The Kansas Healthy Food Initiative

Community: Solomon, KS
County: Dickinson
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: December 2021
Funding Type: Grant
Website: Facebook page

Bush’s Market is located in Dickinson County. They had an outdated point of sale system which was heavily relied on to provide fresh produce and other needs to their customers. With the new point of sale system, they are able to continue to provide their customers with day-to-day needs as well as fresh produce. The grant funding was used for point of sale system updates.

Community: Clyde, KS
County: Cloud
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: November 2021
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://clydeidealmarket.com/

After having a major point of sale system crash about two years ago and losing a lot of data, Clyde Ideal Market was looking to upgrade their system to stay up-to-date with security requirements and to continue to offer SNAP and WIC. Grant funding from KHFI was used to update the point of sale system.

Community: Courtland, KS
County: Republic
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: February 2024
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: Facebook page

Creekside Land and Cattle is a diversified farm and ranch located in North Central Kansas. They will use KHFI funds to expand their market by renovating a retail store in town, where they can sell beef and other local products.

Community: Osborne, KS
County: Osborne
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: November 2021
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://girardsmarket.com/

Girard’s point of sale system had not been upgraded in roughly nine years and the parts needed to repair the system were obsolete. A new point of sale system saved an abundance of time because it is able to update automatically and regularly, has better storage for UPCs and is able to process payments easier. This upgrade allowed them to continue to offer SNAP and WIC programs. Grant funding was used to upgrade the point of sale systems.

Community: Natoma, KS
County: Osborne
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: September 2022
Funding Type: Grant
Website: Facebook page

K&W Meat Processing is located in North-Central Kansas. The current equipment slows down turnaround time for customers. Funding from KHFI was used to purchase new equipment that allowed the store to have a quicker turnaround time and provide more people with homegrown products.

Community: Salina, KS
County: Saline
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Urban
Date Funded: August 2024
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: https://www.prairielandmarket.org/

Prairieland Market is relocating to a more centralized location in town, making healthy and local food more accessible to underserved communities. KHFI funds will be used for equipment, including high-efficiency food refrigeration and storage.

Community: Wilson, KS
County: Ellsworth
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: November 2021
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: Facebook page

Wilson Foods has been a community staple grocery store for many years, serving the community of Wilson and surrounding areas. It was acquired in April 2015 by Rick Weigel. The store is approximately 7,000 sq ft of retail space, specializing in quality smoked meats and fresh produce. The building is currently under lease, and in its current state, Rick would have no assets with which to create a viable succession plan. They plant to make upgrades to their business, including putting in new coolers, deli and salad cases and possibly a new parking lot. The loan/grant mix was used for renovations to improve efficiencies and appearances; acquire grocery store building to protect the owner's investment and ability to have an effective succession plan.

Community: Concordia, KS
County: Cloud
Region: North Central
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: November 2021
Funding Type: Grant
Website: Facebook page

Rod’s Food Stores was looking to upgrade their point of sale system to be able to participate in future expansion of WIC and SNAP programs and also possibly starting the Double Up Food Bucks program. The last point of sale system upgrade was in 2009. The old system took extra time to process WIC and SNAP transactions and helped relieve the stigma around customers using SNAP and WIC programs. The grant funding was used for point of sale system upgrades.