Kansas Business and Commerce Grants

NetWork Kansas, in partnership with K-State 105, is offering a one-time grant of $100,000 to $500,000 to support new or early-stage projects focused on entrepreneurship and small business development, with a maximum funding request of $125,000 per project and a 25% match required, open to for-profit businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, and municipalities in Kansas.

The 2024 To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards, presented by the Kansas Department of Commerce, is an annual program designed to recognize companies and individuals throughout Kansas for their significant positive impact on their communities and the state's economy. While the provided text doesn't explicitly detail the "foundation's mission alignment" or "strategic priorities and theory of change" in a traditional philanthropic sense, the program's very existence aligns with a governmental department's mission to foster economic growth, community development, and business excellence within the state. The "awards and prizes" grant type indicates a focus on acknowledging past achievements and incentivizing future contributions rather than funding new projects. The target beneficiaries of this program are a diverse group of companies and individuals across various sectors in Kansas. The impact goals are clearly to acknowledge and celebrate those making a positive difference, thereby indirectly encouraging continued innovation, community engagement, and economic contributions. The program aims to highlight success stories, which can serve to inspire other businesses and individuals, contributing to a more vibrant and prosperous Kansas. The program's priorities and focuses are outlined through its specific award categories. These include AgriBusiness for agricultural excellence; Apprenticeship Champions and Partners for entities excelling in registered apprenticeship programs; Business Innovation for companies incorporating innovative technologies; Healthcare/Nonprofit for noteworthy services; Manufacturing/Distribution for outstanding achievement in these sectors; Non-Traditional Talent Pools for companies hiring individuals with justice system involvement, youth, seniors, or individuals with disabilities; Retail/Service for exceptional performance; Under 30 Entrepreneurs for young business successes; and Welcome Back for entrepreneurs who have returned to Kansas. These categories demonstrate a broad interest in supporting a diverse and inclusive economic landscape. The expected outcomes and measurable results, while not explicitly quantified in the provided text, can be inferred from the nature of an awards program. Success would be measured by the number and quality of nominations, the recognition of deserving entities, and the positive publicity generated for the awardees and the state's business environment. The program implicitly aims to strengthen the Kansas economy by promoting excellence and showcasing successful models, which could lead to increased investment, job creation, and overall economic vitality.

This program provides funding to rural communities for the rehabilitation of at-risk downtown buildings, helping to revitalize local economies and support businesses, housing, and cultural initiatives.

The BARN grant program aims to preserve Kansas barns, reviving underutilized, vacant, or dilapidated structures while fostering new economic activity through agritourism ventures. These building grants are specifically designed to rescue barns from likely demolition or collapse and rehabilitate them into spaces conducive for new or expanding agritourism businesses. The types of projects we are looking for with the BARN grant are those that will encourage people, particularly from out of state, to visit agritourism locations in Kansas. All projects should have an accountable tie to the tourism industry. The future uses of the barn, transformed through the BARN program, are not solely about preserving historical structures. Rather, they are about repurposing these spaces into vibrant hubs for agritourism activities, thereby injecting new life and economic opportunities into communities. Agritourism ventures capitalize on the appeal of agricultural experiences, offering visitors opportunities to engage with farming, local food production, and rural culture in immersive and educational ways.

This program invites nominations to honor individuals, organizations, and communities in Kansas for their outstanding contributions to the arts, celebrating creativity and cultural enrichment in the state.

The Douglas County Community Foundation in Kansas is inviting applications for its Livewell Community Wellness Grants, aimed at supporting organizations that promote healthy eating and physical activity, or offer programs to reduce lifestyle-related chronic diseases, with the proposal required to come from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or government entity and benefit the residents of Douglas County.

This initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.

This program provides funding to support community events that promote cultural and economic development in Lawrence, Kansas, enhancing the city's unique identity.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This program provides financial assistance to private property owners in non-entitlement communities in Kansas for rehabilitating blighted commercial buildings to boost economic revitalization and improve downtown areas.

This grant provides financial support to independently owned legacy businesses along the historic Route 66 corridor, focusing on preservation projects that enhance visibility and sustainability, particularly for underrepresented communities.

This program provides funding to revitalize underutilized downtown buildings in Kansas, supporting projects that promote economic growth and community engagement through various uses like businesses, housing, and cultural initiatives.

This program provides funding to various organizations and businesses in Kansas to create or improve tourism attractions that will draw more visitors and stimulate the local economy.

This program provides funding to support the renovation of upper floors in historic downtown buildings in Kansas, transforming them into long-term housing units to revitalize communities and address housing shortages.

This grant provides financial support to Black entrepreneurs who are positively impacting their communities, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.

This funding opportunity supports initiatives that recruit and develop qualified teachers in rural Kansas and western Missouri communities with populations under 50,000, focusing on alternative certification pathways and local workforce models.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for new marketing initiatives aimed at boosting tourism in Kansas, targeting not-for-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, government agencies, and other eligible entities involved in promoting travel destinations.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that support affordable housing, economic resilience, financial health, homeownership, and small business development for low- and moderate-income communities across 26 states.

This program provides resources and support to Kansas communities seeking to revitalize and preserve their downtown areas through economic development and historic preservation initiatives.

This program provides financial support to women-owned or operated businesses along Route 66 to help them maintain operations, reopen, preserve, or expand their ventures.