The Kansas Healthy Food Initiative (KHFI) is continuing its efforts to support local economies across the state.

Program Manager Erica Blair announced that KHFI will provide $200,000 to Kansas communities through the Predevelopment Technical Assistance Grant program in 2025. The application is available online and must be submitted by April 27.

Since its launch in 2018, KHFI has funded 74 projects across 45 counties, primarily focused on infrastructure, construction, and equipment. This marks the first time the initiative has introduced a dedicated grant program to support predevelopment costs for planning and designing healthy food retail projects.

Blair highlighted the lack of grocery stores offering healthy and affordable food in many Kansas communities, reflecting a broader national trend of declining locally owned grocery stores. She emphasized that grocery stores and farmers markets are crucial for meeting basic needs, supporting healthy living, circulating local dollars, and fostering community connections.

Eligible projects for the current funding round should focus on increasing the availability of healthy food in retail outlets that sell groceries, excluding restaurants and food pantries. Eligible activities may include market research, architectural design, site planning, community engagement, business planning, and legal assistance.

For more information, interested parties can view the program guidelines online or contact KHFI at khfi@k-state.edu.

A webinar on the grant program and application process will be held on March 18 at 1 p.m. Registration is required, and those interested can sign up at  KansasHealthyFood.org.