WaCo Storefront & Signage Incentive

Wallace County Community Development is currently taking applications for the 2023 Storefront and Signage Incentive. This program is meant to enhance the physical appearance and/or promotion of our local Wallace County businesses. Awards of up to $2,500 will be made to local business owners for improvements, with a cash match required. Broadly, eligible projects are improvements that can be visually seen as one passes a business or building, and may include, but are not limited to, the development or improvement of signage, windows, doors, paint, hardscape, etc.

Applications can be found HERE or by contacting Wallace County Community Development at wacokscommdev@gmail.com or 785.443.3217.

WaCo Housing Incentives

Wallace County Community Development is currently taking applications for four different Housing Incentives, including financial assistance for painting, demolition, downsizing, and vacant homes.

Applications can be found HERE or by contacting Wallace County Community Development at wacokscommdev@gmail.com or 785.443.3217.

Wallace County Website is Live

Wallace County launched a county-wide website at the end of June: wallacecountyks.gov. This is one-stop-shop for many thing regarding WaCo, including Community Development. Take a minute and check out the new site if you haven't already. WCCD will utilize the website to release, share, and house information.

WaCo Completes Local Housing Assessment

Wallace County Community Development, along with a Housing Advisory Committee, began a county-wide housing assessment in January. The Housing Assessment Tool (HAT) was completed in May 2023.

The HAT is a self-assessment guide for communities to gather and analyze data on their housing inventory and develop priorities for local housing investment.

Housing is an economic development issue and addressing local employer needs and learning the housing market demands can improve the economic opportunity in our community.

WCCD will meet virtually for a Housing Inter-Agency Committee (HIAC) meeting in August. The HIAC meeting will give WCCD an opportunity to present key finding from the HAT to program managers from Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Housing Resource Corporation, USDA-Rural Development, and Federal Home Loan Bank.

WaCo Business Recipient of BASE 2.0 Grant

The Motor Inn in Sharon Springs was one of 38 recipients of the Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) 2.0 grant program in April. They plan add a laundromat, RV spots and a dog run with the funding assistance. Read more HERE.

Community Book Club Comes to an End

A Community Book Club discussions featuring '13 Ways to Kill Your Community' by Doug Griffiths was held at the Sharon Springs Public Library from March thru May. Wallace County organizations involved included Wallace County Community Development, Wallace County Foundation, Wallace County Chamber of Commerce, and Wallace County Visitors Bureau. The goal of this program was to address community issues by using the book to jump start conversations regarding change and progress within the community.

WaCo Attends Tourism Industry Assoc. of KS Training & Mtg

In June, Lissa Sexson of Wallace County Community Development and Wallace County Visitors Bureau attended the Tourism Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK) board meeting and educational training in Lindsborg, KS. The educational seminar featured Jim Richardson, renown National Geographic photographer from Lindsborg. Sexson is a 2023 Presidential Appointment to the TIAK Board of Directors.

A County Economic Impact Report provided by Kansas Tourism details $4.68 million spent by visitors in Wallace County in 2021.

Wallace County to Host Lt. Governor & Rural Champions

Wallace County was one of twelve grant recipients of the Rural by Choice Champions Program (Rural Champions) announced in Oct. 2022. Wallace County will host all twelve of the Office of Rural Prosperity's Rural Champions July 31st and August 1st in Sharon Springs for meetings. Lt. Governor David Toland will join the group for a portion of the meeting.

The goal for WaCo’s Rural Champions Grant is to establish and explore community development and the opportunities that can come from that office.

Kansas Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ)

The state of Kansas has designated 95 counties as “Rural Opportunity Zones,” which means moving there comes with significant added benefits. Designated counties, including Wallace County, offer financial incentives for new full-time residents.

Student Loan Repayment Assistance is administered by The Kansas Department of Commerce, which partners with Wallace County, and can provide up to $15,000 in Student Loan Repayment Assistance over 5 years.

NEW residents from out of State may qualify for a 100% State Income Tax Credit for 5 years, as administered By Kansas Department of Revenue.

USDA Disaster Grants available to WaCo Homeowners

Grants are available to Wallace County homeowners affected by 2022 disasters, including the the April 2022 Sharon Springs tornado. These grants are being made available through supplemental disaster funding under the Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant Program. Through this program, people may apply to receive grants of up to $40,675 directly from U.S. Department of Agriculture to repair their homes.

For more information on how to apply, contact KSDirect@ks.usda.gov.

Housing Repair Loans & Grants Available in WaCo

The USDA Rural Development(USDA-RD) 504 Home Repair provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes, or grants to elderly, very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. This program has grant funds available up to $10,000 or loans up to $40,000. To qualify, you must be the homeowner, occupy the house, and be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere. For grants, you must be age 62 or older and not be able to repay a repair loan.

KHRC Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

The Home Loan Guarantee (HLG) for Rural Kansas helps existing and prospective homeowners in rural counties finance home loans for land and building purchases, renovations, or new construction costs. The initiative aims to close the appraisal gap in rural areas, where the cost of purchasing, renovating, or constructing a home often exceeds the property’s appraised value. HLG funds will be used to guarantee the portion of a loan above 80 percent and up to 125 percent of the home’s appraised value and must not exceed $100,000 per home.

USDA Rural Dev. Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

The Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program assists approved lenders in providing low- and moderate-income households the opportunity to own adequate, modest, decent, safe and sanitary dwellings as their primary residence in eligible rural areas. Eligible applicants may purchase, build, rehabilitate, improve or relocate a dwelling in an eligible rural area with 100% financing. The program provides a 90% loan note guarantee to approved lenders in order to reduce the risk of extending 100% loans to eligible rural homebuyers – so no money down for those who qualify. This program helps lenders work with low- and moderate-income households living in rural areas to make homeownership a reality. Providing affordable homeownership opportunities promotes prosperity, which in turn creates thriving communities and improves the quality of life in rural areas. 

Weatherization Assistance Program Available to WaCo

The North Central Regional Planning Commission operates a Weatherization Assistance Program that helps reduce energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes. Weatherization might include repairing or replacing unsafe furnaces, replacing inefficient refrigerators, sealing/replacing broken glass, wall and attic insulation, etc. For more information email weatherization@ncrpc.org, call 785.738.2185 or view online HERE.