Historic Downtown Gardner, KS Extreme Makeover - Kansas Department of Commerce BLOCK Grant Application
Kansas Community Gold Standard Efforts to Help Preserve Historic DowntownsDowntown Gardner Property & Business Owners Band Together in Effort to Improve thier Historic District
On September 9, 2026 the Kansas Department of Commerce announced it’s $500,000 Extreme Makeover BLOCK Grant Opportunity.
The Building Local Opportunity through Coordinated Kansas-Investment (BLOCK) Program is a competitive placemaking initiative designed to create a dramatic, highly visible transformation of one Kansas downtown block through coordinated public and private investment. BLOCK will provide up to $500,000 to one eligible community to bring multiple properties, projects, partners and investments together around a single block-level transformation. While exterior improvements are expected to be the primary focus, strategic interior improvements may also be eligible when they contribute to the overall transformation and can be completed within the required timeline. The winning community will be expected to move quickly, make big changes, create a visible “wow” factor and demonstrate how the investment will contribute to long-term economic impact.
Total Funding
In 2026, $500,000 is available. The maximum award for a project is $500,000. Commerce anticipates a single award.