Recognition deserved for area grant recipients

This past week or so, southeast Kansas was fortunate to receive more than $1.1 million in grant and loan funds.

Six different entities accepted the state and federal funds for a variety of projects.

Grants dispersed last week included:

- a $285,000 loan for an expansion project at Oakview Estates Assisted Living in Frontenac curtsey of the USDA.

- a USDA grant for $50,000 was also presented to Franklin which, when paired with a $700,000 loan, will pay for a new fire station.

- in neighboring Neosho County, the USDA also dropped off a check from $285,000 to help the city of St. Paul fund the replacement of the city’s water intake system.

- the Colonial Fox Foundation was one of only five Kansas projects to receive the maximum $90,000 Heritage Trust Fun Grant through the Kansas Historical Society to continue restoration of the theater.

- the Cato School also received a Heritage grant in the amount of $15,360

- on Friday, the city of Frontenac became one of nine Kansas cities to receive a Community Development Block Grant -- in the amount of for a project that will replace water lines in the town.

Each of these grants and loans bring help to a different area of southeast Kansas that will benefit a different many different people across the area.

We applaud the groups who received these awards this week. It take a lot of hard work and effort from both employees and volunteers to make these grants and loans happen, and we thank those groups who have brought these funds to our area.

by Jessica Tims-Seeliger, for The Morning Sun