Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) Kickstart Grant

Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) Kickstart Grant is sponsored by Kansas Department of Commerce, Office of Rural Prosperity. Supports small, community-driven projects that enhance quality of place, volunteer engagement, and long-term community vibrancy in rural Kansas.

KCE Kickstart and Impact Grants - Kansas Department of Commerce Governor Kelly Announces Indra Group to Invest Nearly $7.

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Taxes, Credits, & Exemptions To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards Corporate & Professional Services Food Processing and Manufacturing Energy & Natural Resources KCE Kickstart and Impact Grants Empowering Communities for Lasting Vitality The Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) Grants support locally driven projects that enhance the quality of place, strengthen volunteer-led efforts, and promote long-term vibrancy in Kansas communities.

Two grant types, Kickstart and Impact, offer funding for both small, but highly impactful projects and large-scale infrastructure improvements. The purpose of these grants is to empower Kansas communities to plan, implement, and sustain quality of place projects that foster engagement, pride, volunteerism, and long-term community vitality.

The goals of these grants are to: • Support community-identified priorities that strengthen quality of place and enhance local pride. • Empower volunteer-led groups by providing resources that build capacity, momentum, and long-term sustainability. • Improve public spaces and community assets through visible, meaningful, and locally driven projects.

• Increase community engagement and participation, particularly by involving diverse groups (youth, seniors, civic groups, etc.). • Foster equitable investment in communities of all sizes, especially small rural communities with limited access to funding. • Promote long-term community vitality through projects that create lasting benefits and strengthen community identity.

Kickstart Grant Guidelines The KCE Kickstart and Impact Grant applications are NOW OPEN! Applications will be accepted February 1, 2026 through 11:59 PM on March 31, 2026. For program inquiries, please contact [email protected] Any currently enrolled KCE Community that meets the tier requirements for the grant.

All projects must occur in a registered Kansas Community Empowerment city.

County or municipal governments Economic Development Organizations Local Chambers of Commerce 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations Organizations that do not fall under one of these eligible entities, or are unable to work with an eligible entity to apply on their behalf, are still eligible to apply with a contracted fiscal agent, provided that a Letter of Intent is submitted with the application.

Organizations apply using this method should apply using the account type of the Fiscal Agent. Kickstart Grants support projects that advance a participating KCE community’s mission, vision, and locally identified priorities. Projects should be community-driven, feasible in scope, and designed to strengthen local capacity, engagement, or momentum toward community goals.

Impact Grants support transformational, long-term investments that promote community vibrancy, defined as projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the beauty in each community. Unlike Kickstart Grants, which may focus on short-term activities, these grants are intended for projects that create lasting, permanent and sustainable improvements that contribute to a community’s long-term vitality.

Projects are not eligible for Kickstart Grant funding if they: Do not directly support or advance the KCE community’s adopted mission or vision Are primarily promotional or marketing focused rather than community-driven Consist solely of advertising or promotional activities Do not demonstrate a clear public or community benefit Projects are not eligible for Impact Grant funding if they: Do not promote community vibrancy or enhance the community’s physical or cultural assets Are temporary in nature or do not result in permanent or long-term, sustainable improvements Are primarily promotional or marketing focused rather than investment-oriented Fail to demonstrate how the project will be sustained or maintained beyond the grant period Grant Announcement : January 2026 Application Period : February 1 to March 31, 2026 Submission Deadline : February 31, 2026 Award Notification : May 2026 The Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) Grant Program follows a structured nine-month timeline for Kickstart Grants and a twelve-month timeline for Impact Grants, with defined reporting requirements and completion deadlines.

Months 1 – 8: Project startup and implementation Quarterly reports due each quarter By Month 9: Project complete Within 30 days of completion: Final report due (No later than 10 months after award) Months 1 – 11: Project startup and implementation Quarterly reports due each quarter By Month 12: Project complete Within 30 days of completion: Final report due (No later than 13 months after award) Sara Bloom, Quality Places Manager 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.

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