Kansas Community Empowerment designates 2023 Communities of Excellence
Kansas communities commended for visionary projects, dedicated volunteers
Nov. 24, 2023
By Cianna DeLeon, K-State Research and Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Nine Kansas communities have received the 2023 Community of Excellence award from the Kansas Community Empowerment program, located at Kansas State University.
Jaime Menon, co-coordinator of the program, said the Community of Excellence award is recognition for those communities that have completed a community assessment, address opportunities for community improvement and continuously work to identify and meet needs of their community.
The award is provided through a partnership with Kansas PRIDE Inc.
Those named a 2023 Community of Excellence are:
- Delia
- Grainfield
- Highland
- Lakin
- Leonardville
- Olsburg
- Russell
- Vermilion
- Wakefield
Menon said the Kansas Community Empowerment program has helped Kansas communities grow and prosper for 53 years. Through the program, communities identify what they want to preserve, create or improve for the future.
Volunteers form a local PRIDE organization that works with K-State Research and Extension and the Kansas Department of Commerce to accomplish its goals. “There are some communities that go above and beyond with their workload and the Kansas Community Empowerment office would like to give them recognition,” Menon said.
Communities of Excellence are designated for a three-year period in which they can apply for multiple grants from the Kansas Community Empowerment program to address community needs.
The awards are given by the Kansas Community Empowerment program, a partnership of K-State Research and Extension, the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Masons, and Kansas PRIDE, Inc.
“Local Kansas Community Empowerment/PRIDE groups work hard to make their community a better place to live and work,” Menon said. “They all deserve recognition for the beneficial projects they bring to their communities.”
More information about Kansas Community Empowerment is available at https://kce.k-state.edu/ or by calling 785-532-5840 or emailing KSCE@ksu.edu.
