The Kansas Healthy Food Initiative

Community: Almena, KS
County: Norton
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: December 2022
Funding Type: Grant

Almena Market is located in northwest Kansas. The current meat cooler and freezer system was over 25 years old and started to malfunction, which resulted in loss of product. With the age of these coolers, it was getting difficult to find replacement parts and had to be custom made. Funding from KHFI was used to replace these coolers and freezers.

Community: Oakley, KS
County: Gove
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: March 2022
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://barhfreshfarms.com/

Bar H. Fresh Farms is located in Northwest Kansas with multiple retail outlets in the region. By providing fresh farmed pop ups, Bar H. Farms has serviced underserved communities with fresh poultry, fruits and vegetables with the option of a delivery service. Being able to take online orders allowed the farm and its customers an easier shopping experiences to allow SNAP recipients to order, pay, schedule deliveries and access the fresh farmed pop ups. Grant funding was used for creating a website and other upgrades.

Community: La Crosse, KS
County: Rush
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: May 2023
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website:https://www.facebook.com/p/Bs-Hometown-Market-100087351072861/ 

After the local grocery store abruptly closed, the local community wanted to reopen it to avoid having to drive 25 miles one-way to get groceries. Funding was used to purchase the building, new equipment, and initial store inventory.

Community: Russell, KS
County: Russell
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: May 2021
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://www.facebook.com/goodkarmamicrodairy/

Good Karma Micro-Dairy provides raw, organic milk, and dairy products to rural customers in western Kansas. They are located in an area with limited access to organic products and are the only dairy in the county. During the height of the COVID lockdown, the dairy sustained the local community when grocery stores could not. Since then, their new customer base has grown significantly. Customers are looking for healthy alternatives for their families. Raw, organic, grass-fed milk is the healthiest option available. They've outgrown their initial space and need to expand in order to fulfill our customer's needs.

Grant funding was used to add workspace to interior of barn structure for a creamery and small milking parlor as well as a place to conduct local classes on butter and cheese making and agribusiness tours.

Community: Grinnell, KS
County: Gove
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: March 2018
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix

Hometown Grocery was a community-owned store in Grinnell. Funding was needed to complete updates to the facility and the equipment. Grant dollars were used to complete upgrades to the store and some equipment. The loan was intended to support the store upgrades.

Community: Bird City, KS
County: Cheyenne
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: September 2018
Funding Type: T.A. grant
Website: http://www.highplainsfood.org/

The High Plains Food Coop is a food hub operating in Northwest Kansas and hoping to expand their warehouse facility in order to expand capacity. The grant funds were to assist in completion of a market study.

Community: Bird City, KS
County: Cheyenne
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: April 2021
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: https://bchometownmarket.com/

Chris and Andrea Thomson took over ownership of Hometown Market in Bird City in November 2020. The previous owner/manager ran the store for 18 years and is staying on in advisory capacity for the new owners’ first year. The loan and grant funds were requested to support the purchase of inventory and build working capital.

Community: Lucas, KS
County: Russell
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: April 2018
Funding Type: Grant

Lucas Home Oil is a convenience store located in Lucas. The owners, Marc and Coleen Lovin have operated the store for 30 years. When their local grocery store in Lucas closed, the Lovins decided to expand the grocery offerings of their convenience store. This project received grant funding from the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative to support their 1,500 square-foot expansion and purchase of new equipment to increase the store’s healthy food options by 30 percent. In addition to offering bread, milk, and eggs, they now sell fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and grocery items to Lucas and five surrounding communities.

Community: St. Francis, KS
County: Cheyenne
Region: Northwest
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: March 2019
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://stfrancissupers.com/ 

St. Francis Super’s is owned by Perk and Beth O’Dell and is located in St. Francis. The O’Dell family has been serving rural communities in 11 locations as local grocers for more than 60 years. This project aims to expand the St. Francis Super’s store to allow for a larger capacity of fresh, healthy food for their community. Through this project, a grant from the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative was awarded to increase store space by 15%, with most of the increased space going towards a larger produce section and new refrigeration.

“The community of St. Francis knows first-hand what it’s like to not have access to a local grocery store. Now that the store is once again owned and operated by a community-minded family, the goal is to continue to increase access to healthy food choices while continuing to keep them affordable for all.”
– St. Francis Super’s