Special to the Leader & Times
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced Wednesday the launch of the Blueprint to Build program, an innovative new Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding round. This program provides rural Kansas communities a faster, more affordable way to construct state-of-the-art community centers.
Blueprint to Build enables communities to select from three community center models that have already been designed, providing major savings and speeding up the process of building new facilities. Centers are designed for energy efficiency and are intended to be placed in walkable downtowns or near existing community spaces as a way to both reduce infrastructure costs and support the cores of Kansas towns.
“Finding affordable solutions for community facilities can be difficult for many Kansas communities,” Toland said. “This innovative new CDBG program is a game-changer, providing immediate resources to build vibrant community spaces across Kansas. These investments in quality of place can completely transform communities by making them more attractive to new businesses and creating high quality spaces for residents to gather.”
With $14 million available to help reduce overall construction costs, the Blueprint to Build program makes it easier for Kansas communities to develop modern, energy-efficient community centers.
By investing in “off-the-shelf” blueprint designs, Commerce’s goal is to save communities hundreds of thousands of dollars and months of architectural work. Proposals should focus solely on construction expenses, making it easier for communities to get started and to develop manageable budgets to build and operate these facilities.
If a community intends to hold a special election to approve the issuance of bonds or to pass a sales tax (for example) to support a project, the community must: a) provide evidence of this intent in the form of a governing body resolution; and b) commit to holding this election by no later than Tuesday November 4th, 2025. If those conditions are met applications will be reviewed with a presumption of passage of the special ballot question and, if awarded, such awards will be expressly contingent upon passage. Should the ballot question fail, any award will be automatically rescinded.
Each approved Blueprint to Build community center design will include:
• Multi-purpose room with flexible use options
• Serving kitchen with fixed equipment
• Fitness center
• Telemedicine office
• Welcoming lobby with small gathering area
• Restrooms
• Storm shelter
• Customizable, durable exterior and interior finishes
• Covered patios and overhead doors for fitness and multi-purpose rooms and outdoor farmers’ markets
Applicants may also incorporate optional features, such as gymnasiums or aquatic amenities that have also been pre-designed.
Cities and counties under a population of 2500 may apply for up to $1.5 million. Communities above 2500 may apply for up to $2.5 million. Eligible applicants include all non-entitlement cities and counties (i.e., those that do not receive direct CDBG funding from HUD). The following entitlement communities are ineligible for funding: Kansas City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita and Johnson County.
Interested cities and counties are required to submit a pre-application and will be contacted within 10 business days with further instructions. Only those with an approved pre-application will move forward with a full application. Approval of a pre-application does not guarantee funding.
The application period for the program opens May 1 and will close Nov. 14. Those interested in submitted a pre-application should visit https://shorturl.at/jnC8P.
For additional information about Blueprint to Build or any other CDBG initiatives, visit the webpage here or contact the Kansas CDBG team at
About the Kansas Department of Commerce
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
About the Kansas CDBG Program
The Kansas Community Development Block Grant program provides funding to cities and counties to improve the lives of low- and moderate-income Kansans. Administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, the program supports projects in housing, community facilities and economic development.
About the Quality Places Division
Established in 2024, the Quality Places Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce exists to improve quality of life in communities across the state through various programs and services. The Kansas Department of Commerce understands the immense role played by strong communities in economic development and prioritizes investments in people and communities as major contributors to the overall strength of the Kansas economy. To learn more, visit https://www.kansascommerce.gov/community-development/.
