By Trish Svoboda

Five Rural Kansas communities received $17,000 in grants from Twin Valley. The funding supports local outreach initiatives as part of its community pledge. The program focuses on meeting local needs with a focus on promoting digital inclusion and building on the company’s statewide efforts for digital equity.

Among the awardees are Junction City, which received $5,000 for The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. The funding will be used to purchase laptops with cameras for students in online college courses.

The Miltonvale Chamber received $1,000 which will be used to add signage for activities and events, such as Tootlefest and the Farmers market.

The Glasco City Library got $4,239 and will use it to upgrade the technology lab with new computers, software, charging stations, and more.

Bluestem Elementary School and Community Garden in Leon received $1,660 to double the size of their garden, and lastly, the Longton Fire Department was awarded $5,000 to upgrade their equipment adding five digital handheld radios to the department.