$11 Million in Community Development Block Grants awarded for community improvement projects
TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced that 23 communities will receive federal grants for a variety of community improvement projects, including sewer and water projects, housing rehabilitation and community facilities improvements. These communities will share a total of $11,019,485 in federal grants.
Through the Community Development Block Grant program, 12 Kansas communities will share a total of $6,806,637 in federal grants for water and sewer projects, two Kansas communities will share $600,000 for housing rehabilitation and nine communities will share $3,612,828 for community facility projects.
“Vital public services including water, sewer and community facilities are essential to all communities in Kansas,” said Secretary David Toland. “The CDBG grants will help provide the funding needed by these 23 communities to ensure improved quality of life for their residents.”
The CDBG program, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, provides federal funds to local governments for the development of viable communities by addressing their housing, public facilities and economic development needs. To be awarded funds, local government units must meet at least one of three program objectives:
• The grant will benefit low and moderate-income persons
• The grant will prevent or eliminate slums and blight
• The grant will resolve an urgent need where local resources are not available to do so
The CDBG funds are one of the Department of Commerce’s primary tools in supporting the state’s small, predominantly rural communities.
The following northwest Kansas communities have been awarded CDBG grants:
he City of Bird City will receive $200,50 in CDBG grant funds to complete a street project throughout the city. The city will contribute $200,507 city funds towards this project.
The City of Brewster will receive $409,980 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city. The city will provide $409,980 in matching funds it secured through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment.
The City of Downs will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water treatment plant improvement for the city. The city will provide $1,580,532 matching funds it secured from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. The city is also contributing $900 of their local funds.
The City of Oberlin will receive $600,000 in CDBG funds to make improvements to its water distribution system. The city will provide all matching funds themselves in the amount of $475,045.
The City of Phillipsburg will receive $462,837 in CDBG funds to make improvements to its water distribution system throughout the city. The city will provide $460,738 in matching funds they have secured through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. The city is also contributing $2,100 of their local funds.
The City of Russell is being awarded $600,000 in CDBG funds to make water distribution improvements throughout the city. The city will provide all matching funds themselves in the amount of $893,300.