Commerce Dept. Announces SEED Grant Recipients Supporting Economic Development

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the award recipients for the new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program.
In total, 61 recipients will receive nearly $2.7 million to invest in small communities across the state. 

“SEED grants provide funding for quality-of-life enhancements in some of our state’s smallest communities,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “These investments will set the stage for future economic development success and prosperity across the state.”  

Awardees are located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less, as required by (KS Stat 9-2324 [2021]). They are required to provide a minimum 10-percent match as well as complete the projects within 12 months. Projects must be focused on economic development and revitalization efforts through one of the following quality-of-life categories: 
Childcare and senior programming – projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies, and equipment 
Community vibrancy – projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals, and signage 
Food retail – projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation and/or expansion 
Libraries – projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture, and building improvements 

Funding for the SEED program, which is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, is provided through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions (TEFFI) Development and Expansion Fund. The TEFFI Act was enacted in 2021 through bipartisan legislation to promote economic development throughout the state. 

The 2022 SEED grant recipients include:

Meade – The Community Enhancement Foundation of Plains 
Food Retail 
$14,738  

Stanton – Stanton County Community Foundation 
Community Vibrancy 
$36,480  
 
Stevens – Heritage Christian Academy 
Childcare 
$49,125