New Round of HEAL Funding to Assist 15 Rural Communities; McDonald Included

Kansas Department of Commerce

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the Kansas Department of Commerce awarded over $1.3 million in Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant funding to support 15 building renovation projects across the state. When matched with nearly $3.9 million in local contributions, this round of HEAL funding brings the total investment to approximately $5.2 million available to revitalize downtown buildings.

“Our HEAL program continues to drive meaningful economic growth across Kansas by turning underutilized historic buildings into engines for new business activity and investment,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These projects create opportunities for entrepreneurs, attract additional local funding, and strengthen the long-term economic vitality of our rural communities while preserving their unique character.”

By providing matching grants through a competitive process, HEAL helps communities transform dilapidated and underutilized spaces into thriving hubs for businesses, housing, childcare, arts, civic activities and entrepreneurship. These awards are specifically designed to revitalize rural downtown districts throughout Kansas. In doing so, HEAL fosters reinvestment, encourages community engagement, and boosts the overall economic health of Kansas communities.

Administered by the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity, the HEAL grant program has helped or is currently transforming more than 100 buildings in rural Kansas communities.

“Since the start of the HEAL program in 2021, we’ve witnessed the impact it has had on our rural downtowns,” Office of Rural Prosperity Director Trisha Purdon said. “These kinds of projects bring new jobs, spaces for our entrepreneurs, unique housing opportunities and spaces for community members to gather — all of which are aimed to grow economic prosperity in our small towns.”

The Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity will host a special check presentation for the newest round of awardees on Friday, May 15. The HEAL awards will be utilized for a wide variety of projects:

• Baileyville, $55,200: Transforming a historic building into a well-utilized community event venue

• Chapman, $100,000: Creating office spaces, short-term rentals or apartments on the upper level

• Cheney, $100,000: Bringing to life a grocery and golf cart store to meet community needs

• Galena, $100,000: Providing needed office space downtown and short-term rental apartments

• Gardner, $100,000: Bringing to life the Main Street Market Place and Maker’s Gallery

• Great Bend, $10,000: Creating a welcoming entry to an aquarium store

• Jewell, $100,000: Supporting the revitalization of a building for a micro-market and restaurant

• Kinsley, $66,410: Transforming a vacant building into an event venue

• McDonald, $80,000: Turning a vacant building to a 24-hour grocery store

• McPherson, $100,000: Converting an underutilized upper-story space to short-term rental apartments

• Osawatomie, $100,000: Rehabilitating a collapsing building to transform into a short-term apartment and retail space

• Potwin, $100,000: Renovating an old fuel station to a market and community space

• Russell, $98,588: Bringing additional residential spaces above an existing salon business

• Seneca, $98,589: Bringing new residential spaces above a historic theater

• Tipton, $100,000: Creating spaces for a new restaurant

To view the full list of awarded HEAL projects or learn more about the program, visit here.