Great ideas and hard work lead to better communities
PRIDE Program provides funding for projects
November 27, 2018
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Several Kansas communities will make improvements to benefit their citizens, thanks to new funding from the Kansas PRIDE program, including new gym equipment for Lenora, roof repairs in Lecompton and a garden project in Columbus.
Kansas PRIDE, Inc. provides start-up grants for eligible local PRIDE organizations. The Kansas PRIDE Program is a partnership of K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas PRIDE, Inc. and Kansas Masons. Through the program, communities identify what they want to preserve, create, or improve for the future. Volunteers form a local PRIDE organization that works with K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Commerce to accomplish its goals.
The fall 2018 Community of Action award projects include:
- Lecompton PRIDE- Community Center Roof Repairs
- LaHarpe PRIDE- Park Lighting Project
- Lenora PRIDE- Community Gym Equipment
- Columbus PRIDE- Community Garden Project
- Humboldt PRIDE- Park Wheel Flower Planting Project
“Community of Action grants are mini-grants intended to be used by local PRIDE communities to address a need that has been identified through a community planning process,” said Jaime Menon, program co-coordinator for community vitality in the PRIDE Program. The grants are provided by Kansas PRIDE, Inc. as a one-to-one match with communities that can provide funding or sweat equity for up to the maximum amount of $2,000 per project. Community of Action grant applications are available in two rounds of funding per year. To date nearly $100,000 has been awarded to PRIDE community projects.
Another type of funding, Community of Growth grants provide funding to assist communities with startup and related operating expenses.
The fall 2018 Community of Growth awards include:
- Admire PRIDE
- Clifton PRIDE
- Savonburg PRIDE
- Vermillion PRIDE
- Wilson PRIDE
Another round of Community of Growth grants will be offered in the spring of 2019. Only five awards are given each round, so the awards are highly competitive. This year to date, $1,000 has been granted to Kansas PRIDE Communities of Growth.
More information about Kansas PRIDE and how Kansas communities can be involved is available on http://www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KansasPRIDE or by calling 785-532-5840.
