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April 25, 2025
The Kansas Sampler Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit located near Inman.
Our mission is to preserve and sustain rural culture. We do this by educating Kansans about Kansas and networking and support rural communities.
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Tips from the KSF PowerUp Manager
The power of creating the choir: With high school and college graduations upon us, it is a time that brings to mind the power of creating the choir (not an actual choir, of course, but those whose voices share the "why" for living rural). How have we as community members, parents, and business leaders spread the good word of life in rural Kansas as "rural influencers" to these valuable young adults? A lot can be said for routinely shining a light on the good happening in rural communities and our power to solve the challenges. How have we created connections for those students to have positive impact as they go off into the world or enter the workforce? Every interaction with an adult (who isn't a parent) or business or nonprofit expands their network and skill-set whether as a beginning 4-Her or a high school grad or a college student home for the summer. How have we created volunteer opportunities for students to contribute in a productive and meaningful manner to the place they've called home? If they love something and are proud of it, they'll return to it or invest in it later.
And if you haven't done any of these, this is the reminder to start now. Communities of the future don't happen by accident. They are built with intentional choices. They are built by people just like you - who care. The concept of creating the choir and communities of the future are found in the PowerUp & Go Report. Send your examples of creating the choir to Simone (simone.elder@kansassampler.org), KSF PowerUp & Engagement Manager.
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Come get to know Morton County May 2-3! One reason the Kansas Sampler Foundation does the Big Kansas Road Trip Pop Up events is to help the public see Kansas with new eyes. If you haven't spent time in southwest Kansas lately, specifically Morton County, let this event act as your magnet.
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Point of Rocks, a Santa Fe Trail historic site, is the epic place to stand in the county. You can imagine the wagons rolling by below. But it's more than that. You can see forever, a sky that only western Kansas can provide and the sandsage prairie ecosystem is unique to this part of the state. You can read about it, you can see pictures but there is nothing like being there. See you at the Point!
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Rural grants: If you are a rural community in a county of less than 50,000 population, do yourself a favor and check out the myriad of grant options that you could apply for through Patterson. The letter of intent for Round Two is July 3 so keep that in mind. Their web site will help you understand the process. Learn more.
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Office of Rural Prosperity & Commerce Grants: ROOMS supports new upper-floor housing in commercial buildings in designated communities; Rural Murals grant supports the creation of artistic projects in rural communities; TAPS invests in projects that will leverage creative placemaking; SIGNS improves the appearance and appeal of retail and commercial business signage in downtowns.
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Kansas Arts Network: The Kansas Arts Network mission is to strengthen public commitment and funding for the arts and creativity in Kansas through advocacy, civic engagement, and education. Become a member. Attend the fifth annual Kansas Arts Network.
| | Elevator in a historic building: Needing to put an elevator in a historic building? One place to get information is Baker McMillan Architects. Contact Garric Baker at garric@bakermcmillan.com. | | T-Mobile grant: Main Street America is partnering with T‑Mobile to help build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. With T‑Mobile’s Hometown Grant program, they’re investing big in small towns by awarding up to 100 towns a year with project funding — up to $50,000 each. | | |
A million supporters sought: A natural offshoot of Emporia Spanish Speakers, Kansas Spanish Speakers has officially launched
its most ambitious fundraising campaign to date: Un Millón de Amigos, a call to action for community members across Kansas and beyond to help build communities where language connects rather than divides. Their goal is to have a million people donate $1. Could you be one? Donate here. If the Spanish speakers in your community don't know where to turn for support, have them contact Emporia Spanish Speakers.
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Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference: June 26 and 27, Kingman (with a pre-conference concert on the 25th evening). Entrepre-neurial communities are cities, neighborhoods, or townships that are continuously working to develop an environment that fosters entrepreneurship to promote community economic development. Come learn tips and resources! Find out more about the conference.
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Raise Kansas: Raise will host the first annual Hays Kansas Science Festival which will be on Sunday, May 5 in downtown Hays. There will be about 25 different interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) booths, food truck/tents, band, face painting, a photo booth and a ton of fun! Geared towards K-12 families in hopes of stimulating an interest in STEM and highlighting some regional STEM employers.
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Sunflower Summer: This popular program made it through the legislative budget -- thanks to the advocacy of so many people across the state. The program covers admission costs for Kansas school-aged children from pre-K to grade 12 and one adult guardian per attraction. Click here to read the press release. Sign up here to be a venue.
| | Kansas Commerce Grants: Here's the calendar of grants! | | |
AI LESSONS: South Central Tourism Region will be hosting "Don't Turn a Blind Eye to AI", a two-hour in-person workshop in Great Bend, June 25, 1-3p. This is an affordable opportunity to learn more and fine tune your AI skills for marketing your organization!
| | Local Food Virtual Town Hall: Join the April Local Food Town Hall to learn more about how the MarketLink program can help make SNAP more accessible for small businesses, farmers markets, and farm stands. They will also be sharing a sneak peak of this summer's Local Food Summit and discussing the status of many federal grant programs. Register here to take part April 30 at 11a. | | |
Shop Kansas Farm Marketplace: The next Market of Farms will take place July 12 in Andover. Learn all about the event.
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Level Up Kansas: Level Up Kansas is where to start when you need to restart in a new career or education path at a Kansas community or technical college.
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FIRST FRIDAY E-CALL
Join in on May 2 at 9:30a to hear about Regional Food Business Centers and the Rural Grocery Initiative. Register here.
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GRANT WRITING BASICS
KSRE is hosting two in-person grant writing workshops in May:
May 7, Hill City, 9:30a-3:30p. $60. Contact jenileem@ksu.edu to register.
May 15, Parsons 9:30a-3:30p. $40. Contact Carrie at clance@ksu.edu to register.
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BROWNFIELD GRANT: At this May 1 11-12:30 (CT) webinar, learn everything you need to know to write an EPA Brownfield Grant. The grant includes dollars for assessment, cleanup and multipurpose opportunities. Must register.
| | HUMANITIES KANSAS: The annual Humanities Kansas grant from the National endowment for the Humanities was terminated by DOGE in early April. This has forced HK to scale back and cut valuable grants and public programs, as well as operations. Want to show support? Donate here. | | |
UPCOMING CONFERENCES:
Artist's Thrive, May 6-8, Kansas City, MO
Networked for Change, May 21-22, Wichita.
5th Annual Kansas Arts Network Conference, July 23-25, Wichita. Register here.
Kansas Housing Conference, October 27-29, Overland Park
Future of Water Conference, November 12-13, Manhattan
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SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER: If you get this Tidbits through a forward, go here to sign up for We Kan! Tidbits. Find the KSF Facebook page here.
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SUPPORT THE NETWORK. The Kansas Sampler Foundation requests your support for our work with rural communities. Make a donation and choose PayPal, Venmo, credit card or just ask Simone (simone.elder@kansassampler.org) to invoice you.
Board of directors: Stacy Barnes, Greensburg, president; Sarah Werner, Winfield; Luke Mahin, Courtland; Dave Procter, Manhattan; Lea Ann Seiler, Hanston. Staff: Marci Penner, WenDee Rowe, Inman; Simone Elder, Tribune; Kim Clark, The Highlands.
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