Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced a new round of funding totaling $250,000 available through the Strategic Economic Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program. Now in its fifth round, the SEED initiative continues to support economic development and quality-of-life improvements in Kansas’ smallest communities.
“Over the last eight years, we’ve worked strategically to bring economic opportunities to all of our Kansas communities — including the rural and smaller parts of our state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “SEED funding creates transformational change in communities that might not otherwise have the means to complete necessary economic development projects on their own.”
Administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, SEED grants are available to communities in 78 eligible counties, with populations of 5,000 or fewer. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded in the following categories:
- Childcare and Senior Programming– Projects that support or enhance services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment
- Community Vibrancy– Projects that re-energize and beautify rural communities through public art, signage and placemaking initiatives
- Food Retail– Projects that increase access to food through new, expanded or renovated retail spaces
- Libraries– Projects that expand access to information and community resources through reading materials, technology upgrades, furnishings and facility improvements
Eligible applicants include local government, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and other community-based organizations in towns that have not received a SEED grant in the past year. A 10% local match is required, and all funded projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving grant funds. Grants will be distributed in two installments: half at the time of award and the remainder once the project has reached at least 50% completion.
Awarded grants are having a real impact on real Kansas communities. In 2025, a $25,000 SEED grant paired with $43,450 in local matching funds, is helping the City of Larned build a greenhouse at the Larned Community Garden for students, volunteers and seniors to utilize. A “Senior Saturdays” program will have seniors planting vegetables and flowers during the winter, then returning in the spring to take them home. The city also is creating programming with cooking classes and a county-wide equipment share co-op that will give seniors more opportunities for socialization.
“We’re excited about the impact that the equipment share program and the greenhouse will have on our community,” City of Larned City Manager Bradley Eilts said. “Together, they create opportunities that simply wouldn’t be possible in a small rural community. Through programs like Senior Saturdays, we’ll be able to provide meaningful hands-on experiences, social connections and access to resources that enrich the lives of our older adults.”
Funding for the SEED program is made possible through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions (TEFFI) Development and Expansion Fund, established through bipartisan legislation in 2021 to promote economic development statewide in rural communities.
SEED grant applications will open Monday, Aug. 17, and close at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. Awardees will be announced in December.
A webinar to learn more about this opportunity will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18. Those interested in participating can register here. The webinar also will be recorded and available on demand following the meeting.
For information about program guidelines, the list of eligible counties, or to view previous awardees, visit the SEED Grant webpage here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.