Newsletter - May 2023 Edition |
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Kansas Community Empowerment Announcement and Brand - Draft
- Sponsor Spotlight: Blue Valley Technologies
- Community Happenings Around Kansas
- Survey Tool for Community Assessment
- Partner Highlight: Kansas Masons
- NextGen Under 30 Application Deadline: July 28
- A Big Thanks to Collaborative Partner: Kansas Association of Counties
- Rural Grocery Initiative - Workshop Opportunity
- Continuing Opportunities Section
- External Funding Resources
- Up for a Community Visit? We Are, Too!
- Catch Us on Facebook
- K-State Garden Hour May Webinar
- Events Calendar & Grants/Awards/Community of Excellence Deadline Reminder
- Partner and Resource Links
- Sponsorship Opportunity
- 2023 Kansas Community Empowerment/PRIDE Communities
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The Kansas Community Empowerment Announcement and Brand - Draft
Our partners at the Department of Commerce have assisted us in the creation and draft of our new program logo, which you see above. The program will be utilizing two different logos - one for social media and print materials such as fabrics (left), and a second for community signage and landscape publications/media (right).
There is still some refinement, so don't get super excited yet! The logos here are just for a sneak preview, and are not intended for immediate use. There will be clean up work for the logos presented, as well as the partnership reflection piece that will be provided through our partners the Kansas Masons, so stay tuned for community logo options.
That said, the new program website is set to be unveiled after May 1 - you will find most of the previous information and resources there, although it will be organized a bit differently (and in a way that we co-coordinators feel, will be more user friendly). Keep in mind the website will continue to be under construction throughout 2023, so if you see old program logos and reflections, know that updates will be made in due time.
As always, if you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at KSCE@ksu.edu, and stay tuned! - Jaime Menon, co-Coordinator for Kansas Community Empowerment, K-State Research and Extension, jmenon@ksu.edu
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Sponsor Spotlight: Blue Valley Technologies
We'll be introducing Kansas Community Empowerment (PRIDE) program sponsors in the newsletter and on social media throughout the year. This month we're shining the spotlight on Blue Valley Technologies.
Blue Valley Technologies (BVT) is an independent communications cooperative located in rural Kansas. They serve multiple communities in the northeast part of the state and are one of the first in the nation to deploy fiber to even its most rural customers. Thanks to the innovative and forward-thinking folks at BVT for continuing to support Kansas communities' efforts to improve their quality of life. You can visit their website here: https://www.bluevalley.net/. Is your community served by BVT? Learn how they give back to communities via donations, scholarship, and more: https://www.bluevalley.net/giving-back.
Interested in becoming a Kansas Community Empowerment (Kansas PRIDE) sponsor? Check out our sponsorship details near the end of the newsletter!
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Community Happenings Around Kansas |
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Alton PRIDE's community room floor restoration project was completed - check out that oak flooring! The project was made possible by funding from the City of Alton, Osborne County, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, and private donations.
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Potwin PRIDE reports that the Ken Whittington Memorial Community Garden has been prepped and potatoes planted. The group is also working on community brochures, downtown beautification, and trash cleanup.
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Olsburg's PRIDE group shares with us that the Dala horse population is increasing. 28 Dalas have appeared around the community as of this report. The group is also upgrading/renovating the city sign at the corner of Highways 13 and 16.
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The Ozawkie PRIDE Association had an afternoon full of fun and prizes at their annual Easter Egg Hunts. 0–8-year-olds had a photo op with the Easter Bunny and 9–12-year-olds participated in the Glow Easter Egg hunt. Over 200 people were in attendance.
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Survey Tool for Community Assessment
A survey can help your group identify needs in the community and those needs can be the basis for setting goals and developing future projects. What questions do you ask? How do you distribute the survey? Who will deliver the results?
Our friends at Illinois Extension have a useful Community Survey Tool that is free to use for helping you build your survey. The “Getting Started” section walks you through establishing a working committee to guide the process. The planning phase of this section emphasizes seeking out participation from different groups of your population in order to build credibility. We recently had a Kansas Community Empowerment/PRIDE community utilize this tool. If you would like to connect with them to learn more about their experience, send us an email and we will work to get you connected.
A variety of topics are presented in the “Questionnaires” section, including Business, Recreation, and Community Development. Each topic area has pre-built surveys you can use, an option to edit those surveys to fit your needs, and the opportunity to build from a blank survey using a question bank (note: you will need to search for a keyword in the question bank to select questions to add to your blank survey).
Some groups mail surveys, either on their own or working with the city to include them in water or utility bills. Others distribute them door to door or even online. For paper surveys be sure to include a link or QR code that directs participants to an online version if you’re offering one. Search for offerings from Google Forms or Survey Monkey that can help you create an online survey. URL shortener sites such as tinyurl.com or bit.ly can provide you with easy to type addresses for those who would rather enter a website address manually. There are plenty of free QR code generators available through a quick search on your favorite search engine which would allow participants to visit your survey link quickly via phone or tablet.
If you’re wondering how to deliver the results, we mention later in the newsletter that we’re happy to provide a read out as a neutral party – just let us know!
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Partner Highlight: Kansas Masons
Partnering with the Kansas Community Empowerment program, Kansas Masons have pledged their support to local communities. Their efforts include assisting with fundraising, providing knowledge and volunteers, meeting space, and celebrating community success.
Since 2017, through our partnership with the Kansas Masons, nearly $200,000 has been awarded to communities for projects and promotion through the Community Emergency Grant, Community Promotion Grant, and Volunteers Impact PRIDE Grant offerings. Thank you, Kansas Masons, for your support of Kansas Community Empowerment participating communities and their efforts to build vibrant communities with a positive future!
If you don't have a Masonic Lodge in your community but would like to make contact as part of our partnership, email us at KSCE@ksu.edu and we'll provide you with information about your nearest Lodge.
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NextGen Under 30 Application Deadline: July 28 |
NextGen Under 30 Kansas is an annual recognition program that acknowledges and honors young professionals in Kansas who are making a difference in their community through exceptional leadership skills and achievements. Every year, many young professionals leave our state. Through this program and other opportunities, we hope to encourage these individuals to continue calling Kansas their home.
Nominating a young professional for NextGen Under 30 Kansas is an opportunity to recognize their hard work and dedication in the work they do and the communities they serve.
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A Big Thanks to Collaborative Partner:
Kansas Association of Counties
The Kansas Association of Counties (KAC) is a long-time collaborative partner with the Kansas Community Empowerment program. The KAC seeks to advance public interest by promoting effective, responsive county government in Kansas. Founded in 1975, they serve county governments through:
- Legislative representation
- Technical Assistance
- Leadership
- Professional Education
Their mission is grounded in state law and shaped by the leadership of its governing board. A representative from KAC also serves on the Kansas PRIDE, Inc. board of directors, providing guidance and support of the program and its communities. Thank you, KAC, for your ongoing efforts to support the great things happening in our state!
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Rural Grocery Initiative Workshop Opportunity
Let’s face it: all businesses, big or small, must eventually transition ownership – or they’ll close. Finding a buyer can be a big challenge, especially in rural communities. The Business Transition Planning: Exploring Solutions through Cooperative Ownership workshops will share how the cooperative ownership model can be a viable solution for rural independent business owners transitioning out of their business.
May 23, 2023 -
Phillipsburg, KS - Huck Boyd Community Center
May 24, 2023 - Dodge
City, KS - Ford County Fair Building
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CONTINUING OPPORTUNITIES SECTION |
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Kansans are blessed with a multitude of opportunities to bring federal and state funding into your communities for housing, downtown development, trails, historic preservation, and more. The Gretzky Rule: You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Kansans in 100 of 105 counties have taken Grant Writing Basics classes and reported writing $38 million of successful grants in their first year after completion. Classes are online and named for a local unit cohost. To register https://bit.ly/3P9RhcW. All classes cost $60. NEW THIS YEAR: A micro-credential for completion of the class and supporting documents showing evidence of learning.
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FIRST FRIDAY E-CALLS
K-State Research and Extension offers entrepreneurship webinars every first Friday of the month. Visit our Webpage for all past sessions. Registration information for upcoming sessions can be found HERE.
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External Funding Opportunities |
Want to put your new grant writing skills to use? Here are some opportunities for project funding outside of the KCE/PRIDE grants:
Is your community in the Union Pacific railroad footprint? If you have UP lines or facilities nearby, you may be eligible to apply for the 2023 Community Ties Giving Program. Priority areas include safety, workforce development, community spaces, environmental sustainability, and other local needs such as quality of life improvement, critical challenges, and local diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2023 and you can find out more here: https://www.up.com/aboutup/community/foundation/local-grants/index.htm
While there is currently a matching grant available for community foundations, funding opportunities from the Patterson Family Foundation are by invitation only. To inquire about funding possibilities not related to the community foundation matching grants, use the “Contact” link at the bottom of their website: https://pattersonfamilyfoundation.org/
The Mabee Foundation makes grants for construction projects, renovation projects, and for the purchase of major medical equipment. Grants are challenge grants and open to 501c3 organizations in Kansas. You can find more details on eligibility and how to apply here: https://mabeefoundation.com/
Additional Funding Resources
Is your Kansas Community Empowerment (PRIDE) community looking for funding to help with certain projects? Let us know what the project is, how much you're seeking, and what your timeline looks like. We have access to multiple external grants databases and likely can give you some links to potential funding sources. Just email us at KSCE@ksu.edu with your request and project idea. If you've utilized Jan for grant searches - KCE/PRIDE community or otherwise - please report back to us on any successes you might have so we can determine effectiveness and continue to provide this service.
Not a KCE/PRIDE community? This is just one of many resources that make it worthwhile to join! You can also reach out to your local Extension office which should have access to the database as well. - Jan Steen, Kansas Community Empowerment Program Co-Coordinator, jmsteen@ksu.edu
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Up for a Virtual, or in Person, Community Visit?
We Are, Too!
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Our offer near the end of each newsletter is to engage your community remotely, or in person!
Our model has changed slightly - we prefer virtual for initial steps as our introduction videos can be shared widely throughout the community. We would be more than happy to host a Zoom meeting where your KCE/PRIDE group members, city council members, chamber participants, Masonic Lodge, or other groups could individually log in to see the presentation or discussion and ask questions. In person is a great way to get assessments or other community planning done, and we are happy to do a survey read out as a neutral party, or help you through a Strategic Doing session. Just e-mail us at KSCE@ksu.edu to set up a schedule.
To view pre-recorded webinars giving an introduction to the program, step-by-step instructions on how to enroll or report, fundraising, recruiting volunteers, and more, head over to our Education page for more. - Jan Steen and Jaime Menon, Kansas Community Empowerment Program Co-Coordinators, KSCE@ksu.edu
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We often post items of interest on our Facebook page between newsletters. Grants, volunteer training, project ideas, and even the occasional Live stream will pop up. Click the button below to like and follow the program activity there: |
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Quarterly Report Due Dates:
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July 15th, October 15th, January 15th, April 15th
Awards Deadlines:
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Partner and Resource Links |
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The Kansas Community Empowerment Program uses no state or federal dollars to fund community projects or recognition. Sponsors support communities participating in the program by helping to fund grants and awards and have the opportunity to serve on the Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Board of Directors. It’s not just the communities that benefit – the sponsors get a lot out of it, too! To see how your company's or organization's support can benefit communities throughout the state, visit our Sponsors and Sponsorship page to find out how to donate.
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2023 Kansas Community Empowerment Enrolled Communities
The following communities have enrolled in the Kansas Community Empowerment (Kansas PRIDE) program for the 2023 program year. Communities are added to this list each month (or this list more frequently) as they enroll for the current program year. To enroll your community, visit our Enrollment and Reporting page and click on the light blue "Enroll" button to get started.
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- Admire
- Alton
- Anthony
- Arlington
- Ashland
- Assaria
- Axtell
- Basehor
- Belleville
- Blue Rapids
- Burden
- Bushton
- Caldwell
- Caney
- Clifton
- Coats
- Columbus
- Conway Springs
- Delia
- Dwight
- Elk City
- Ellis
- Erie
- Florence
- Fort Scott
- Glasco
- Grainfield
- Grinnell
- Harper
- Herndon
- Highland
- Hugoton
- Humboldt
- Independence
- Iola
- Kinsley
- La Harpe
- Lakin
- Larned
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- Lecompton
- Lenora
- Leon
- Leonardville
- Lincoln
- Lucas
- Luray
- Macksville
- Marion
- McFarland
- Melvern
- Morland
- Morton County
- Elkhart
- Rolla
- Nickerson
- Norton
- Olsburg
- Osawatomie
- Overbrook
- Ozawkie
- Perry
- Potwin
- Randolph
- Riley
- Riverton
- Rossville
- Russell
- Saint George
- Scranton
- Silver Lake
- South Central Neighborhood (Wichita)
- Toronto
- Vermillion
- Wakefield
- Wilson
- Yates Center
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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