By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com
Stafford County Economic Development Director Ryan Russell is doing all he can to help local farmers, entrepreneurs, and business-minded individuals tap into grant funding from the government that is just waiting to be awarded.
“There is a lot of money that has become available to help people in rural areas like this part of Kansas get invested in food production businesses that benefit the communities around them,” Russell said. “I am just trying to help people connect with grant opportunities that they might be eligible for.”
On Wednesday September 18, Russell hosted a Business Builder Grant Overview meeting in St. John where he spoke to attenders about a new grant opportunity for farmers and food entreprenuers. The EcoDevo organization was able to support applications for this round and there will be another opportunity in March for the same grant,” Russell said. “It’s a busy time with harvest and so many community and school activities going on, but if people can carve out a time to see what is happening, there is likely something that fits what they want to do.”
Russell said Business Builder Grant awards from the Heartland Regional Food Business Center will provide financial awards of $5,000 to $50,000 each to support projects focused on meeting regional needs and increasing capacity among food and farm businesses working toward expansion in local and regional food markets.
Eligible to apply are small food and farm businesses or nonprofit organizations either located in or serving the five-state Heartland Center region (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska) as well as nine counties in northwest Arkansas.
The Heartland Center is one of 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers in the country. Centers are tasked with building food supply chain resilience through development support for small, mid-size, and diverse food and farm businesses.
The Heartland Center anticipates three rounds of funding for a total of $11.15 million, or ~$3.72 million each round. While first round applications are due on October 15, Russell said the next round of applications will begin almost immediately so there is time to get on board with the programs available.
On Friday, October 4, Russell conducted a Lunch and Learn program about Kansas Mainstreet Program funding and grants now available. Russell said Stafford County Economic Development is working to help develop the downtown areas of Stafford County towns. This includes a project partnering with the City of St. John to rennovate Hoods Haven and partnering with the City of Stafford in developing a downtown event space and creating a historic district.
Russell, who is available for consultation for entities from other counties in addition to those from Stafford County, may be reached at 620-314-5561 or by email at ryan@staffordecodevo.com for more information.
