Governor Laura Kelly Announces Rural Preservation Grant Applications Now Available

TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly today announced that applications are now available for the Kansas Historical Society’s Kansas Rural Preservation grant program through the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Earlier this year, the Kansas Historical Society received a $500,000 grant from the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program. Those funds are now being offered through this subgrant program to the owners of historic properties for repair and rehabilitation projects.

A complete program description, application information, and application link are available online at kshs.org/20430. The application deadline is midnight on March 1, 2021. Applications must be submitted online via the weblink above.

“The Kansas Historical Society has been actively working to preserve and share Kansas history for nearly 150 years,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The Paul Bruhn grants will go a long way in ensuring historic properties across the state can get the upkeep and treatment they need, so we can continue to celebrate and learn about our rich history for generations to come.”

Applicants must own a property listed in the National Register of Historic Places individually or as a contributing property in a National Register-listed historic district or have their property determined eligible for listing before the grant application is submitted. Properties determined eligible must be listed officially to the National Register during the grant period. The property must be within a community with a population of less than 30,000 according to the 2010 U.S. Census and applicants must provide justification of their rural location as part of the application. Property owners may not be the State or federal governments.

Grantees can receive between $5,000 and $50,000. The grant reimburses 90 percent of eligible project activities up to the award amount and grant recipients shall provide 10 percent of the cost of eligible project activities as match.

All rehabilitation work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards & Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. Eligible activities include professional services (architect and engineering fees) and projects involving the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of an eligible property. Repairs involving building components such as walls, doors, windows, chimneys, roofing, and foundations are eligible activities. Projects involving the preservation or restoration of non-building properties such as archeological sites, parks, cemeteries, bridges, and monuments are also eligible. Because this grant is supported by funding administered by the National Park Service, projects must follow federal project requirements including competitive selection of contractors and consultants. In addition, an easement will be placed on the property following the project completion.

Kansas Historical Society staff members will offer a free webinar with specifics for this program at 1 p.m. Thursday, December 17, 2020. Staff members will discuss the application process, approaches to writing the application, and answer questions about the program. Contact the Historic Preservation Office at 785-272-8681, ext. 240; or [email protected] to register for this workshop or to request additional information.

EMPORIA – Deer hunters across Kansas can have deer they harvest during the 2020-2021 seasons tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) free of charge through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT). KDWPT, in collaboration with the University of Missouri, is undertaking a research project to better understand where CWD is present in Kansas and how the disease spreads. As part of the research project, the cost of CWD testing will be covered for the next three years at a maximum of 450 samples per Deer Management Unit (DMU). Harvest location in the form of GPS coordinates, section Range-Township-Section number, or nearest intersection will be required to receive free testing.

“We’re excited to be able to cover the cost of CWD testing for hunters statewide for the next three years,” said Levi Jaster, KDWPT big game program coordinator. “Hunters will benefit immediately from cost-free test results, but they’ll also benefit long term from better information related to deer herd disease management as a result of this project.”

Hunters can benefit from cost-free CWD testing during the 2020-2021 seasons through one of several options listed below:

• Hunters may obtain collection instructions from University of Missouri staff by calling (620) 402-4195 or emailing [email protected]. And, hunters in DMUs 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 19 may receive direct assistance from University of Missouri staff. Simply call or email to make arrangements.

• Hunters may drop off samples to their local KDWPT district biologist. See https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Administrative-Offices for KDWPT contact information. Hunters may also visit https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Big-Game-Information/Chronic-Wasting-Disease-CWD/CWD-Collection-Zones for a list of drop-off and sample collection locations.

• Hunters may transport their harvested deer head to a participating taxidermist for sample collection. Visit https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Big-Game-Information/Chronic-Wasting-Disease-CWD/CWD-Collection-Zones for a list of participating taxidermists.

• Hunters may utilize a manned voluntary sample collection station on Dec. 2, 4, 5, 11 and 12. See below for locations. Masks and social distancing protocols will be in place at sample stations.

Manned voluntary sample collection stations will be offered at the following locations:

Country Junction 

153 US 54 

Toronto, KS 66777 

Farmer’s Cooperative Association (parking lot) 

515 E Maple St.  

Columbus, KS 66725 

Casey’s Gas Station 

915 S. First St. 

Hiawatha, KS 66434 

Dara’s Fast Lane – Cenex 

5321 Tuttle Creek Blvd. 

Manhattan, KS 66502 

BP Gas Station and Car Wash 

2305 South Cedar St. 

Ottawa, KS 66067 

For more information on CWD in Kansas, visit https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Big-Game-Information/Chronic-Wasting-Disease-CWD or www.cwdks.com.

Governor Laura Kelly Introduces Program to Provide Broadband Access to Rural and Underserved Communities

~Broadband Acceleration Grant to invest $85 million in statewide funds to broadband expansion~

TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly today announced the introduction of the new Broadband Acceleration Grant Program to expand broadband access to rural and underserved communities across the state. This year marks the first time in Kansas history that there has been a concerted, statewide, bipartisan effort to fund increased broadband access.

Over the next ten years, the program seeks to invest $85 million toward bridging the digital divide in Kansas thanks to broadband modernization funding provided through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). As the result of swift legislative action, $5 million will be available annually over the next three years, with $10 million annually made available over the following seven years.

“These grants are a critical part of my administration’s work to provide underserved Kansans with the high speed internet they need to compete economically and to improve access to health, education, and commercial tools,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “We are working quickly to ensure our communities, no matter their zip code, are adequately equipped for prosperity and growth, as Kansas continues to rebuild its foundation.”

A maximum of $1 million per grant will go toward funding projects that provide access to high quality, reliable broadband throughout Kansas, with priority given to applications that address unserved areas, economically distressed communities, and areas of compelling need.

“The Office of Rural Prosperity has engaged with thousands of Kansans, and one thing we hear time and time again is that expanding broadband would be a blessing for their communities,” Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers said. “Governor Kelly and her administration as a whole are committed to delivering the resources rural Kansans need.”

Broadband Acceleration grants will specifically assist with projects that address priorities for unserved, economically distressed, and service areas with compelling needs.

“These grants will make the difference for so many communities without access to broadband,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “We’re looking to assist innovative, forward-thinking organizations and projects through this program, in order to ensure that Kansas communities aren’t just catching up but are pushing forward into the future.”

Applicants are expected to engage community leaders and stakeholders in developing projects that are strategic, scalable, and bridge critical access gaps to support the quality of life considerations and economic viability for Kansas citizens and communities.

“These grants will be very complementary with the work we have undertaken through the SPARK-funded Connectivity Emergency Response Grant projects, which will be completed by year-end.” Stanley Adams, Director of the Office of Broadband Development at the Kansas Department of Commerce, said. “Accelerating broadband deployment is critical for all of us, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m grateful to Governor Kelly for her commitment to our work in broadband development. This new grant program will be a powerful tool in the ongoing mission to get Kansas fully connected.”

The application window will open at 4 p.m. December 7, 2020, with intent to apply due on December 11, 2020, and applications due by noon on January 7, 2021. Broadband Acceleration grant program guidelines and information are available at this link.

A grant application workshop webinar will be offered by the Office of Broadband Development on December 9 at 10:30 a.m. for entities interested in applying for the grant. Those interested in participating can sign up here.

This new grant program is the latest signal of the Kelly administration’s continuing efforts toward increasing connectivity across the state. Previously, Governor Kelly announced nearly $50 million in Connectivity Emergency Response Grant (CERG) funds through the SPARK grant program to underserved communities across the state, with 67 broadband projects designed to address pandemic-related health, education, and business challenges.

Governor Laura Kelly Proclaims November as Native American Indian Heritage Month

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly this month proclaimed November as Native American Indian Heritage Month and encouraged Kansans to strive to learn more about the rich and diverse indigenous cultures of the four tribes of Kansas.

“Native American Indian Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories, and to acknowledge the important contributions of American Indians and indigenous peoples,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The Kansas tribes are valuable partners to the State, and to the communities and economies near their reservations.”

There are over 570 federally recognized tribes in the United States, and Kansas had once been home to many American Indian tribes. Some of the Tribes that are considered to be native to present day Kansas include the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and the Wichita. Kansas was also inhabited by many emigrant tribes. The emigrant Indians are those people who had been moved to a new geographic region after being displaced from their original homelands.

Nearly 30 tribes were given land in the Kansas Territory with the assurance of the federal government that they would not be moved again. However, the Kansas Territory was opened for settlement in 1854 and once again the tribes were forced to move off the land.

Kansas is home to four Indian tribes:

• The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska located in White Cloud, KS
• The Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas located in Horton, KS
• The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation located in Mayetta, KS
• The Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska located in Reserve, KS

Each tribe has a rich history and works maintain their own language, ceremonies and customs. And, while it is easy to view the tribes from a historic lens by visiting museums and reading history books, it is important to remember that the tribes are modern sovereign governments, as well as citizens of Kansas.

Visit the Kansas Native American Affairs website to learn more about their history, culture and the contemporary operations of their governments. You can also learn more about the Kansas tribes by visiting one of the three tribal museums and the Kansas Museum of History.

View the proclamation here.

Governor Laura Kelly Announces More Than $2.1 Million in Grants to Address Gaps in Early Childhood Care and Education

TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly today announced more than $2.1 million in grant funding to fuel 59 ‘All in for Kansas Kids’ Quality Subgrants. The grants will help communities, service and child care providers, and other early childhood champions address needs and gaps in the early childhood care and education system through locally-driven ideas and approaches.

Grantees from organizations and child care providers large and small from across the state will use their awards to develop and implement new approaches that help children and families in their communities thrive. More than 140 applications were submitted, each focusing on addressing gaps in access, availability, and quality of child care, as well as community-level supports for families.

“Investing in early childhood care and education system is the one of the best ways we can improve outcomes for Kansas families and communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “As we continue to rebuild our state’s foundation, supporting our kids’ development from Day One will boost our communities, help recruit businesses, and encourage those in our current and future workforces to stay in the places they grew up.”

Funding for the subgrants was made possible by the federal Preschool Development Birth Through Five Renewal Grant, a 3-year grant awarded to Kansas in April 2020. Many funded projects will receive multi-year support in alignment with the federal grant to create long-term, sustainable changes.

The work is being guided by the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Plan, which maps the state’s future direction for early childhood. Grantees directly responded to findings from the statewide needs assessment conducted in 2019. More than 6,100 Kansans elevated a range of challenges that became the focus of the grant award categories: child care access, rural child care, connecting families to services, kindergarten readiness, and quality of care.

Grantees were awarded from all regions of the state and include targeted supports to help expand access to high quality child care in communities such as Leoti, Washington, Independence, St. Francis, Valley Falls, Ness City, and Ellsworth, and in Thomas, Finney, Sumner, and Allen Counties. Grants will also support regional efforts to bridge gaps for families in counties surrounding sprawling Kansas communities like Lawrence, Wichita, Kansas City, and Emporia.

“Kansans across the state recognize the importance of providing their children with the best start in life possible,” Melissa Rooker, executive director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, said. “We are pleased to support local early childhood care and education experts and provide financial resources to allow them to implement community-driven strategies.”

To learn more about specific funded programs and activities and connect with the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Planning efforts to strengthen the Kansas early childhood care and education system, please visit the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund website http://AllinforKansasKids.org.

Funds for All in For Kansas Kids activities are partially provided through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal 90TP0078-01-00 ($8,943,000) was awarded to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.  The Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are leading this work with the Children’s Cabinet. This information or content and conclusions should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HHS, ACF, or the U.S. Government. Any food or refreshments are not paid for by federal funds.

View the list of programs funded by the grants.

Governor Laura Kelly Announces Three New Openings in Program to Revitalize Downtown Corridors, Strengthen Economic Development

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the Kansas Main Street program will be accepting applications for up to three new communities in the state interested in joining. The Main Street program – designed to develop and strengthen downtown corridors – has been a proven success for rural communities throughout the state.

“My administration re-implemented Main Street in 2019 because we are committed to providing Kansas communities with the tools and resources they need to prosper,” Governor Kelly said. “Through the program, businesses can access essential technical services, networking, and other training opportunities that will assist their efforts to recruit and retain businesses, and keep talented young professionals in the towns they grew up in. I encourage any community looking to revitalize their downtown to apply.”

During the first 27 years of this program, more than $600 million in redevelopment was invested in designated Kansas Main Street communities. During that same time, nearly 4,000 small businesses were started, creating more than 8,600 new jobs.

Communities wishing to submit applications will be required to first attend an application workshop, scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, December 10. This virtual workshop will explain the Main Street Approach, and the process for successfully completing the application. To register for this workshop, visit this link. Applications must be submitted no later than January 29, 2021, and new communities selected as part of a competitive process will be announced in mid-February.

The Kansas Main Street program, originally launched in 1985 has helped dozens of mostly rural communities work toward ensuring their downtowns remain viable. The program was ended by the Brownback administration in 2012 and brought back in late 2019 under the directive of Governor Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers’ Office of Rural Prosperity. There currently are 25 designated Kansas Main Street communities in the program, with all participating in a competitive process to be selected for the program.

The Kansas Main Street program is a cornerstone of the Community Development Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce.

“The Main Street model works, period,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Now that Governor Kelly and the Office of Rural Prosperity have reinstated the Kansas Main Streets, our communities once again have the tools they need to breathe new life into their communities and historic commercial districts. This is a terrific opportunity for communities to change their trajectory by committing themselves to a focused effort to strengthen their downtowns.”

The Kansas Main Street program is affiliated with the National Main Street Center. Main Street is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts through the development of a comprehensive strategy based on four points: organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. While there are no federal funds provided directly to Main Street communities, designated cities are eligible for training and technical assistance designed to help them become self-sufficient in downtown revitalization.

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

For more information on the Kansas Main Street program, contact Scott Sewell, Director of Kansas Main Street, at (785) 296-7288 or [email protected].

KDA Grant to Fund Disposal of Orphaned Pesticide

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture pesticide and fertilizer program recently received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, to aid in the disposal of orphaned pesticide products.

Orphaned pesticide products are herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides and fungicides that can no longer be offered for sale in Kansas. This can include partially used products owned by private citizens, unsold products at retailers, or unused/partially used products owned by an applicator. The grant will support the pickup and disposal of the products by Clean Harbors, an environmental waste company.

Although local county weed department or household hazardous waste facilities will often take pesticide waste at little to no charge, sometimes the cost of disposal for the facility is too great or the facility is not permitted to take that particular type/kind of waste. The grant is available for those instances when the local facilities will not take the waste.

The orphaned pesticide waste grant applies to waste from farmers, ranchers, businesses or other private individuals. Grant funds can also pay for the disposal of abandoned pesticide waste left on property that was sold or waste that was dumped or abandoned. Funds are limited, and disposal will be approved on a first come, first served basis.

To apply for funds to dispose of orphaned pesticide waste, contact the KDA pesticide and fertilizer program at 785-564-6688 or email product registration specialist Judy Glass at [email protected]. You will need to complete a form and receive approval to arrange for pickup of the pesticide waste. This grant helps KDA fulfill its mission to serve Kansas farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and the customers they serve, while protecting natural resources and promoting public health and safety.