74-5097. Planning and action grants to city-county economic development organizations; neighborhood revitalization organizations; guidelines for competitive award of grants; limits; economic development organization report to department of commerce; annual report. (a) Subject to the provisions of appropriations acts and in accordance with the provisions of this act, the department of commerce may provide planning grants and action grants to city-county economic development organizations located in nonmetropolitan counties, for the development and implementation of countywide economic development strategy plans or to neighborhood revitalization organizations, in metropolitan counties, for the planning and implementation of urban economic development plans.

(b) The committee shall establish grant eligibility criteria for applicants in both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties, and shall administer the competitive selection process for the awarding of planning grants and action grants. The committee shall submit its recommendations for grant awards to the secretary of commerce for final determination and award.

(1) Grant applicants from nonmetropolitan counties shall be subject to the following conditions. Planning grants shall be for the development of countywide economic development strategy plans. No planning grant shall exceed $15,000 for any single county economic development plan. An additional award for an amount not to exceed $5,000 may be granted for each additional county participating in the development of a joint multi-county strategic economic development plan, except that under no circumstances shall the total planning grant exceed $35,000. Any city-county economic development organization receiving a planning grant shall be required to provide additional funds equaling 25% of the amount of the planning grant. Action grants shall be for the implementation of countywide economic development strategy plans. Total action grants shall not exceed $25,000 for any single county action grant application. An additional award for an amount not to exceed $10,000 may be granted for each additional county participating in a joint multi-county action grant implementation effort, except that under no circumstances shall the action grant totals exceed $65,000. Any city-county economic development organization receiving a grant shall be required to provide additional funds equaling 100% of the amount of the action grant. Not more than one planning grant may be awarded to any one county or combination of counties.

(2) Neighborhood revitalization organizations from metropolitan counties shall be subject to the following conditions. Prior to applying to the committee, the neighborhood revitalization organization must submit its application to a local economic development organization designated by the county commission of the county in which the organization is located. The local economic development organization shall review the application and determine whether the application should be funded on the basis of local needs and priorities. If the application is approved by the local economic development organization and endorsed by resolution by the county commission and the governing body of the city in which the blighted area is located, the application shall be forwarded to the committee for further consideration. Planning grants shall be for the development of urban economic development strategy plans. No planning grant shall exceed $15,000 for any single urban economic development plan. Any neighborhood revitalization organization receiving a planning grant shall be required to provide additional funds equaling 25% of the amount of the planning grant. Action grants shall be for the implementation of urban economic development strategy plans. Total action grants shall not exceed $25,000 for any single urban action grant application. Any neighborhood revitalization organization receiving a grant shall be required to provide additional funds equaling 100% of the amount of the action grant. Not more than one planning grant may be awarded to any one neighborhood revitalization organization.

(3) No funds shall be granted under this act to applicants from metropolitan counties unless such funds are specifically appropriated for that purpose.

(4) The secretary of commerce may authorize a recipient of a planning grant, who has unexpended funds from such planning grant, to apply such funds to the implementation of the recipient's approved strategic economic development plan. Any unexpended planning grant funds applied to the implementation of such strategic economic development plan shall require the appropriate 100% match. Application of the unexpended planning grant funds to the implementation of the strategic economic development plan may result in the reduction of any subsequent action grant awarded to the recipient.

(c) The secretary of commerce may enter into an agreement with economic development service providers to provide reimbursement to such providers for expenses incurred in strategic planning activities which do not relate to the facilitation of a specific strategic plan. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, preapplication consulting and maintenance of economic development data bases. Such expenses shall be paid on a per project basis and must be preapproved by the secretary.

(d) Each city-county economic development organization or neighborhood revitalization organization which has received a planning grant beginning on and after July 1, 1990, shall assess the effectiveness of the strategic planning process under this program and the local preparedness in engaging in such process. Such assessment shall be submitted to the Kansas department of commerce within three months after completion of a strategic plan. The status report developed pursuant to subsection (f) shall include a summary of all strategic plan assessments received for a twelve-month period prior to the submittal of the report to the standing committee on commerce of the senate and the standing committee on commerce, labor and economic development of the house of representatives. However, the summary may not include assessments submitted within 30 days of the submittal of the department's report. Any such assessments shall be included in a subsequent annual report.

(e) Each city-county economic development organization or neighborhood revitalization organization which has received an action grant beginning on and after July 1, 1990, shall assess the extent to which goals identified in its action plan application have been met. Such assessment shall rely on quantifiable criteria to the greatest possible degree. Such assessment shall be submitted to the Kansas department of commerce within three months after intended actions identified for implementation in the action grant application have been undertaken. The status report developed pursuant to subsection (f) shall include a summary of all action plan assessments received for a twelve-month period prior to the submittal of the report to the standing committee on commerce of the senate and the standing committee on commerce, labor and economic development of the house of representatives. However, the summary may not include assessments submitted within 30 days of the submittal of the department's report. Any such assessments shall be included in a subsequent annual report.

(f) As a part of the annual report required pursuant to K.S.A. 74-5049, and amendments thereto, the Kansas department of commerce shall present a status report of activities including, but not limited to, specifics of community strengths and weaknesses and planning issues and strategies under the provisions of this act to the standing committee on commerce of the senate and the standing committee on commerce, labor and economic development of the house of representatives.

History: L. 1990, ch. 298, § 6; L. 1993, ch. 183, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 266, § 5; L. 1996, ch. 205, § 8; L. 2003, ch. 154, § 42; L. 2013, ch. 134, § 9; July 1.