The state’s Rural Champions program has received local attention this week after the United Way of the Flint Hills obtained grant funding for its work to alleviate homelessness. It’s now getting international attention.
Rural Champions, a program organized by the Department of Commerce’s Office of Rural Prosperity, received a pair of Excellence in Economic Development silver awards from the International Economic Development Council. Awards highlighted the program’s work in Innovative Economic Development and Regional/Cross-Border Partnerships.
Rural Champions was created through a collaboration involving the state’s Office of Rural Prosperity and the Patterson Family Foundation. It is designed to five rural communities more resources to tackle concerns “in areas where a lack of capital or other resources hinders necessary progress.”
The United Way gets a one-year wage stipend of nearly $21,000 to bolster the work of Jessica Reth, already working part-time as the United Way’s Food-Secure Communities Coordinator, as well as training and resources. Selected organizations also get up to $25,000 to start implementing their projects by the end of this year, provided they meets grant metrics.
