Kansas Community Empowerment Newsletter | |
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- Sponsor Spotlight: Networks Plus
- KCE Signage Delivery Continues!
- Speaking of Signage...
- Community Happenings
- Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities: Seeking Host City
- Continuing Opportunities
- K-State Garden Hour June Webinar
- External Funding Opportunities
- Events Calendar
- Out of Office June 17-20
- Partner Resources
- Collaborative Partner Highlight: League of Kansas Municipalities
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Thrivent Choice®
- Sponsorship Opportunity
- 2024 Enrolled Communities
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Sponsor Spotlight: Networks Plus
We're shining the spotlight on our sponsors each month. This month we're thanking Networks Plus.
Networks Plus offers comprehensive cybersecurity and managed IT services for northeast Kansas businesses. They've been devoted to the success of their partners since the early 1990s and take pride in understanding their clients' details and knowing their risks and concerns.
Thanks to everyone at Networks Plus for supporting Kansas communities!
Interested in becoming a Kansas Community Empowerment sponsor? Check out our sponsorship details near the end of the newsletter!
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The KCE signage delivery voyage continues! Featured are representatives of Glasco PRIDE, receiving their new KCE sign!
Thanks to our partnerships with the Kansas Masonic Foundation and the Kansas Department of Commerce, every community that was enrolled in KCE in 2023 had the chance to receive a brand new sign after the program rebranding!
Some signs have been distributed already (some have not wanted to take pictures because they want to take them at the time of installation or with their full KCE/PRIDE group - If you are one of them, don't forget to share those photos with us at KSCE@ksu.edu). Additional delivery coordination is in the works for many more signs - so if you know you should be receiving a sign, keep an eye on your inbox in upcoming weeks! Want to keep up on the deliveries? Check out our Facebook Page for updates!
Congratulations to Glasco on continuously improving their amazing community!
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Speaking of Signage...
We've had requests from communities that are wanting to purchase additional signage - well, the wait is over! If your community is interested in purchasing additional signage, visit our Recognition Page and view the Customized Local Signage tab. The information you need is right there - but do engage us at KSCE@ksu.edu before ordering, we just might have a sign reserved for you!
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Content for this section comes from emails, quarterly reports, and community website/social media updates. If you'd like to highlight recent activities or promote an upcoming event in a future newsletter, email us at: ksce@ksu.edu. | |
Plenty of things have been happening in Grainfield recently, according to the Grainfield Community Development Committee. A new welcome sign is in the works as well as a new city website. The website will have school, city, church, community, water bill payment, and activities information. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the two new medical facilities in town, and a new senior center will be housed at the Grainfield City Library. We're looking forward to hearing about what's happening next! | |
Kinsley PRIDE raises money to assist with community needs, and one of the ways they do that is through their Twice is Nice thrift store downtown. They reported recently the contribution of nearly $7,500 for Main Street improvements, Senior Citizen Center meals, a new daycare, a banner for Kinsley High School, the movie theater, multiple 4-H activities, and more. The Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Board of Directors is excited to visit Kinsley for its June quarterly board meeting later in the month. | |
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Alton PRIDE filled us in on their Annual Spring Cleanup event. Thirty-one volunteers chipped in to help on a lengthy list of jobs, including:
- Roof repair on Gen. Bull's replica cabin.
- Trimming of lilac bushes and evergreen trees.
- Street cleanup.
- Centennial Garden foliage tidying.
- Entry sign polishing.
Several indoor projects also took place. A supper for the volunteers was held, followed by Alton PRIDE's monthly meeting.
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External Funding Opportunities | |
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If you're looking for project funding outside of the Kansas Community Empowerment program, here are some potential opportunities:
T-Mobile offers grants to communities of 50,000 or less. Grant amounts of $50,000 are available for shovel-ready projects. Proposals must include plans, budget, timeline, anticipated impact, and letters of support (up to 5). You can find out more here: https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants
The American Academy of Dermatology Association has grants in the amount of up to $8,000 for outdoor shade structures. Funds are awarded to schools, daycares, parks, non-profit organizations – for places where children learn and play. You’ll need a letter of recommendation from a member dermatologist, but the AADA makes it easy to locate members with their Find a Dermatologist Tool. You can find the tool and more information on applying here: https://www.aad.org/public/public-health/shade-structure-grants/shade-structure-grant-application
Kansas Tourism recently announced their Barn Adaptation and Restoration Needs (BARN) grant program to support and expand agritourism businesses across Kansas. The program will provide funding to assist in the conversion of underutilized or vacant historic barns into new venues. Grants can be awarded for up to $25,000 with $100,000 being provided in total for this year. Find out more about the program and look for the link to the application materials on the bottom of this page: https://www.aad.org/public/public-health/shade-structure-grants/shade-structure-grant-application
Additional Funding Resources
Is your 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.
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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Events Calendar
Quarterly Report Due Dates:
- January 15th, April 15th, July 15th, October 15th
A reminder that you can get to the reporting database here: https://reports.kce.k-state.edu/
Awards Deadlines:
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Out of Office June 17-20
Jaime and Jan will be attending the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals conference in Houston, TX from June 17th to 20th. This conference has always been a great opportunity to learn about new resources and collaboration opportunities we can bring back to Kansas. During this time we'll have limited access to email and phone but will check as we're able and get back to you as soon as possible.
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Partner Resources and Links | |
Collaborative Partner Highlight:
League of Kansas Municipalities
The League of Kansas Municipalities is a long-time collaborative partner with the Kansas Community Empowerment program. Their mission is to serve as the convenor, advocate, and trusted voice for Kansas local governments.
The League offers a wide variety of services and resources to member communities, including the Kansas Government Journal where you'll find an article each year about amazing things happening in Kansas Community Empowerment communities. They also put on a conference every year full of valuable workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities. Find us at our booth at the Annual League Conference this October!
Thank you, League of Kansas Municipalities, for your committed efforts to make Kansas a great place to be through your work, and your service on the Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Board of Directors.
You can find out more about the League of Kansas Municipalities and the great work it's involved with by clicking on the logo above.
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Thrivent Choice ®
Many of you know that Kansas Community Empowerment is a joint project of Kansas PRIDE, Inc., K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Masons, and the Kansas Department of Commerce. Funds used for many of the program's grants to communities are donated by the businesses and associations belonging to Kansas PRIDE, Inc. – no tax dollars are contributed by government agencies. Individuals can donate to the Kansas Community Empowerment program through Kansas PRIDE, Inc. too, and most of the members of the board of the Kansas PRIDE, Inc. do just that.
We’re happy to announce that Kansas PRIDE, Inc. has been approved as a Thrivent Choice® Recipient Organization. Members of Thrivent can direct Choice Dollars® to fund the mission of our program. If your local Kansas Community Empowerment committee and community have Thrivent members, encourage them to direct some or all of their Choice Dollars® to Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Thrivent members can find Kansas PRIDE, Inc. in the Thrivent Choice® catalog at:
https://service.thrivent.com/apps/ThriventChoiceMemberWeb/public/orgDetails/100986146578
Members can also donate cash directly to Kansas PRIDE, Inc. through the Thrivent Choice Program with no processing fees. Thrivent is a membership-owned fraternal organization providing holistic financial services, with a non-profit organizational structure which allows it to distribute funds to charities.
In April, just after approval as a participant, Kansas PRIDE, Inc. received its first $7.00 from one member’s request to direct his Choice Dollars® to the program. The potential for more is real. In 2023, almost $31.4 million was donated to approved charities in the United States.
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Sponsorship Opportunity
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 Donation page to find out how to donate.
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2024 Enrolled Communities | | |
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Below is a list of communities that have enrolled in the Kansas Community Empowerment 2024 program year so far. 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 page to get started!
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Admire
Alton
Anthony
Arlington
Ashland
Assaria
Belleville
Blue Rapids
Caldwell
Caney
Centralia
Clifton
Columbus
Conway Springs
Delia
Dover
Elk City
Elkhart
Ellis
Erie
Formoso
Fort Scott
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Glasco
Grainfield
Grinnell
Harper
Herington
Herndon
Highland
Horton
Humboldt
Independence
Iola
Kinsley
La Harpe
Lakin
Larned
Lecompton
Lenora
Leonardville
Lincoln
Lucas
Luray
McFarland
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Melvern
Mount Hope
Nickerson
Norton
Olsburg
Overbrook
Ozawkie
Portis
Potwin
Quenemo
Randolph
Riley
Riverton
Russell
Saint George
Savonburg
Towanda
Vermillion
Viola
Wakefield
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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