By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that 21 projects across that state will receive nearly $1.4 million in state assistance, along with $3.4 million in private local matching funds, for another round of the Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grant program. The city of Stafford and Pawnee County Economic Development will each receive $100,000. Stafford County Economic Development will receive $50,000, which Director Ryan Russell said will go toward the renovation of Gray Photography Studio in St. John.
"The building right now is pretty much gutted inside," he said. "They had a previous grant that covered fixing the foundation and the outside of the building. This grant will be for doing all the inside of the building."
HEAL grants require a matching grant. Russell said he collected bids for the renovation, and SJN Bank of Kansas in St. John provided the matching loan of $50,000.
"They're really supportive of everything in our community," Russell said. "Chad Fisher, who is the president, he's really community-minded and supports pretty much everything we do. They're also giving us a million dollars for our housing project."
The housing project loan will supplement Kansas Housing Resources Company funding the state provided to build nine homes in the county, and Russell said that project would not have been possible without the bank's assistance. Gray Studio will pay back the loan for the HEAL grant with proceeds from events, classes, and rental fees.
"There will be an apartment in the studio," said Russell. "They're going to be using it both for short-term Airbnbs, and they will have resident artists that will be using it as well when they pop in to do classes. They'll be getting revenue from that, and they'll be having classes and charge for that."