Commerce Announces New Round of Funding for HEAL Grants

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1.5 million is available for a fifth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. These grants help close the financial gaps for communities striving to make their downtown districts economically vibrant.

Since Commerce launched the program in 2021, nearly $5 million has been awarded to fund 87 different community projects throughout Kansas.

“In order to succeed, brick and mortar businesses need the brick and mortar – and all the parts of their building – to be in good condition,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With $20 billion of new private investment pushing into all parts of Kansas, HEAL grants give communities a chance to create their own momentum, turning downtown buildings that were once storage or pigeon roosts into stores, coffee shops and upper floor lofts.”

The HEAL grant helps communities bring revitalize downtown buildings as spaces for new or expanding businesses, housing, arts and culture, civic engagement, childcare or entrepreneurial activities.

Submitted projects must show potential to be economic drivers in the community and demonstrate that the space will be occupied by the end of the project. There must be proof of 1:1 matching funds from the building owner that will be required at the time of application.

The application opens November 1 and closes January 31, 2025. Awardees will be notified in April. Communities that received HEAL grants in spring 2023 or fall 2024 are not eligible to apply for this round of funding.

A virtual webinar about the specifics of the program is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday, November 4. Registration is required for the webinar. A Zoom link will be provided after registration is completed. To register for the webinar, please click here.

For additional information about HEAL grants, the webinar and the online application, please visit here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Halts Sale of Senior Lifetime Pass for Hunting and Fishing

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced today that it has stopped selling the 10-year combination of hunting and fishing licenses for Kansas residents aged 65 to 74. The decision follows the discovery that the statute authorizing the department to sell the licenses at a reduced rate had expired. The licenses were commonly called a Senior Lifetime Pass because after a resident reaches age 75, they are no longer required to purchase Kansas hunting and fishing licenses.

The Senior Lifetime Pass was established by the Kansas Legislature in 2012 through Senate Bill 314 (K.S.A. 32-9,100), along with several other discounted licenses for seniors. In 2023, the other discounted hunting and fishing licenses were made permanent with the passage of House Bill 2039.

“When we discovered the authorization for the Senior Lifetime Pass had lapsed, I instructed staff to stop selling them,” said KDWP Acting Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “All licenses were sold in good faith, and the Senior Lifetime Passes already issued will remain valid. While we must stop selling this pass, we are exploring regulatory and statutory options to offer additional discounted rates for seniors in the future.”

Annual senior licenses for Kansas residents ages 65 to 74 remain available at significantly discounted rates. The Resident Senior Annual Hunting License is $15; the Resident Senior Annual Fishing License is $15; and the Resident Senior Annual Combo license for hunting and fishing is $25.

Licenses can be purchased online at license.gooutdoorskansas.com or by phone at 1-833-587-2164. Licenses are also available at various locations statewide.

For more information about licenses, permits and fees, visit ksoutdoors.com/license-permits.

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Kansas Talking Books Launches NovemBARD:

Be a Super Reader with BARD

TOPEKA – This November, Kansas Talking Books invites all eligible Kansans to discover BARD, the free Braille and Audio Reading Download service, and “Be Super Readers.” “NovemBARD” introduces Kansans who cannot read standard print due to visual, physical or reading disabilities to the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled’s (NLS) collection where they will find a variety of books, magazines and music scores, all instantly available with BARD.

With BARD, patrons select from over 150,000 titles in audio and braille formats, allowing them to read or listen anytime and anywhere. BARD can be accessed in multiple ways by Kansans with print disabilities: through the BARD mobile app, BARD Express program for Windows-based computers, or with a web browser to use materials on a digital player provided by Kansas Talking Books.

“The NovemBARD campaign is about empowering our patrons and ensuring they have the tools to explore the limitless world of books,” said Michael Lang, Director of Kansas Talking Books. “BARD provides the freedom to download and access thousands of titles, opening doors to new stories, adventures, and learning. It’s your reading superpower.”

If you are eligible for Kansas Talking Books and want to learn more about BARD, visit library.ks.gov/talking-books/bard or contact the Talking Books team for assistance with setup by phone, 800-362-0699, or email, [email protected]. Kansas Talking Books is committed to ensuring everyone has the chance to enjoy reading without barriers.

Join us for NovemBARD and discover how BARD can make you a Super Reader!

Kansas Talking Books, a division of the State Library of Kansas, is a free, statewide library service providing books in accessible formats to eligible persons. Kansas Talking Books is a Regional Network Library of NLS, which is part of the Library of Congress. Learn more about Kansas Talking Books at library.ks.gov/talking-books.

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A virtual, on-demand meeting is now available for Kansans wanting to provide input on water issues in the state. The virtual meeting is part of a second round of local consult meetings to gather input on strategies to implement the 2022 Kansas Water Plan. The virtual meeting mirrors the content from the eight in-person meetings held across the state in September. The recent in-person and new virtual meeting build on the first round of local consult meetings held this summer, as well as Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings.

The virtual meeting is available at: https://burnsmcd.mysocialpinpoint.com/kansas-water-planning. The content is offered on demand, so people can participate at any time they’d like.

Through the virtual meeting, Kansans will have the opportunity to provide feedback on:

• Updated investment scenarios based on feedback heard in round one;
• What criteria are most important as investment strategies are evaluated to achieve the Plan’s long-term goals around aquifers, reservoirs and water quality;
• Setting objectives and identifying what Kansans think are reasonable actions to achieve them; and
• Preferred revenue sources to meet the objectives.

Interim results of the survey, along with a summary of input gathered at the in-person meetings in September, will be shared with the Kansas Water Authority on October 16. The survey will remain open until November 8 and then a final summary of results will be developed and shared.

More information about the Water Plan implementation effort and materials from both the first and second rounds of local consult meetings are available online at: https://www.kwo.ks.gov/news-events/kwa-strategic-planning.

The local consult meetings are being held by the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Agriculture, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Questions can be emailed to: [email protected].

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KDHE Reminds Kansans to be Aware as Respiratory Virus Season Approaches

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) would like to remind Kansans as we approach the respiratory virus season to remain aware of symptoms, preventative measures and when to seek medical treatment.

Every year, respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pneumococcal disease cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths during the fall and winter virus season.

“We know the risk of contracting and spreading respiratory viruses will increase as we move into the fall and winter months,” KDHE Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dereck Totten said. “It is imperative that people follow common-sense preventative measures and consider getting a vaccine, especially if they fall into a high-risk category.”

Getting an immunization is an important preventative measure against respiratory viruses.  Vaccines are available for all three major fall and winter respiratory diseases – flu, COVID-19, and RSV (for groups eligible for RSV immunization). In addition, pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for children younger than five years, adults, 65 years and older, and individuals at an increased risk for pneumococcal disease.

Kansas will receive approximately $780,000 from the federal government this year to cover about 9,380 COVID-19 doses for uninsured and underinsured adults. These doses will be equitably distributed across Kansas to Local Health Departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and other vaccination locations to help provide vaccine coverage to uninsured and underinsured adults in Kansas.

While anyone can become sick from common respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, RSV, and pneumococcal disease, some individuals have risk factors that can increase their chances of getting a severe illness.

Groups of people at a higher risk for respiratory illnesses

• Older adults
• Young children
• People with weakened immune systems
• People with disabilities
• Pregnant and recently pregnant individuals

If you believe you may have a respiratory virus (if you feel sick or tested positive for one) and you have risk factors for severe illness, seek health care right away for testing and/or treatment.

If you test positive for the flu or COVID-19, treatment may be an option to make your symptoms less severe and shorten the time you are sick. Treatment should be started within a few days of when your symptoms begin.

Examples of respiratory virus symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny or stuffy nose, decrease in appetite, sore throat, vomiting, new loss of taste or smell, headache, muscle or body aches, diarrhea, and/or weakness.

Keep in mind:

• Washing hands and improving airflow in the places where people live and work are important to lowering risk from respiratory viruses.
• Effective treatments are available for those who get flu or COVID-19 and are recommended for those at higher risk for severe illness. Treatment can reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
• You should seek emergency care‎ if you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Everyday actions like masking and physical distancing can provide an additional layer of protection and can protect their family, friends, and coworkers.
• Tests are available that can quickly detect these respiratory viruses.

For more information on respiratory viruses from KDHE read here.

Read here for more information on respiratory viruses from the CDC.

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