MANHATTAN, Kansas — Holiday gift boxes are now available to order for the 2022 holiday season from the From the Land of Kansas state trademark program at the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Each gift box contains an assortment of products grown, raised or produced in Kansas, with two size options available: the Konza Box and the Ad Astra Box. From the Land of Kansas gift boxes allow for ease of purchase for family, friends or clients and add a personal, customized note for the holiday season.

The Konza Box includes sand plum jelly from Bruce’s Bullseye Farms, pepper meat sticks from R Family Farms, allergy-friendly snack bites from Safely Delicious, garden veggie dip from Twisted Pepper Co., sunflower oil from Wright Enterprises, Snaxsun lightly salted wheat snacks from Wheatland Foods, and a chocolate bar from The Sweet Granada.

The Ad Astra Box includes white popcorn kernels from Free Day Popcorn, Merry Berry jam from Grandma Hoerner’s, sweet and tangy mustard from Grannie’s Homemade Mustard, medium garden salsa from Holmes Made Salsa, sugar cookie mix from Queen Marie Gluten Free, chai concentrate mix from Signet Coffee Roasters, lavender mint lip balm from Sweet Streams Lavender, sunflower oil form Wright Enterprises, meat sticks from Yoder Meats and a chocolate bar from The Sweet Granada.

Gift boxes can be purchased online at shop.fromthelandofkansas.com/holidaybox and can be shipped anywhere in the United States. For orders larger than 10, call 785-564-6755 or email [email protected] to ensure holiday delivery. December 9 is the last day to order for guaranteed delivery before Christmas.

“Our holiday gift boxes are the perfect gift for anyone who loves Kansas. It’s a way to give back to Kansas ag businesses while making gift shopping simple and personalized,” said Sammy Gleason, From the Land of Kansas marketing manager. “We appreciate all our customers who come back each year to support our amazing producers and look forward to new customers ordering for the first time.”

The From the Land of Kansas trademark program at KDA is designed to promote and celebrate agricultural experiences and products grown, raised or produced in Kansas. For more information about the holiday gift boxes or about the trademark program, visit fromthelandofkansas.com or contact From the Land of Kansas marketing manager Sammy Gleason at 785-564-6755.

Kansas Main Street Program Seeking New Communities, Hosting Application Workshop

TOPEKA – The Kansas Main Street program announced today it is seeking new communities to join the program in 2023. On Monday, November 14, at 10 a.m., the program will host a virtual application workshop for communities interested in the program.

“My administration rebuilt economic development tools like the Kansas Main Street Program, and it has since been a crucial part of preserving and growing Kansas downtowns,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I encourage more Kansas communities to join this program and strengthen their economy.”

Kansas Main Street provides technical assistance and support for communities working to revitalize their downtown area by focusing on four points — economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.

Communities wishing to submit applications will be required first to attend the virtual application workshop, which will explain the Main Street Approach and the process for successfully completing the application.

Applications for the Kansas Main Street program will open on December 5 and close on February 3, 2023. Applications will be reviewed in February, with new communities announced in March.

“Since Governor Kelly brought the Kansas Main Street program back in 2019, ten communities have been added, bringing the total number of designated communities to 35,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These Kansas communities once again have the resources and tools they need to enhance the quality of life and breathe new life into their communities and historic commercial districts.”

Benefits of earning designation as a Kansas Main Street community include:

• Comprehensive technical assistance from the state and national programs to further economic development downtown.
• Training in strategic planning, program capacity-building, and organizational management for the Main Street organization.
• Individualized training for Main Street managers, boards, and other Main Street participants.
• Attendance to statewide quarterly training and professional development opportunities for participant communities.
• Access to design services to help downtown property owners undertake effective rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive reuse, and infill projects, as well as reimagining public spaces within the district.
• Access to business assistance such as recruitment and retention, succession planning, business plan development, and entrepreneurial development.
• Membership in the Main Street America network.

“The Main Street Approach has been around nationally since the 1980s and is a proven economic development tool, especially for small, rural communities,” said Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell. “Opening up the program to more communities in Kansas is a positive step forward for our state.”

Registration for the November 14 application workshop is required, which can be completed here.

For more information on the Kansas Main Street program, visit https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/main-street/ or contact Director Scott Sewell at (785) 296-7288 or [email protected].