Local
Written by: Press Release Published by David Elliott Publication Date: 06-18-2024
Lt. Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced eight inaugural grant recipients from the Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) program.
A total of eight projects in designated Kansas Main Street communities will receive $50,000 each to create a total of 35 new residential units on the upper floors of downtown buildings.
“There is a substantial amount of unused upper floor space in downtown buildings throughout rural Kansas, and this is a unique opportunity to create additional housing units,” Toland said. “Investing in rural downtown areas is critical to the quality of life in these communities, making them more attractive to current and future residents. With so many companies looking to locate or expand their operations in rural Kansas, it is important that opportunities housing projects keep pace.
This is the first grant of its kind designed specifically for designated Kansas Main Street communities. Applicants go through a competitive process that demonstrates their commitment and active intent to revitalize downtown business districts. As designated Main Street communities, each will receive a high level of technical assistance and training from state and national Main Street programs. Currently, there are 30 active designated communities participating in the Kansas Main Street program.
“We know that urban centers can play a role in helping solve housing problems throughout Kansas, but the projects are very expensive,” said Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell. “These grants help create new housing opportunities in these communities and will make each of these urban centers more attractive to live, shop and invest in.”
Summer 2024 ROOMS grant recipients include:
- Locally Atchison: Creation of a new unit, Little Green House, a four-bedroom luxury apartment.
- GO! Augusta: Creation of two new units, Free State Apartments, each with two bedrooms.
- Chanute Main Street: Creation of 10 new units in the Sturdevant Hardware building, ranging from studios to two bedrooms.
- Emporia Main Street: Creation of seven new one- and two-bedroom units, 502 Lofts in the Bundrem Building.
- Great Bend Main Street and Economic Development: Creation of three new one- and two-bedroom units, Hammond Lofts.
- Newton Main Street: Creation of eight new one- and two-bedroom units in the Voelker Building across from the old city hall.
- Salina Downtown Inc. – Creating a new two-bedroom unit, KPSB Loft.
- Sterling Main Street – Creation of six new one- and two-bedroom units in the Shay Building located in the historic central business district.
To view a recording of a ROOMS webinar, click here. For more information about the Kansas Main Street program, click here.
(Information courtesy of the Kansas Department of Commerce.)
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