Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) 7.0

Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) 7.0 is sponsored by Kansas Department of Commerce. Provides matching grants to downtown building owners and businesses in Kansas cities under 50,000 or distressed urban downtowns for rehabilitation projects.

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Taxes, Credits, & Exemptions To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards Corporate & Professional Services Food Processing and Manufacturing Energy & Natural Resources Quality Places Division / Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) Realizing the need to rehabilitate downtown buildings with funding that can be disbursed quickly and efficiently, the Kansas Department of Commerce has created the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) program.

HEAL focuses on projects that show potential as economic drivers in Kansas communities. The HEAL program is designed to bring downtown buildings back into productive use as spaces for: New or expanding businesses Project Name City Amount Round Abilene, 303 North Broadway Abilene $57,728 4. 0 1904 Building – Last Chance Arcade Admire $35,000.

00 5. 0 Farmers Union Coop Rehab – Children’s Museum Alma $65,000 1. 0 The Historical Andale Hotel Reimagined Andale $100,000 4.

0 Deli and Market Arkansas City $45,500 2. 0 731-733 Commercial Street Atchison $100,000 4. 0 EH Atchison Riverfront Brewery Project Atchison $65,000 1.

0 Browns True Value Expansion Atwood $60,000 5. 0 Restore Prairie State Bank Augusta $30,000 2. 0 OmGrown Yoga & Wellness Collective Baldwin City $41,780 1.

0 Belleville, 1822 M Street Office Spaces Beloit $75,000 2. 0 Bliss Salon Bird City $100,000 5. 0 Kinfolk Creative & Kinfold Created Bonner Springs $75,000 2.

0 St. Elmo, 400 Main St Burden $20,000 1. 0 EH Theatre Restoration – Burlington Burlington $37,000 5.

0 EH Union Gas Building Renovation Caney $65,000 1. 0 EH Caney, 219 W 4th Ave Caney $100,000 5. 0 Liberty Screen Printing Chanute $50,900 4.

0 Cimarron, 104 N. Main Cimarron $91,000. 00 5.

0 807 5th Street and 811 5th Street Clay Center $85,000 4. 0 EH Clay Center, 811 5th Street Clay Center $25,000 3. 0 Community Center Clyde $100,000.

00 5. 0 Midland Theater Front of the House & Stage Restoration Coffeyville $65,000 1. 0 Historic Lowis Building – Nesting Expansion Colby $65,000 1.

0 2nd floor renovations- Apartments and AirBnB Colby $100,000. 00 5. 0 Columbus Liberty Project Columbus $100,000 4.

0 City Hall Renovation Corning $75,000 2. 0 Weathered Wood Home Store Council Grove $65,000 1. 0 Heartland Gamebirds & Lodge Courtland $65,000 1.

0 A Courtland Cornerstone: Coffee Shop For the Community Courtland $100,000 4. 0 Deerfield State Bank Deerfield $47,580 4. 0 Window repair Dodge City $23,273 2.

0 Upper Story Restaurant El Dorado $100,000. 00 5. 0 Ellsworth Downtown Revitalization Ellsworth $65,000 1.

0 EH Restoration of 17 E. Fourth Ave – Brewery Manufacturing Emporia $65,000 1. 0 The Gazette Building Emporia $100,000 4.

0 First Methodist Church of Eudora Eudora $100,000 4. 0 Cohn-Gardner Hill Department Store Eudora $65,000 1. 0 EH The Eureka Project Eureka $41,000 1.

0 EH Banker’s Inn Frankfort Frankfort $40,000 4. 0 McDonald Hall Ft. Scott $65,000 1.

0 EH Gym Garnett $100,000. 00 5. 0 Press Block Girard $10,000 4.

0 Goodland, 1010 Main Goodland $65,000 1. 0 The Landing Restaurant & Outdoor Gathering Place Great Bend $43,960 1. 0 Halstead, 204 Main St Halstead $64,300 3.

0 Hays, 1108-1110 Main Street Hays $75,000 3. 0 Hillsboro, 126 N Main Hillsboro $74,999 3. 0 Josephine Hotel Holton $100,000 4.

0 First National Bank Building Howard $100,000 5. 0 EH Historic Bank Building Howard $100,000. 00 5.

0 Frosty’s Family Fun Hugoton $100,000. 00 5. 0 Hutchinson, 14 N.

Main Street Hutchinson $75,000 3. 0 Tree House of Early Learning Independence $65,000 1. 0 Brio Med Spa & Wellness Independence $100,000 4.

0 FarmHouse Fressh in Jetmore Jetmore $57,260 1. 0 Junction City Brewery & Restaurant Junction City $65,000 1. 0 First National Bank Building Kingman $100,000.

00 5. 0 Kinsley, 623 Colony Ave Kinsley $45,599 3. 0 Larned, 518 Broadway Larned $100,000 4.

0 The Press – Community Space Leoti $51,000. 00 5. 0 Brownsfield Market LeRoy $25,000 5.

0 EH Lewis, 200 Main St. Lewis $33,008 3. 0 Fitness Center, 113 W.

Lincoln Ave Lincoln $65,000 1. 0 Lindsborg Mercantile Co. , 131 N.

Main Lindsborg $57,750 4. 0 City of Logan – Upper Story Housing Logan $25,000 4. 0 105, 107 & 109 West Main Lyons $100,000 4.

0 EH Lyons Hogans Building Lyons $30,000 4. 0 Senior Center – Façade Madison $11,500. 00 5.

0 Bill and Essie’s BBQ LLC Marion $65,000 1. 0 Farmer & Florist Renovation/Expansion Marysville $65,000 1. 0 Minnie’s Kitchen in Marysville Marysville $7,222 4.

0 The Gym at Matfield Green Recording Studio Matfield Green $65,000 1. 0 1890 Ice House Meriden $33,950 2. 0 Save Susan’s Flower Shop – Meriden Meriden $100,000 5.

0 EH Miltonvale, 20 W Spruce Avenue Miltonvale $9,600 204 W Second St Minneapolis $10,246. 50 4. 0 EH Robin’s Nest Minneola $65,000 1.

0 Muscotah Community Center Muscotah $65,640 4. 0 Historic Brown Hotel Neodesha $97,500. 00 5.

0 Ness City, 113 S Court Ness City $48,250 3. 0 HL Hart Building Coworking & Apartment Newton $65,000 1. 0 Oakley, 200 Center Ave Oakley $25,000 The Star Block Restaurant/Retail Osage City $65,000 1.

0 Osawatomie, 540 Main Street Osawatomie $75,000 3. 0 Otis, 231 N Main Otis $17,462 Ottawa – 207 S Main Street Ottawa $100,000. 00 5.

0 Meat Market & Apartments Ottawa $75,000 2. 0 Overbrook Bakery Overbrook $33,700 2. 0 Katy Antiques Parsons $100,000 4.

0 Kollock and Bragunier-Otte Buildings Peabody $65,000 1. 0 EH Pittsburg, 209 S Locust St Pittsburg $75,000 3. 0 Letha’s Plainville $8,000 1.

0 Maker Space – IDEA Works Russell $52,000 2. 0 Salina Downtown Eastbound Entrance – The Garage Salina $100,000. 00 5.

0 Revitalization for Downtown Seneca Row Businesses Seneca $75,000 2. 0 Upper Story Housing Sharon Springs $100,000. 00 5.

0 Spearville, 407 N. Main Street Art & Culture Civil Engagement St. Francis $29,000 2.

0 Grays Photo Studio St. John $50,000 4. 0 Stafford Suites Stafford $100,000 4.

0 Historic Exchange Bank – Stockton Stockton $100,000 5. 0 EH David Rettiger Building Strong City $65,000 1. 0 EH Senior Center Sylvan Grove $50,400 2.

0 Wathena, 313 St Joseph St Wathena $54,520 3. 0 Jacob Engles Dry Goods/Restaurant and Distillery Wellington $64,000 1. 0 EH Gathering space White Cloud $25,000 2.

0 Weber & Peirano Building Wilson $40,000. 00 5. 0 Stiles Mortuary Building Wilson $50,000 1.

0 EH Wilmore Bank and Post Office Wimore $8,822 4. 0 Marquee Performing Arts Center Winfield $38,715 1. 0 Winfield, 108 E.

9th Winfield $51,000 4. 0 Restoration of downtown building Yates Center $75,000 2. 0 HEAL provides matching grant funds to assist communities in revitalizing underutilized, vacant, or dilapidated downtown buildings through a competitive grant.

The grants are intended to bring buildings back into productive use as spaces for new or expanding businesses, childcare, housing, arts and culture, civic engagement, or entrepreneurship. The HEAL 7. 0 application period will be open from September 21 to November 20, 2026.

For program inquiries, please contact [email protected] Application Webinar PowerPoint Step-By-Step Application Process HEAL Office Hours are as listed below: October 5th 11AM October 12th 11AM October 19th 11AM October 26th 11AM November 2nd 11AM November 9th 11AM November 16th 11AM November 20th 11AM The HEAL program was created to preserve and bring new economic activity to underutilized, vacant, or dilapidated downtown buildings in rural Kansas.

Building grants are intended to bring buildings back into productive use as spaces for new or expanding businesses, childcare, housing, arts and culture, civic engagement, or entrepreneurship. Façade grants are intended to rehabilitate the façade or street view of downtown buildings in need of repair to stimulate economic growth and reinvestment in the downtown district.

The building in need of façade rehabilitation should either have a tenant or be tenant-ready. Significant Changes for HEAL 7. 0 Eligible communities now include Urban Distressed census tracts or zip codes.

Eligible communities must have a zip code classified as DISTRESSED on the following map: https://eig. org/distressed-communities-interactive/? regions%5B0%5D=20&geo=states&lat=38.

51&lon=-98. 32&z=6. 96 Funding will be split 50/50 between urban and rural areas unless applications do not meet at least a 50% threshold by either urban or rural projects.

Projects planning to apply for CDBG programming must complete an environmental review before the HEAL portion of construction can begin. This will allow a more flexible start date for projects to accommodate program stacking. Communities that receive a Façade grant in HEAL 6.

0 can now apply for a HEAL grant in HEAL 7. 0 rather than waiting 2 cycles for eligibility. Businesses can now be the applicant if they have a signed collaboration agreement with a local organization as their fiscal agent.

Changed eligibility to every other year for HEAL – for example a community that was awarded a HEAL grant in 2024 can apply again in Fall 2026 rather than 2027. Project Eligibility Requirements Properties must be in cities with a population of less than 50,000. Properties must be in the downtown business district or corridor and hold architectural significance for the district.

Projects must show potential for reuse and revitalization as economic drivers in the community. The awarded project may include funding from any state or federal source if there is no duplication of benefit. Examples include Community Development Block Grant, USDA Rural Development, State Historic Preservation Office programs or local Network Kansas programs.

Projects must incorporate Main Street Design Standards and follow local ordinances and code for rehab/construction/façade improvements. Award recipients are required to sign a contract agreeing to the conditions of the program. Projects must begin construction no later than July 1, 2027 with construction complete by July 1, 2029 with a tenant in place by December 31, 2029.

NOTE: Site cleanup, removal of debris, and demolition do not qualify as construction. Tenant must be leasing the space. No more than one HEAL grant may be awarded to any city.

Work must not begin before the award of the grant except for removal of façade slipcovers such as metal, stucco, tiles, stone veneer. Work previously completed is not eligible for this grant program. Projects are encouraged to follow the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

https://www. nps. gov/articles/000/treatment-standards-rehabilitation.

htm , https://www. nps. gov/orgs/1739/upload/treatment-guidelines-2017-part1-preservation-rehabilitation.

pdf Projects are also encouraged to use best preservation practices as outlined in the Preservation Briefs of the NPS. https://www. nps.

gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs. htm Projects that are on the State or National Register of Historic Places or contributing buildings in a Historic District must follow these standard and best practices guidelines and receive appropriate state approvals before beginning work. State approvals will be provided by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

They will require information such as scope of work , current and proposed floor plans, photos of affected areas, details on finishes (flooring, walls, lighting, etc.), renderings (especially elevations), blueprints and engineering drawings. They will also inquire if the building owner plans to apply for tax credits.

Required Supporting Materials with the Application Preliminary architectural drawings, including plans and elevations are required to support the scope of work. Color renderings are required if work is being done to the street facing façade(s). Actual bids from licensed contractors will be required for the submission of the grant application.

A simple business plan for the intended building use after construction should be included in the application. A 1:1 match minimum and proof of matching funds from the building owner. A letter signed by both organization and the building owner that confirms commitment by both parties to the project.

Eligible Building Grant Project Expenses Masonry, insulation, foundations, roofs and guttering, fire stairs, windows, doors, chimneys, walls, ceilings, floors, interior stairs, elevators, lighting and fixtures, electrical wiring, data and communication, wiring (not including equipment), HVAC systems and components, plumbing systems, fire suppression sprinkler systems, and ADA accessibility solutions. This list is not exhaustive.

Project expenses not listed here are at the discretion of the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce for eligibility under the grant. Up to 5% of the grant award may be retained by the organization for administration. Ineligible Building Grant Project Expenses Professional services (architect and engineering fees), acquisition costs, or leasing contracts.

This list is not exhaustive. Grant funds are to be utilized for the physical construction of the project. Eligible Façade Grant Project Expenses Masonry, windows, storefronts, cornices, doors, awnings, ADA accessibility solutions.

Removal of façade slipcovers such as metal, stucco, tiles, or stone veneer must be performed before applying for a façade grant. This list is not exhaustive. Project expenses not listed here are at the discretion of the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce for eligibility under the grant.

Up to 5% of the grant award may be retained by the organization for administration. Ineligible Façade Grant Project Expenses Professional services (architect and engineering fees) and slipcover removal such as metal, stucco, tiles, or stone veneer – this should be finished prior to applying for a façade grant. This list is not exhaustive.

Grant funds are to be utilized for the physical construction of the project. The application opens on September 21, 2026 and will close on November 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Award and Reporting Information Awarded projects will be funded on the following schedule with the corresponding project milestones and deadlines: 50% of the grant will be paid when proof of commencement of construction is verified.

Site visit required. Deadline: July 1, 2027 (NOTE: Site cleanup, removal of debris, and demolition do not qualify as construction.) 50% of the grant will be paid when 50% construction completion has been verified.

Site visit required. Deadline: July 1, 2028 75% construction deadline: March 1, 2029 – site visit or video walkthrough required. 100% of construction completion.

Site visit required. Deadline: July 1, 2029 Tenant in place. Deadline: December 31, 2029 Projects that complete milestones ahead of deadlines will receive award payments once project updates, appropriate documentation, verification, and a site visit can be completed.

The purpose of this funding mechanism is to ensure rapid progress to rehabilitate these buildings and provide assurance for local financial partners. Progress will be evaluated through quarterly project updates completed by the applicant, including receipts and expenditure documentation, and site visits with Commerce throughout the project.

These are all required to keep projects moving forward, resolve challenges as they arise, and ensure the successful completion of the project. Spring 2025 Press Release & Awardees Spring 2024 Press Release & Awardees Fall 2023 Press Release & Awardees Spring 2023 Press Release HEAL 7. 0 Program Timeline More information about future rounds of HEAL to be announced.

September 21, 2026 Application opens November 20, 2026 Application closes at 5:00 PM November – December Review Period December 7-18 Site Visits January 2027 Award Announcement Kansas Historic Resources Inventory (KHRI) Tutorials Watch a video or read through how to navigate the KHRI Inventory. HEAL Frequently Asked Questions Will property owners be able to apply on their own?

Yes, but there must also be a fiscal agent or local sponsor that agrees to support the business or building owner through the grant process, such as support with submitting quarterly reports, site visits or check in’s, and supporting the business throughout their construction period as issues arise and other resources might be needed (referrals, etc.). Are the organizations that apply required to financially contribute to the project?

No. Applicant organizations are required to endorse the project, but they are not financially obligated to contribute to the project. They are also not responsible to repay the funds if the building owner defaults on the project. Defaults are the building owners responsibility.

Is there a population requirement for applicants? Yes. Projects must be in cities with a population of fewer than 50,000 people.

However, now urban distressed downtowns can also apply for HEAL. The community must be identified on the US Census bureau as a DISTRESSED zip code, and the downtown area must reside in this zip code. https://eig.

org/distressed-communities-interactive/? regions%5B0%5D=20&geo=states&lat=38. 51&lon=-98.

32&z=6. 46 Is the project required to be in a specific area of the community? Yes.

Projects must be in the downtown business district or a connecting corridor. If you are uncertain if your project is within your downtown, please email [email protected] Who applies for the grant?

Designated Kansas Main Street Programs Economic Development Corporations 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 organizations Local Community Foundations Tribal Nations or Organizations Businesses – As long as there is also a fiscal agent from one of the above organizations. Will property owners be able to apply on their own?

No, but they can get a fiscal agent from one of the eligible organizations to sign onto their application with a letter of support and agreement to provide fiscal support and administration of the grant, and then the building owner can be the applicant. Are the organizations that apply required to financially contribute to the project?

No. Applicant organizations are required to endorse the project, but they are not financially obligated to contribute to the project. Is the project required to be in a specific area of the community? Yes.

Projects must be located in the downtown business district or a connecting corridor. If you are uncertain if your project is within your downtown, please email [email protected] Once the building is rehabilitated is it required that a viable business will be occupying the space? Yes.

The intent of making these building improvements is so a viable business can utilize the newly renovated space. This can be an existing business or a brand-new business. Part of the application must include a pro-forma/financial plan and a business plan.

If I have received other federal or state funding for this project—ARPA, SPARK, USDA, CDBG, SHPO, etc.— can those be applied as a match? Yes, as long as the requirements of the other funds allow for HEAL funds to be added to the project. What are my chances of receiving this grant?

That is difficult to answer, but these are competitive grants. During the first round of HEAL funding, more than 240 applications were submitted requesting nearly $14 million funding. A team at the Department of Commerce will carefully review and score each application based on merit, project eligibility and need.

How much can I receive for my project? The maximum building grant award is $100,000 and the maximum Façade Grant is $40,000. I received an Emergency HEAL grant (or regular HEAL grant) the last time around?

Can I apply this round? No. Applications will not be accepted for projects in communities that received Emergency or Regular HEAL grants in the last round. Can I apply for more than one project in my downtown?

Yes, but only one project will be eligible to receive funding per community. We encourage you to work with business and property owners to prioritize projects and focus on those that have the capacity to meet the grant requirements and the timeline for completion. I have one property owner in my downtown that owns several contiguous buildings and needs funding for one project for all of these buildings.

Is that an eligible project? Yes. If one person has three buildings that are connected and that project includes all three of those buildings, that is an eligible use, up to the $100,000 maximum.

I have already started my project. Is it eligible for a HEAL grant? Work could have already been started, but none of these expenses can count toward match unless there is documentation from the contractor stating that the work was specifically done in order to prevent complete building failure or collapse.

These expenses can be incurred and count toward the match for the project, and can proceed while the application is being completed and reviewed. All other improvements must wait until a notification of award. Does my project have to follow any Design Standards?

Projects must incorporate Main Street Design Standards. Projects must also follow state or local ordinances and code for rehab/construction/façade improvements. Does my project have to follow any Preservation Standards?

Projects are encouraged to follow the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. https://www. nps.

gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation. htm Projects are also encouraged to use best preservation practices as outlined in the Preservation Briefs of the National Park Service. https://www.

nps. gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs. htm Projects that are on the State or National Register of Historic Places or contributing buildings in a State or National Register Historic District MUST follow these standards and best practice guidelines and receive appropriate state approvals with the Kansas State Historical Society office before beginning work .

W-9 – Blank Fillable Form OPC – Policy on Covered Technologies Israeli Anti-Boycott Form Main Street Design Standards Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid with Historic Buildings HEAL is a collaboration of 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  ․