The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced grants for eight rural communities for a new housing grant under the Designated Kansas Main Street program.
Projects in the eight Designated Kansas Main Street communities are receiving $50,000 each to create a total of 35 new residential units in the upper floors of downtown buildings. This is the first grant of its kind for communities in the program.
The summer 2024 ROOMS grant awardees include:
- Locally Atchison – Creating one new unit, Little Green House, a four-bedroom upscale apartment
- GO! Augusta – Creating two new units, Free State Apartments, each having two bedrooms
- Chanute Main Street – Creating 10 new units in the Sturdevant Hardware Building, ranging from studio to two bedrooms
- Emporia Main Street – Creating seven new one- and two-bedroom units, 502 Lofts in the Bundrem building
- Great Bend Main Street/Economic Development – Creating three new one- and two-bedroom units, Hammond Lofts
- Newton Main Street – Creating eight new one- and two-bedroom units in the Voelker Building across from the old city hall
- Salina Downtown Inc. – Creating one new two-bedroom unit, KPSB Loft
- Sterling Main Street – Creating six new one- and two-bedroom units in the Shay Building located in the historic central business district
Kansas Lieutenant Governor David Toland said in a press release, “There is a substantial amount of unused upper-floor space in downtown buildings throughout rural Kansas, and this is a unique opportunity to create additional housing units. Investing in rural downtown areas is critical for the quality of life in these communities, making them more appealing for current and future residents. With so many companies looking to locate or expand operations in rural Kansas, it is important that viable housing opportunities keep pace.”
As Designated Main Street communities, each will receive a high level of technical assistance and training from both the state and national Main Street programs. Currently, there are 30 active Designated communities participating in the Kansas Main Street program.
