Published Jun 12, 2025
Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced five grant recipients will share $250,000 funding through the Residential Opportunities On Main Street (ROOMS) program. Five projects in designated Kansas Main Street communities have been awarded $50,000 each to create a total of 29 new residential units in the upper floors of downtown buildings.
“There are many unused upper-floor spaces in beautiful downtown buildings, particularly in some of our smaller Kansas communities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By investing in rural downtowns and creating additional housing units, we directly improve the quality of life in these communities while also supporting further economic growth. The ROOMS grants will help us keep pace with the increasing number of business investments and growing demand for workforce housing in our rural towns.”
Last year, eight communities were awarded ROOMS grants, resulting in 34 new upper-floor housing units in downtown communities and generating nearly $7 million in private reinvestment. The five projects this year will generate almost $9 million in private reinvestment.
“The ROOMS grant program has been a staple in addressing the lack of housing options in specific Kansas communities,” Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell said. “The rehabilitation projects not only increase the housing available, but also helps ensure we restore and utilize the historic downtown buildings across Kansas.”
The summer 2025 ROOMS grant recipients:
- Atchison – 1913 Apartments, adding three one-bedroom units
- Emporia – Historic Forde Gillett Building, adding six two-bedroom units and two one-bedroom units
- Independence – Stanford Building, adding two one-bedroom units
- Marysville – Broadway Building, adding 10 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom lofts
- Ottawa – Historic Shepherd & McQuesten Building, adding three one-bedroom and one two-bedroom lofts
To learn more about the ROOMS grant program and to view an informational webinar, click here. For additional information about the Kansas Main Street program, visit here.
Source: https://www.kansascommerce.gov/2025/06/commerce-supports-five-communities-with-upper-floor-units-downtown/
