TIER 1 — Pursue Immediately
| Program | Target Properties | Est. Funding |
|---|
| KHRC CHDO + HOME Funds | Herington houses, Abilene | $300K–$500K |
| USDA Community Facilities | Abilene daycare, Hope community bldg | $200K–$2M |
| Federal + State Historic Tax Credits | Emporia, Hutchinson, Junction City | 20-25% of rehab |
| CDBG (via municipalities) | Herington housing rehab | $250K–$500K |
| Emporia Main Street (IWW/ROOMS) | Emporia downtown building | $5K–$25K |
TIER 2 — High Value (More Preparation)
| Program | Target Properties | Est. Funding |
|---|
| LIHTC (9% or 4% credits) | Abilene church conversion, Herington | $500K–$2M+ equity |
| OLDCC (military community) | Junction City, Ogden | $100K–$1M |
| Kansas Children's Cabinet | Abilene daycare facility | $50K–$250K |
| Heritage Trust Fund | Hutchinson Victorian, JC church | $5K–$90K |
TIER 3 — Foundation / Supplemental
| Program | Target Properties | Est. Funding |
|---|
| Kansas Health Foundation | Community health spaces | $25K–$200K |
| Sunflower Foundation | Wellness/childcare facilities | $10K–$200K |
| National Trust Preservation Fund | Historic property assessments | $2.5K–$5K |
1
Obtain CHDO Certification from KHRC — unlocks set-aside HOME funds ($300K–$500K). Requires affordable housing mission, low-income board representation, and capacity demonstration.
2
Commission National Register Evaluations for Hutchinson Victorian (1894), Junction City limestone church (1942), Emporia downtown building, and Abilene former church (1916). Unlocks 20-25% Historic Tax Credits.
3
Meet with USDA Rural Development Kansas office (Topeka) — discuss Community Facilities and Section 515 programs. Herington (pop. 2,400), Hope, White City, and Abilene all qualify as rural.
4
Contact Municipalities (Herington, Abilene, Emporia, Junction City) about partnering on CDBG applications. Nonprofits apply through city government partners.
5
Engage a LIHTC Consultant — evaluate feasibility of tax credit deals for Abilene church-to-housing conversion and Herington housing portfolio. Can generate $500K–$2M+ equity.
6
Apply for Community Service Tax Credit CDO Status — enables 70% state tax credits for donors, supercharging private fundraising.
7
Register as MCCYN Provider Pathway — positions Abilene daycare for military childcare subsidies ($2,000/mo vs standard $800/mo per child).
Kansas Housing Resources Corp (KHRC)
State Housing Finance Agency
HOME: $300K–$500K
Housing Trust Fund: $200K–$600K
Nonprofits with CHDO designation receive set-aside funds (15% of state HOME allocation). Housing Trust Fund targets extremely low-income housing (30% AMI). ESG grants $25K–$100K for homelessness prevention.
Best for: Herington houses → affordable rentals, Abilene church → housing units, Ogden/JC military housing. Deadline: Annual NOFA in spring (Mar–May).
Kansas Children's Cabinet & Trust Fund
State Agency — Early Childhood
$10K–$250K
Funds early childhood programs, childcare infrastructure, and family support for ages 0–5. The Abilene 17,768 sqft former daycare is a strong candidate — addresses Kansas childcare desert in rural counties.
Best for: Abilene Campus childcare center. Deadline: Typically spring applications.
Kansas Health Foundation
Private Foundation — Wichita
$25K–$500K+
Funds health equity, healthy communities, civic health. "Healthy Communities" initiative aligns with community development in underserved rural areas like Herington and Hope. Rolling; invitation-based for larger grants.
Best for: Community wellness spaces, childcare (social determinants of health), affordable housing as health infrastructure.
USDA Rural Development
USDA Kansas State Office — Topeka
Community Facilities: $50K–$2M+
Sec 515 Rental: $100K–$1M+
High-poverty areas like Herington qualify for up to 75% grant funding. Community Facilities program funds essential community facilities. Section 515 provides below-market loans for affordable rental housing. Applications accepted on rolling basis.
Best for: Hope community building, Abilene daycare, Herington commercial-to-community conversions. All qualifying rural communities (pop. under 20K).
HUD CDBG (Small Cities)
Kansas Dept of Commerce administers
$250K–$500K
Kansas receives ~$12–15M annually. Activities must benefit low/moderate-income persons (51%+). Nonprofits partner with municipalities to apply. Categories: housing rehab, public facilities, economic development.
Best for: Herington housing rehabilitation (12 properties), Hope community building, Emporia downtown. Deadline: Late spring/early summer annually.
Historic Tax Credits (Federal + State)
National Park Service + Kansas Historical Society
Federal: 20% of rehab costs
Kansas: 25% of rehab costs
For properties on or eligible for the National Register. Combined 45% back on qualified rehabilitation. Nonprofits syndicate credits to investors for cash equity. Applications rolling — Part 1/2 before construction, Part 3 after.
Best for: Emporia downtown (historic district), Hutchinson Victorian (1894), Junction City limestone church (1942), Abilene former church (1916).
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
KHRC allocates federal credits
$500K–$2M+ equity
Potentially the largest funding source. 9% credits generate ~70% of development costs as equity. Rural projects, historic properties, and nonprofits score competitively. Can combine with Historic Tax Credits for dual-credit deals. Requires experienced LIHTC development partner.
Best for: Abilene church → affordable apartments (adaptive reuse), Herington houses as rental portfolio. Deadline: 1-2 rounds/year, typically spring.
OLDCC (Dept of Defense)
Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
$100K–$5M+
Community infrastructure supporting military installations. Geary County (Junction City) and Riley County (Manhattan, Ogden) qualify as Fort Riley-adjacent. Partner with local governments or Flint Hills Regional Council to apply.
Best for: Junction City church → veteran center, Ogden housing, Manhattan workforce housing for military families.
MCCYN Military Childcare
DoD / Child Care Aware of America
$2,000/mo per child (vs $800 standard)
Fee assistance for military families using civilian childcare. Becoming MCCYN-eligible guarantees premium revenue stream. Strengthens business case for childcare facility grants from other sources.
Best for: Abilene Campus childcare center serving Fort Riley families. 150+ child capacity = potential $1.5M–$2M annual revenue.
Kansas Heritage Trust Fund
Kansas Historical Society / SHPO
$5K–$90K (50% match)
Matching grants for National Register-listed properties. Also CLG grants ($5K–$25K) through certified local governments. Heritage Trust Fund applications typically due in October.
Best for: Initial preservation work on Hutchinson Victorian, Junction City church, Emporia downtown facade.
Emporia Main Street Programs
Emporia Main Street / Kansas Dept of Commerce
IWW: $500–$5K
ROOMS: $5K–$25K
State Main Street: $5K–$50K
IWW (facade improvements), ROOMS (upper-floor housing), and state matching grants for downtown buildings in Main Street districts.
Best for: Emporia 511 Commercial St — facade restoration, upper-floor housing development, commercial space rehab.
Sunflower Foundation
Topeka — formerly BCBS of Kansas Foundation
$10K–$200K+
Focuses on health and wellness in Kansas. HEAL grants, capacity-building, community health initiatives. Frame affordable housing and childcare as social determinants of health.
Best for: Abilene daycare conversion, Hope community building wellness programs, Herington community health infrastructure.
Community Service Tax Credit (CDO)
Kansas Dept of Commerce
70% tax credit for donors
Becoming an approved Community Development Organization (CDO) allows donors to receive 70% state tax credits on contributions. Dramatically enhances private fundraising capability.
Best for: All properties — enables private capital raising for the entire portfolio.
Total Potential Funding
$2M – $8M+
Combined grants, tax credits, and low-interest financing across all tiers. LIHTC deals alone can generate $500K–$2M+ in equity for affordable housing conversion projects.
