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Kansas HEAL grant program turning abandoned buildings into thriving businesses

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Kansas HEAL grant program turning abandoned buildings into thriving businesses


TOPEKA (KSNT) — A new round of funding totaling $1.5 million is going towards a grant program which aims to revitalize downtown buildings in small Kansas towns.

The Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) program started back in 2021 and is offered by the Kansas Department of Commerce. The grants help fund renovation projects for old downtown buildings in rural Kansas, turning them into businesses such as restaurants, hotels, museums and more.

Now, the program is receiving a sixth round of funding and is currently accepting new applications.

“We’ve helped save 108 buildings now across the state of Kansas in towns as small as 15 people,” said Trisha Purdon with the KDC. “It helps revitalize these towns and gives the community hope that they can be the next growing community.”

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We spoke with Matt Hoover, who received a HEAL grant back in 2022. He runs a brewery in Junction City called the Highwind Brewery. You wouldn’t know it, but the building he operates out of had sat completely abandoned for about 25 years.

“The previous owners didn’t care for the building, so we had lots of mold, mildew, the roof was open,” Hoover said.

After receiving a $100,000 HEAL grant, Hoover was able to open his business in 2024. What was once an eyesore in the middle of town is now a lively business.

There are hundreds of similar projects throughout the state in towns such as Bonner Springs, Winfield and Colby. The HEAL grant program has received a total of about $7 million dollars for these projects so far, and it’s estimated the grants have generated more than $37 million in private investment for Kansas communities.

“We want to welcome the ugliest buildings in Kansas to apply for this program,” Purdon said. “We welcome the dreamers, the ones who have a vision for this gorgeous building but don’t know where to start. We just really want to see those buildings be restored. The uglier, the better.”

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To keep the program going, the Kansas Legislature puts $1.5 million dollars in state funding towards the HEAL grant program every year. You can learn more about the HEAL program by clicking here.

For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.



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Bat Cats defeat Kansas Cannons, 4-1

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Bat Cats defeat Kansas Cannons, 4-1


AUGUSTA — Great Bend Bat Cat Jaxon Bunkers homered, doubled and drove home three runs to spark a 4-1 victory over the Kansas Cannons in Tuesday’s baseball game.

Bat Cats pitcher Quentin Medrano struck out seven batters in five innings. Hoisington’s Lane French threw three shutout innings and Hays native Carter Graham pitched one scoreless inning.

Bat Cat George McCarroll scored on a first-inning wild pitch after reaching base on an error.

Bunkers’ 2-run seventh-inning homer scored Andrugh Yee for a 3-0 lead.

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The Kansas Cannons scored when Talan Barraza’s sacrifice fly scored Colton Petersmith after a seventh-inning triple.

Yee scored on a Jaxon Bunkers double in the ninth inning.

Great Bend 100 000 201 — 4 5 0

Kansas Cannons 000 000 100 — 1 3 1

Medrano, French (6), Graham (9) and Chivira. Reed, Roberts (4), Stephenson (7), Humphreys (9) and Becker. W—Medrano, 1-0. L—Reed, 2B—GB—Bunkers. 3B—KC—Petersmith. HR—GB—Bunkers.

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Commentary: Kansas fans stepped up to prevent a Razorback takeover | Whole Hog Sports

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Commentary: Kansas fans stepped up to prevent a Razorback takeover | Whole Hog Sports





Commentary: Kansas fans stepped up to prevent a Razorback takeover | Whole Hog Sports







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Kansas City Mayor promises new conversion therapy ban amid ongoing fallout | Jefferson City News-Tribune

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Kansas City Mayor promises new conversion therapy ban amid ongoing fallout | Jefferson City News-Tribune


KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is promising a replacement ordinance for the conversion therapy ban the City Council recently repealed.

Lucas, in a virtual town hall Sunday, said that new proposed legislation could be made public as early as Monday. He said a new version of the ordinance would be “among the toughest in the country” that will stand up to legal challenges.

“What we have done over recent weeks is tried to craft, and I think you will see very soon, new legislation that looks to ban harmful therapies that lead to suicides, that lead to self-harm,” Lucas said.

Lucas’ comments come as the fallout continues after the City Council’s recent vote to repeal its ban on conversion therapy, the scientifically discredited practice of attempting to change a gay or transgender person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

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An online petition posted Friday — led by Justice Horn, a candidate for the Jackson County Legislature — aims to ban Lucas and six council members from participating in Kansas City’s Pride Parade. As of Monday morning, more than 400 people have signed the petition.

Lucas did not mention the petition during the town hall, but he said he’s dealt with negative response from constituents before, calling it a “tough part of the job.” He also said the City Council’s communication with the public regarding the plan should have been better, but the city is focused on enacting an ordinance that works.

“I think what we need to do is make sure that we repeal and replace and come up with something that’s better,” Lucas said. “I think we have that, something that’s better, and I expect us to be able to roll that out for you sometime pretty soon.”

U.S. Supreme Court ruling and free speech

The City Council’s vote on May 21 came as the Missouri attorney general’s office is suing the city on behalf of a group of Christian counselors. The case against the city was bolstered by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in March that found a similar ban in Colorado is unconstitutional for limiting free speech. It also likely made the city’s ordinance unenforceable.

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The council members narrowly passed the ordinance repealing the ban with a 7-5 vote, with some voting against the measure as a form of protest. Lucas voted to repeal the ordinance and was joined by council members Ryana Parks-Shaw, Darell Curls, Melissa Robinson, Nathan Willet, Kevin O’Neil and Johnathan Duncan, who faced significant backlash from his constituents.

In response to the court ruling, Colorado lawmakers enacted a new state law that allows people who experience conversion therapy to seek civil lawsuits against organizations so they can claim damages.

New version of conversion therapy ban?

Lucas told the online audience Sunday that Kansas City’s new version of a ban would likely be different. He said the city does not have the legal authority to allow for civil lawsuits because it would require state legislation.

But he noted Kansas City’s previous ban included a criminal law punishment, unlike the Colorado ban, and a new ban would again include that kind of enforcement.

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“We are taking real steps to actually have a stronger ordinance, something that will stand the test within the courts,” Lucas said.



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