By SALINA POST
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the award recipients for the new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program.
Sixty-one recipients will receive nearly $2.7 million to invest in small communities across the state, including nine counties in our area.
“SEED grants provide funding for quality-of-life enhancements in some of our state’s smallest communities,” said Toland. “These investments will set the stage for future economic development success and prosperity across the state.”
Awardees are located in communities with 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, according to information from the Kansas Department of Commerce. 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 from our area, their categories, and requested amounts include the following.
Clay County
Grow Clay County, community vibrancy, food retail, library
$46,571
Cloud County
The City of Clyde, community vibrancy
$49,125
Ellsworth County
Wilson Czech Opera House Corporation, community vibrancy
$49,125
Jewell County
City of Jewell, community vibrancy, library
$37,040
Lincoln County
Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation, childcare, community vibrancy, food retail, library
$49,125
Marion County
Peabody Township Library, community vibrancy, library
$49,125
Mitchell County
Mitchell County, childcare
$49,125
Ottawa County
Ottawa County Community Development Foundation, childcare, library
$49,125
Republic County
Belleville Chamber and Main Street, food retail
$49,125