Community Grant Opportunity Calendar

Community Grant Opportunities

Drawing from the priorities identified through the Community Growth Conversations, several funding opportunities—federal, state, and private—have been matched to community needs.

The following section outlines specific grants and funding sources organized by project type and community need. These opportunities can be pursued by individual communities or in partnership, particularly for regional efforts such as infrastructure improvements, housing development, and workforce initiatives.

Download Community Projects & Related Grants as a pdf. 

Community-Wide Projects

• Street repair and asphalt patching (Westmoreland, St. George)
  
• Storm drainage and culverts (Westmoreland)
  
• Sewer infrastructure assessment and repair (St. Marys)
  
• Equipment replacement (Westmoreland)
  
• Salt storage and shop/equipment bays (Westmoreland)

Relevant Grants:

1. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Kansas Department of Commerce
   • Categories: Water/Sewer, Street, Community Facilities
     
   • Equipment may be eligible under the Community Facilities category.
     
   • Annual deadline; communities <50,000 population are eligible.
     
2. USDA Rural Development – Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
   
   • Public works equipment (e.g., backhoe, skid loader, plow truck)
     
   • City halls, public safety buildings, street improvements
     
   • Can be paired with loan for larger projects
     
3. Kansas State Revolving Fund (SRF)
   
   • Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF (via KDHE)
     
   • For sewer, stormwater, and water system upgrades
     
4. KDOT Cost Share & Local Bridge Improvement Program
   
   • Infrastructure, roads, culverts
     
   • Cost share of up to 85% for qualifying projects

Downtown Revitalization & Community Facilities

• Downtown strategic planning (St. George, Onaga)
  
• Vacant building rehab for city or business use (Onaga)
  
• City hall, community center, and library repairs (Westmoreland)
  
• Beautification, signage, murals, and lighting (St. Marys)
  
• Historic preservation and memorial arch (St. Marys)

Relevant Grants:

1. Kansas Department of Commerce – HEAL (Historic Economic Asset Lifeline)
   

• 1. • Vacant or underutilized downtown buildings
       
     • Must have end-user or reuse plan
       
  2. Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC)
     
     • Mural grants, public art, and creative placemaking
       
     • Historic and cultural projects (e.g., memorial arch, signage with historic link)
       
  3. National Endowment for the Arts – Our Town Grant
     
     • Creative placemaking, local identity, community design plans
       
     • Competitive, but potential for regional collaboration
       
  4. CDBG – Community Facilities
     
     • Includes community centers, libraries, City Halls, and related improvements (e.g., Westmoreland library and community center repairs)
       
  5. USDA Community Facilities Grant & Loan Program

Housing

• Creative housing strategy and infill development (St. Marys)
  
• Expansion areas and flood easements (St. Marys)
  
• Housing needs assessments (Wamego, St. Marys)
  
• Site development for new housing

Relevant Grants:

1. Kansas Housing Resource Corporation (KHRC) – Moderate Income Housing (MIH)
   
   • Infrastructure and gap funding for moderate-income housing
     
   • MIH-ARPA grants for smaller communities
     
2. CDBG – Housing Rehabilitation Program
   
   • Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation for low- to moderate-income households
     
   • Often requires city participation and public outreach
     
3. USDA Rural Housing Site Loans
   
   • For land development for housing in rural communities

Parks, Recreation, & Community Space

• Master Parks Plan (St. George)
  
• South ball diamond fencing and lighting (Westmoreland)
  
• Pool and concession stand improvements (St. Marys)
  

Relevant Grants:

1. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) – Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
   • For parks, ball fields, playgrounds, pools
     
2. Kansas Recreation Trails Program (RTP)
   
   • Trails, sidewalks, ADA accessibility
     
3. NRPA Play & Youth Grants / KaBOOM!
   
   • Playground improvements and community-led park upgrades

Economic Development & Workforce

• Business accelerator and entrepreneurship space (St. Marys, Onaga)
  
• Workforce training and talent pipeline development (St. Marys, region)
  
• Commercial corridor expansion (St. George, Hwy 24)
  
• Downtown and business district redevelopment (multi-community)
  
• Community branding, signage, and tourism amenities

Relevant Grants:

1. EDA (Economic Development Administration) – Public Works & Economic Adjustment Assistance
   
   • Infrastructure to support economic development
     
   • Downtown redevelopment, workforce centers
     
2. Kansas Department of Commerce – BASE (Building a Stronger Economy)
   
   • Supports infrastructure, facility construction, and business development
     
   • Highly competitive, but supports collaborative applications
     
3. Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP)
   
   • Nonprofits can apply for state tax credits to support community economic development projects
     
   • Good fit for business accelerators and workforce centers
     
4. Kansas Workforce AID / KansasWorks Grants
   
   • For technical training, recruiting, and retention
     
5. Kansas Tourism Sub-Grants (signage, branding, wayfinding)
   • Signage, branding, wayfinding

Water, Sewer, & Environmental Health

• Nitrate mitigation in water systems (St. George)
  
• Sewer system rehab and flood resiliency (St. Marys)

Relevant Grants:

1. KDHE State Revolving Fund (SRF)
   
   • Drinking water improvements and nitrate treatment
     
   • Sewer line repair and system upgrades
     
2. USDA Rural Development – Water & Waste Disposal Grants
   
   • For populations under 10,000
     
   • May fund planning, engineering, and construction
     
3. EPA Technical Assistance Programs (via FHRC)
   
   • Already supporting Onaga
     
   • Could be expanded to St. George or St. Marys

Next Steps

• Download a copy of the Community Grant Calendar. Open the Google Sheet, then select “File” → “Make a Copy” to save it to your own Google Drive. The sheet includes grants and timelines you can update and track for your community.
  
• Regional Applications: Several grant programs (EDA, USDA, CDBG) score better with regional collaboration.
  
• Technical Assistance: Consider bringing in grant writers or partner agencies (e.g., Flint Hills Regional Council, etc) to assist with more complex grants like EDA or USDA.
  
• Timeline Mapping: Build a shared calendar showing deadlines, required planning steps (e.g., engineer’s report), and public hearings for CDBG.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Use upcoming Growth Conversations to align multiple communities on shared grant pursuits (e.g., sewer upgrades or housing strategies).

All Related Downloads: 

•  Community Growth Conversations Outcomes pdf
• Community Projects & Related Grants pdf
• Community Grant Opportunity Calendar pdf
• Community Grant Opportunity Calendar Google Sheet