility Criteria
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
Funds must be used for tangible projects. Funds cannot be used for strategic planning, consultant reviews, community conversations or related activities.
For more information, visit Kansas Department of Commerce.