Clay Center, KS – Grow Clay County is excited to announce that they received the SEED Grant in the amount of $46,651 that will go to various communities in Clay County for projects in three categories, Community Vibrancy, Libraries, and Food Retail.
Natalie Muruato, the executive director, commented, “Grow Clay County has been working to strengthen our county as a whole and work collectively with each community, understanding we are better when we work together. Each community has assets that contribute to the quality of life and economic prosperity of our area. Clay County has seen an increase in visitors because of our murals, and community vibrancy plays a big part in how people feel when they come to a community. However, many small communities battle population decline, infrastructure issues, housing, and childcare shortages, and other projects like placemaking and city attractiveness rank way down on the to-do list. The SEED Grant will help jump-start some of these projects in our rural towns, enhancing the visitor experience and quality of life for the residents.”
Wakefield will receive funding for park benches, trash cans, library enhancements, and a rural grocery store. Longford will be able to make playground upgrades and install new entrance signs and avenue flags. Green will install new entrance signs with their portion, and Clifton will get new trash cans downtown. Clay Center will receive funding to continue building the Rundle/Brown Athletic Complex, including soccer goals and benches.
“SEED grants provide funding for quality-of-life enhancements in some of our state’s smallest communities,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “These investments will set the stage for future economic development success and prosperity across the state.”
Awardees are located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less, as required by (KS Stat 9-2324 [2021]). They are required to provide a minimum 10-percent match as well as complete the projects within 12 months.
Funding for the SEED program, which is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, is provided through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions (TEFFI) Development and Expansion Fund. The TEFFI Act was enacted in 2021 through bipartisan legislation to promote economic development throughout the state.
Follow us on the Grow Clay County Facebook page for updates on the various Clay County community projects.
