KDC
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the award of Community Service Tax Credits (CSP) to 25 nonprofit organizations to support education, healthcare, and housing projects across the state.
CSP is a tool that dramatically enhances fundraising efforts, providing a 70% tax credit to qualified donors in rural communities of less than 15,000 population and 50% in larger communities. For example, a donor making a $100 gift in a rural community receives a $70 tax credit when they file their state taxes, making the net cost to the donor only $30.
This year, CSP is distributing $1 million in awards for childcare and early childhood development projects, specifically for services to those under the age of 5.
“These nonprofit organizations provide education, healthcare and housing across Kansas,” said Governor Kelly. “We must do everything we can to support them. Community Service Tax Credits help us build stronger communities and a stronger state.”
Awarded nonprofits were chosen through a competitive, score-based selection process.
For this fiscal year, the Department of Commerce is fully disbursing all CSP funds. Due to the amount of funds allocated, 25 of the 53 requested projects (constituting 47% of the total funds requested) are being awarded.
“These Community Service Tax Credit awards will be a major factor in the success of these important community projects,” said Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “There were so many high-caliber projects applying for these awards, and, unfortunately, the demand for credits exceeds the resources we have. However, we are grateful to have been able to support these many worthy projects.”
The awarded companies and the indicated need for funds are as follows:
- Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation (Manhattan) – Installation and operation of KID-SCAPE; a hands-on, interactive youth education exhibit designed to engage children in the people, the pride and the place that is the Kansas Flint Hills.
- Legacy, A Regional Community Foundation (Belle Plaine) – Making Belle Plaine a Quiet Zone to ensure that the daily interruptions every 5 to 10 minutes do not hinder outdoor events. The K-55 railroad crossing will include a non-traversable median (with channelization devices) and new safety features such as; longer rail road arms and new signage to alert patrons.
- Valley Hope Association (Norton) – Launching a Digital Initiative in Kansas. The new TeleCare program has several elements, including Intensive Outpatient, Individual Therapy, Assessments, Family Programming and Continuing Care.
- Hunter Health Clinic (Wichita) – Construction of a Community Wellness Center that creates a space where Hunter Health and community partners can collaborate to provide access to services, programs and education to help improve factors that impact health; also, a drop-in childcare center to address one of the greatest barriers faced by patients when accessing care.
- Wichita Family Crisis Center (Wichita) – Renovating each of the eight shelter rooms that house between four to 10 victims at a time; renovating bathrooms and kitchens; also, updating the security system to ensure safety of patrons.
- Highland Community College Foundation (Highland) – Building a new state-of-the-art diesel technology facility at our Atchison Technical Center, which will expand the program.
- Historic Jayhawk Theatre, Inc. (Topeka) – Capital Campaign: Restoration of the Jayhawk Theatre.
- Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City (Kansas City) – Renovating a new space that that will house the Learning Lab, which will serve as an experiential incubator for students across the region. Students will gain access to a robust set of curriculum and on-site experiences focused on practical application in financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship.
- Garden City Community College Endowment Association (Garden City) – Acquiring three mobile Anatomage Tables that will be shared by school systems throughout western Kansas. This innovative teaching tool is the most technologically advanced anatomy visualization system for preparing students for medical occupations.
- Exploration Place, Inc. (Wichita) – The purchase an installation of a new exhibit allowing children and their families to explore the human body in ways that create excitement and wonder. Health education and disease prevention are at the forefront of this exhibit, but delivered in a disguise of three-dimensional body parts, nostalgic, carnival-like games and STEAM activities.
- GoodLife Innovations, Inc. (Olathe) – Expand/establish the Neighborhood Network for Seniors. Improve Telemedicine technology within ILink.
- Youth Horizons Inc (Wichita) – New multi-residential housing for at-risk girls and young women.
- The Kansas African American Museum (TKAAM) (Wichita) – Building an environmentally controlled vault that is designed to preserve the historical items in its collection, and any new donations they may receive.
- Buhler Sunshine Home, Inc (Buhler) – The construction of a 13-unit Memory Care Center designated specifically for individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
- St. Luke Hospital Foundation (Marion) – Purchase of 3-D mammography technology.
- Wichita County Economic Development (Leoti) – The construction of a 3,565 square-foot building that will house four classrooms; providing care and early learning for 35 children, ages 5 and under.
- Pratt Community College Foundation (Pratt) – Construction of a multipurpose track-and-field facility for community health, school district and college competition and youth activities.
- Mercy Hospital Inc. (Moundridge) – Entrance improvements to the hospital to ensure all patrons can access the main entrance.
- High Plains Music Fest, Inc. (Hugoton) – Projects for re-opening the former Showplace Theater as the High Plains Theatre. Renovations to the front entrance, cinema area, restrooms and concession area.
- The Atchison Child Care Association (Atchison) – Exterior and interior repairs and updates.
- Central Kansas Community Foundation (Newton) – Building new study rooms for youth and adults to utilize; a large community room that can be divided into two spaces for community meeting and gathering spaces; and a Maker Room. The Maker Room will provide technologies and additional tools to increase skills that patrons otherwise may not be able to access.
- Russell Child Development Center, Inc. (Garden City) – To help in fully developing both physical and virtual service delivery capabilities across RCDC’s 19 counties, the project will facilitate a wide range of Pediatric Telehealth/Education connections for young families and caregivers/providers.
- Humboldt Daycare and Preschool, Inc (Humboldt) – Expanding 4,000 square-foot area to include an indoor activity area, two more classrooms, two more restrooms and a new kitchen.
- Community Living Opportunities, Inc. (CLO) (Lenexa) – Fully renovate a house to include: two inclusionary classrooms, multipurpose space, fully accessible bathroom; office space; kitchenette; and iLink Technologies throughout to connect KU BCBAs to help support working families that have a child with I/DD or ASD.
- Finney County Childcare & Early Learning Network (Garden City) – The purchase and renovation of an existing nursing faculty that will be transformed into a day care.
About the Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP)
Each year since 1994, the Kansas Community Service Program has given nonprofit organizations a way to improve their ability to undertake major capital fundraising drives for various projects. Tax credits are allocated each year and awarded on a competitive application basis to nonprofit organizations.
Projects eligible for tax credit awards include community service, crime prevention, health care and youth apprenticeship and technical training. Based on the scope and cost of the proposed project, applicants may request up to $250,000 in tax credits. Applicant organizations in rural areas (less than 15,000 population) are eligible for a 70% credit. Applicant organizations in non-rural areas are eligible for a 50% credit.
Scores are tallied based on the following criteria, among others:
- Need of the project
- Solution compatibility (will this solution solve the need)
- Target community
- Project planning
- Community support