Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment (BLOCK) Program

Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment (BLOCK) Program is sponsored by Kansas Department of Commerce. Aims to transform a downtown block through coordinated public and private investment.

Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment (BLOCK) Program - Kansas Department of Commerce Governor Kelly Announces Indra Group to Invest Nearly $7.

5M to Manufacture Air Traffic Radars in Kansas Gov. Kelly and Kansas City Chiefs Announce Agreement On Plans for State-of-the-Art Domed Stadium in Kansas Governor Kelly Celebrates Grand Opening of Panasonic EV Battery Manufacturing Facility in De Soto Governor Kelly Announces Grand Opening of Heartland Coca-Cola Olathe Production Campus Taxes, Credits, & Exemptions To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards Corporate & Professional Services Food Processing and Manufacturing Energy & Natural Resources Commerce Seeks Individual Development Account (IDA) Administrators Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Department of Commerce is seeking qualified community-based organizations to administer Individual Development Account (IDA) programs.

Commerce Launches Unique Grant Program to Transform a Downtown Block Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the launch of the Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas Investment (BLOCK) program.

Apprenticeship Grants Awarded to Expand Learn-and-Earn Programs in Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland and the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship today announced five recipients of the Rural Apprenticeship Innovation for a Stronger Economy (RAISE) grant.

Kansas Jobseekers, Employers Encouraged to Participate in August Job Fair Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland invites jobseekers and employers to take part in the August Virtual Statewide Job Fair, hosted by KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a. m. to 5:00 p.

m. Thursday, August 27. Incentives & Financing, Taxes, Credits & Exemptions, Site Selection, Doing Business in Kansas Infrastructure assessment, community planning, development support, and downtown activation Find a Job, Job Seeker Services, Employer Services Plan your trip to Kansas.

Places to visit, things to do. Order a free Travel Guide. Exporting Programs & Services, Investment, Reshoring Resources for your move to Kansas.

Taxes, Credits, & Exemptions To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards Corporate & Professional Services Food Processing and Manufacturing Energy & Natural Resources Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment (BLOCK) Program Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment (BLOCK) Program Kansas Commerce Launches BLOCK Grant Program to Transform Downtowns Across Kansas Read the Grant Announcement The Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment (BLOCK) Program is a competitive placemaking initiative designed to create a dramatic, highly visible transformation of one Kansas downtown block through coordinated public and private investment.

BLOCK will provide up to $500,000 to one eligible community to bring multiple properties, projects, partners and investments together around a single block-level transformation. While exterior improvements are expected to be the primary focus, strategic interior improvements may also be eligible when they contribute to the overall transformation and can be completed within the required timeline.

The winning community will be expected to move quickly, make big changes, create a visible “wow” factor and demonstrate how the investment will contribute to long-term economic impact. In 2026, $500,000 is available. The maximum award for a project is $500,000.

Commerce anticipates a single award. The purpose of BLOCK is to demonstrate what can happen when a community stops looking at downtown projects one building at a time and instead coordinates investment across an entire block.

Inspired by the rapid, collaborative transformations popularized by “extreme makeover” programs, BLOCK brings community partners, property owners, businesses, contractors and resources together to create a visible, concentrated transformation in a short period of time. Communities will be expected to begin and finish all construction and rehabilitation efforts within a 14-day window.

The program is intended to leverage existing, current and future public and private investments and other public and private resources to address deteriorated, vacant or underutilized properties; improve the appearance and functionality of downtown; support businesses and housing; strengthen community identity; and catalyze additional private investment. BLOCK is designed as a rapid implementation initiative.

The award will be made in late September or early October 2026, and the funded transformation must be complete before December 15, 2026. Address deteriorated, vacant, blighted or underutilized properties. Create a dramatic and highly visible “before and after” transformation.

Transform one complete downtown block containing at least three structures. Once construction and rehabilitation efforts are ready to begin, the transformation must be complete within 10-14 days. Coordinate multiple properties, property owners, businesses and community partners.

Leverage past, current and future public/private investments . Stimulate additional private investment. Strengthen existing businesses and create opportunities for new businesses and entrepreneurs.

Support housing opportunities where feasible. Improve downtown aesthetics, functionality, activity and quality of place. Demonstrate the economic impact that can result from concentrated, coordinated investment.

Create a project that can serve as a model for other Kansas communities. The Department of Commerce will evaluate all proposals based on project need, innovation, agency capacity, planning, community support, and confidence in the project being completed. Key considerations include: The community’s readiness to execute the project.

How the proposed improvements will create a visual “wow” factor. The whole block transformation and the number of buildings and businesses that are impacted Coordination and leverage of public and private investments. Long-term economic impacts.

Community and property-owner partnerships Download the program guidelines for more information on program requirements. Download the program rubric for more information on how applications will be scored. Kansas nonprofit organizations.

Kansas units of local government, including cities, counties and other eligible governmental entities. Tribal Nations located in Kansas. The BLOCK application period is from September 11, 2026 to September 30, 2026.

The BLOCK application period is from September 11, 2026 to September 30, 2026. Applications are due no later than 11:59 p. m.

Complete the application below. Matt Godinez, Assistant Secretary and Sara Bloom, Director of Quality Places presented an informational webinar to discuss the program, details, expectations, timeline and more on September 11, 2026. The recording and slides can be viewed below.

The application is located within Submittable which will require the applicant to create an account. Once an account is created, they can begin filling out the application. An application can be shared with multiple Submittable accounts.

This means that one person can start the application and then can add contributors to help complete the required sections of the application. BLOCK: The Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment Program, a competitive placemaking initiative designed to coordinate investment across an entire downtown block.

BLOCK Area: A single downtown block containing at least three structures identified by the applicant and approved by Kansas Commerce. Transformation: A coordinated set of improvements that collectively creates a substantial and visible change in the appearance, functionality, activity or economic potential of the BLOCK area.

Eligible Applicant: A Kansas nonprofit organization, eligible unit of local government or Tribal Nation that meets all program requirements. Nonprofit Organization: An organization organized and operating for purposes other than making a profit for its owners or members and recognized as tax-exempt under applicable federal law, where required.

Unit of Government: An eligible Kansas city, county or other governmental entity authorized to participate in the program. Tribal Nation: A federally recognized Indian Tribe or Tribal Nation eligible to participate in state programs under applicable law.

Grant Announcement: September 9, 2026 Application Period: September 11-30, 2026 Submission Deadline : September 30, 2026 Award Notification: On or before October 9, 2026 Block Completion and Reveal : No late than December 15, 2026 Before submitting an application, applicants should be able to answer YES to each of the following questions: Once we begin construction and rehabilitation efforts, can we complete the transformation within 14 days?

Do we know exactly which block we’re transforming? Do we know exactly what we’re going to change? Are the property owners on board?

Are the contractors, vendors and partners ready to go? Do we have our 1:1 match secured? Can we begin immediately following the award?

Can we complete the transformation before December 15, 2026? Will the investment create impact beyond the initial transformation? Screenshot of Proof of Good Standing with the Secretary of State Required for Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations: Screenshot Submission of Kansas Secretary of State Good Standing Status.

You are not required to pay for a Certificate of Good Standing, a screenshot of the webpage listing for your organization will suffice. *Government entities do not need to submit this information. Tax Clearance Certificate This needs to be completed by the building owners AND the supporting organization (only if the supporting organization is a non-profit).

*Government entities do not need to submit this information. OPC – Certification of Company Form OPC – Certification of Company Form Matthew Godinez, Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Sara Bloom, Quality Places Manager Want to Learn More About Quality Place Programs?

Incentives & Financing, Taxes, Credits & Exemptions, Site Selection, Doing Business in Kansas Infrastructure assessment, community planning, development support, and downtown activation Find a Job, Job Seeker Services, Employer Services Plan your trip to Kansas. Places to visit, things to do. Order a free Travel Guide.

Exporting Programs & Services, Investment, Reshoring Accessibility  ․  Kansas economic development Ideal Newsletter (Required) Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Rural Prosperity Office of Broadband Development Company/Organization (Required) By checking this box, I agree to receive notifications from Kansas Department of Commerce (Required) By checking this box, I agree to receive notifications from Kansas Department of Commerce