Twelve Rural Champion organizations are being awarded $25,000 each to assist in the steps through project implementation grants. Rural Champions have developed creative programs to provide direct impact in their communities, such as housing incentive programs, minigrant programs for childcare providers, beautification mini-grant programs, and to leverage additional grant applications.
Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation (LCEDF) created minigrants for placemaking and beautification projects with $25,000 funding from the Office of Rural Prosperity at the Kansas Department of Commerce.
The Placemaking Grant Program intended to provide an extra boost to volunteer efforts to continue revitalizing Lincoln County through “placemaking” projects that will either create new amenities for residents or enhance local attractions for the coming Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT) in May 2-5, 2024.
Seventeen applications were received requesting nearly $60,000 in funding. The LCEDF board of trustees awarded the following projects at the August and September board meetings.
• $5,000 to the Sylvan Senior Center for fencing for a courtyard behind building
• $281.23 to Tracy Frederking and Stephanie Lloyd for a new Little Free Library on Sylvan Grove’s Main Street
• $5,000 to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sylvan Grove for a digital carillon
• $1,765 to the Barnard Lions Club for a new mural
• $5,000 to the City of Barnard for a pickleball court
• $3,415 to the Vesper Community Center for sidewalk improvements
• $4,800 to the Lincoln County Historical Society for a digital sign, benches, and planters
• $641 to Lincoln Farm Supply for a mural on dealership building Over the past ten months, the Rural Champions have been bringing together volunteers and community organizations, uncovering additional resources, and building conversations around their unique challenges. The Champions have identified and developed steps to make progress in their communities.
The twelve Rural Champion organizations are being awarded $25,000 each to assist in those steps through project implementation grants. Rural Champions have developed creative programs to provide direct impact in their communities, such as housing incentive programs, mini-grant programs for childcare providers, beautification mini-grant programs, and to leverage additional grant applications.
“The Rural Champions are marshaling resources and removing barriers to progress by getting community buyin right from the start,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The relatively modest funding support will have an enormous impact moving forward as the communities resolve critical local issues.”
Lincoln County’s Rural Champion is Sarah Smith of Lincoln.
Rural Champion is
Sarah Smith
