KANSAS MAIN STREET INCENTIVES WITHOUT WALLS PROGRAM

ESTABLISHED:

Incentives Without Walls (IWW) was established in 1995 by redirection of the existing Department of Commerce & Housing funds from another program to this incentive package.

PROGRAM INTENT:

“To create or stimulate private investment in designated Kansas Main Street downtown areas.” The expected outcome of this program is to create employment opportunities; save existing jobs; provide services and products; develop or strengthen new or existing businesses; acquire, rehabilitate or preserve properties; and create a stronger tax base.

AVAILABLE FUNDS:

Pending legislative and administrative finalization of the annual budget, the Kansas Department of Commerce will make available IWW funding for development/rehabilitation projects in the downtown area of designated Main Street communities. These funds will be available in two competitive rounds, August and February, plus an open round. To qualify for the open round, a project must be one that cannot wait for the regular round without loss of opportunity. Kansas Main Street reserves the right to hold over an open round application for the next competitive round.

ELIGIBILITY:

Only active designated Kansas Main Street programs in good standing will be eligible to apply for the IWW funds by submitting application(s) to the Kansas Main Street program. The local Main Street program applies for the funds on behalf of the business. This is a valuable benefit of working with the local Main Street program.

APPLICANT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Application Process: The applicant will provide all bids, architectural drawings (if needed) and business plan (if needed) to the local Main Street program to complete the application. The local Main Street program will write the application.

If project is funded: The business applying for the funds must complete the project as presented in the application, supply the local Main Street program with receipts verifying funds were spent on the applied-for project and make loan repayments in a timely manner. The funds are public money and, as such, are part of the open records act. The amount of the funding and the project will be announced in press releases to your local news outlets.