Community Development Grants

Grants

For Community Development

One of the unique opportunities we have at SCKEDD is to help rebuild, restore, and reignite communities.

Whether helping cities and county governments update low-income housing to helping create solutions for emergency fixes to building playgrounds and senior centers, our programs improve quality of life.

The grants listed here are not for individuals, but for cities that we serve in the following Kansas counties:

Individual grants for weatherization assistance can be found here.

EDA DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive merit basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas. Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CDBG program allows the Department of Commerce to distribute federal funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their community. To receive funds, a project must meet at least one of the following federally mandated criteria:

The project benefits low- and moderate-income individuals.
The project removes or prevents slum or blight condition.
The project eliminates an urgent need created by a disaster when local funds are unavailable.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Projects may consist of, but are not limited to, fire protection, bridges, community / senior centers, streets, architectural barrier removal, natural gas and electrical systems, health, mental health and other public facilities projects. The maximum award is $400,000 with a funding ceiling of $2,000 per beneficiary.

WATER/SEWER

The maximum award is $500,000 with a funding ceiling of $2,000 per beneficiary. Projects may consist of, but are not limited to water lines, sewer lines, water towers, and sewer lift stations.

SLUM AND BLIGHT DEMOLITION

Under the Community Facilities Category a CDBG applicant may submit an application specifically for the removal of slum and blight.

CDBG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT

Economic Development grants to cities or counties are loaned to provide gap financing for private businesses that create or retain permanent jobs. Eligible activities include infrastructure, land acquisition, fixed assets and working capital. At least 51 percent of the jobs created or retained by the for-profit entity must meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development's low- and moderate-income standard.

Some repayment is required for all economic development categories. Grants are made to cities and counties, which then loan funds to developing businesses. Repaid funds are returned to the state revolving loan fund. Funds may also be used for infrastructure on a loan / grant basis. The funding ceiling is $35,000 per job created or retained with a maximum of $750,000. Matching funds are required.

CDBG URGENT NEED

Urgent Need Grants address an immediate threat to health or safety resulting from a sudden and severe emergency. These awards assist in meeting community needs created by a severe natural or other disaster. The need must be certified by the state agency that has regulatory oversight.

Applications are reviewed on an as-needed basis throughout the year. The maximum amount awarded is $400,000 per grant. Applications must be received within six months of the occurrence.

CDBG COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION

The purpose of this grant program is to help cities improve the quality of their downtown commercial districts by assisting private property owners in the rehabilitation of blighted buildings. It is hoped that a strategic investment of grant funds in a key building would prevent the spread of blighted conditions to other nearby structures. Also, it would encourage other property owners to make improvements to their buildings, thus starting to reverse the cycle of blight, deferred maintenance and disinvestment. Cities may apply on behalf of private building owners when they believe they have an application that is ready for consideration by the Department of Commerce.