Kansas Community Empowerment Kickstart Grant is a grant from Kansas Department of Commerce, funded by the Patterson Family Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation, Sunflower Foundation, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, that provides $40,000 to support smaller, community-driven projects that build capacity and momentum in Kansas communities. Grantees must provide a 1:1 match, including in-kind contributions.

The program particularly targets rural and smaller Kansas communities and is administered through the Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) program. Eligible applicants include community organizations and volunteer-led initiatives. Contact the Kansas Department of Commerce for current cycle information and application requirements.

Commerce Launches Two New Kansas Community Empowerment Grants - Kansas Department of Commerce 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 Merck Animal Health Investing $895M in De Soto Plant Expansion Taxes, Credits, & Exemptions To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards Corporate & Professional Services Food Processing and Manufacturing Energy & Natural Resources Explore New Opportunities at Upcoming KANSASWORKS Virtual Job Fair Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for available talent to take part in February’s Virtual Statewide Job Fair, hosted by KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a.

m. to 5:00 p. m.

Thursday, February 26. Gamechangers & Champions Event to Feature Startup Pitch Competition, Networking The Kansas Department of Commerce, in partnership with NXTUS, Inc. and KU Innovation Park, announced today it will host Gamechangers & Champions 2026: Bracket Bash for Innovators and Angels in March.

Commerce Launches Two New Kansas Community Empowerment Grants Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the launch of two new grant opportunities through the Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) program.

Upper Floor Housing Coming to Two Kansas Main Street Communities Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced two Kansas Main Street communities have been awarded funding through the Residential Opportunities On Main Street (ROOMS) program.

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.

Kansas Small Business Office Taxes, Credits, & Exemptions To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards Corporate & Professional Services Food Processing and Manufacturing Energy & Natural Resources Kansas Small Business Office Commerce Launches Two New Kansas Community Empowerment Grants Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the launch of two new grant opportunities through the Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) program.

KCE, which is housed within the Quality Places Division at the Department of Commerce, supports locally driven projects that strengthen quality of place, volunteer engagement and long-term community vibrancy across Kansas. Applications for the KCE Kickstart Grant and Impact Grant are now being accepted. For the first round of funding, the Kickstart Grant will have $40,000 available and the Impact Grant will have $30,000.

“While we bring opportunities and prosperity to all parts of our state, these new grants will specifically target rural and smaller communities across Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said .

“Whether it’s helping a small volunteer-led initiative or funding a transformational placemaking project — these grants are designed to meet the needs of the communities while building their pride, momentum and lasting impact. ” The Kickstart Grant is designed to provide funding for smaller, community-driven projects that build capacity, engagement and momentum.

The highlights of the Kickstart Grant include: Awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 Ideal for short-term, highly visible projects such as community cleanups, engagement events or early-stage vibrancy initiatives Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through December 4, or until funds are depleted The Impact Grant is designed to support larger, long-term investments that create permanent improvements to community assets.

Highlights of the Impact Grant include: Awards ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 Eligible projects include public art installations, downtown improvements, park and recreation upgrades, community gardens, signage and other placemaking efforts Applications will be accepted through March 31 Both grant opportunities require a 1:1 match, which may include in-kind contributions such as volunteer hours.

“Our community leaders and volunteers are the visionaries, voices and trailblazers of our state — they have the ideas, and they have the passion,” Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Matt Godinez said . “Because of these two new grant opportunities, awarded organizations will be able to bring what was once a vision to something tangible — and really embrace community vibrancy.

” The grants are administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce and funded in part by the Patterson Family Foundation, the Kansas Health Foundation, the Sunflower Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. Applications must be submitted through the Kansas Community Empowerment online application system, which can be found here .

For application details, eligibility requirements and webinar information, visit the Kansas Community Empowerment webpage here or contact Sara Bloom at [email protected] or (785) 506-9278.

Explore New Opportunities at Upcoming KANSASWORKS Virtual Job Fair Gamechangers & Champions Event to Feature Startup Pitch Competition, Networking Upper Floor Housing Coming to Two Kansas Main Street Communities Governor Kelly Celebrates Joe Walsh, Other Kansas Artists at Governor’s Arts Awards Evergy Energy Tip – February Kansas Tourism Shares Video Campaign Celebrating Kansas’ 165th Birthday 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