Southeast Region Projects
Below is a list of funded projects in the southeast region.
Community: Caney, KS
County: Montgomery
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: February 2019
Funding Type: T.A. grant
The City of Caney is proposing the creation of a city-owned store to serve the needs of the area. The store is planned to have around 7,000 square feet and offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and a full-service meat market. The grant funding from KHFI was used to complete a market study for the project.
Community: Erie, KS
County: Neosho
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: October 2021
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/766596123963272/
The Erie Market, located in Southeast Kansas, was purchased by the City of Erie earlier in 2021, with the point of sale program being 10 years old. The upgrade allowed the Erie Market to remain a competitor to Dollar General by allowing the system to be compatible with the programs offered by the Associated Wholesale Grocers and the Double Up Food Bucks program. The grant funding was used for a point of sale system upgrade.
Community: Fall River, KS
County: Greenwood
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: September 2022
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://www.facebook.com/vancedave56/
Fall River Market is located in southeast Kansas. The current coolers restrict the amount of healthy food that is available for the community. Funding from KHFI was used to purchase new coolers. This allows the store to provide more healthy food, as well as additions to variety.
Community: Fredonia, KS
County: Wilson
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: December 2023
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: https://www.fredoniagardens.com/
Fredonia Gardens provides year-round hydroponically-grown produce to the Fredonia community. The operation sells to grocery stores, restaurants, and other local institutions. KHFI funds were used to purchase materials to expand their greenhouse.
Community: Willow Springs, MO
County: Howell, MO
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: May 2021
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://www.gwfoodsinc.com/
The Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) Program makes healthy food more available to SNAP users. For every $1 of produce purchased with SNAP, the program provides an additional $1 that can be used for produce purchases throughout the year. This program supports greater purchase/use of fresh foods over processed foods and in turn may encourage items prepared at home to replace at least some use of pre-packaged, highly processed foods. Grant funding for this project was used for licensing and installation fees at eight additional stores in Southeast Kansas.
Community: Pittsburg, KS
County: Crawford
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: February 2021; August 2022
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://leafygreenfarms.org/
The owner of Leafy Green Farms is planning to build an urban hydroponic farm in Pittsburg, KS. The farm will be comprised of at least two shipping containers that have been adapted to hydroponics. The farm will produce lettuces and herbs to sell directly to customers through on-farm sales and through wholesale accounts like grocery stores and restaurants. The grant funding from KHFI will be used to assist with the purchase of farm equipment. Additional funded was provided for refrigerators, cold storage transport bins and other items to improve the business were purchased. This allows the business to provide more variety in weekly vegetables and improve their final delivered product to customers. The current cold storage was not meeting the needs of the business and was restricting their selection of goods.
Community: Moran, KS
County: Allen
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: June 2018; January 2020; May 2021
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix; Grant; T.A. grant
Website: https://www.themarmatonmarketinc.com/
Marmaton Market is a cooperatively owned grocery store that opened in 2018 in Moran in place of Stub’s Market. The owners of Stubs Market were interested in retiring, but could not find a buyer for the store. The rural community did not want to lose their store, so they banded together to pursue re-opening the store as a cooperative. Upon transfer of ownership, the store was in need of equipment and cooler upgrades. Funding for a loan and grant were approved for purchase of equipment, and working capital to modernize and renovate the existing store. The funding also helped the store fulfill its commitment of offering healthy foods to its community.
Since receiving Kansas Healthy Food Initiative funding, the Marmaton Market celebrated its first anniversary and store membership has grown to more than 130 members. The store layout has been updated to include a bulk spice section and a “gathering place for free-flowing coffee at the front of the store,” shares board member, Debbie Bearden. Completed renovations include painting, equipment repairs, and new signage.
Grant funding was given in 2021 to exploring other ways to generate additional surplus income such as selling deli prepared sandwiches and stationing an ATM inside the store.
“The people of the community are supporting one another by shopping locally.”
– Debbie Bearden, Marmaton Market Board Member"
Community: McCune, KS
County: Crawford
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: August 2018; June 2020
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: https://www.facebook.com/mccunemarket/
In 2017, McCune Farm to Market opened its doors in McCune. The owners also operate Schenker Family Farms, a family farm operation that has been raising and selling organic meats and eggs for generations in Southeast Kansas. The McCune Farm to Market sources local products from their farm and others, including a partnership with a local K-12 alternative school to teach students how to grow vegetables in a high tunnel. Since opening, McCune Farm to Market has seen an increase in demand for fresh produce and the development of a line of frozen healthy meals. The McCune Farm to Market received a grant and a loan from the Kansas Healthy Food Initiative to assist with the addition of a freezer unit for their take-and-bake items and coolers for fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products and farm eggs. In the future, the owners hope to install an additional freezer for their local meats.
“The project as a whole has been a huge blessing not only to our community, but to the general region. We are able to offer more fresh, local produce and other items. In addition, we currently offer classes on healthy cooking, food preservation and more. These are typically sold-out classes with people driving from as far away as an hour to attend.”
– Cherie Schenker, McCune Farm to Market
Community: Moran, KS
County: Allen
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: April 2018; September 2018
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix; T.A. grant
Website: https://www.themildredstore.com/
The Mildred Store has been in operation for over 100 years. It is one of the only buildings still standing in the unincorporated town of Mildred. This local grocery store is a landmark for the Allen County community and for its current owner, Regena Lance, who remembers visiting the store as a child. Regena and her husband, Loren, have owned the Mildred Store for almost four years and are interested in updating the longstanding store to better serve their community. The Mildred Store received a grant and loan to upgrade insulation, windows, wiring, lighting and coolers to preserve the historic building, lower utility costs, and improve the overall sustainability of the store. Kansas Healthy Food Initiative funding was leveraged to secure energy efficiency funding from the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). In addition to selling groceries, the Mildred Store hosts a monthly music night that attracts out-of-town visitors for an evening of festivity.
“The community is good, the community wants this store.”
– Loren Lance, Mildred Store"
Community: Humboldt, KS
County: Allen
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: November 2018
Funding Type: Grant
A matching grant was provided for the proposed addtion of a deli to increase store patronage, along with other improvements.
Community: Bronson, KS
County: Bourbon
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: November 2022
Funding Type: Grant
Website: https://www.perrysporkrinds.com/
Perry’s Pork Rinds and Country Store is located in Southeast Kansas. The residents in western Bourbon County did not have a grocery store. With KHFI Funding, Perry’s Pork Rinds was able to purchase freezers, refrigerators and meat/deli cases. This allows the store to provide fresh food to the community so they do not have to travel as far to get simple groceries.
Community: Independence, KS
County: Montgomery
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: October 2023
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: https://www.sekmushrooms.com/
SEK Mushrooms produces and sells mushrooms to local grocery stores and restaurants. The business is also developing a CSA program to distribute mushrooms and other locally-grown produce to retail outlets and customers. KHFI funds were used to expand mushroom production and make building upgrades.
Community: Independence, KS
County: Montgomery
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: March 2023
Funding Type: Loan/grant mix
Website: https://www.livetlc.com/
TLC Nursery is a local plant retailer the has started a Gourmet Mushroom Farm indoors. The applicant grows and sells mushrooms to grocery stores, farmers markets and chefs. KHFI funding will be used to expand their mushroom farm, add a processing kitchen, and will also support materials and equipment needed to complete the building.
Community: Humboldt, KS
County: Allen
Region: Southeast
Geographical context: Rural
Date Funded: May 2020; July 2020; December 2020
Funding Type: T.A. grant; Loan/grant mix
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ourmarkethumboldt/
The Welch’s plan to repurpose an existing vacant grocery store to house a meat processing facility and full-service grocery store. The primary use of the loan funds will be for equipment and construction. The project also was approved for a technical assistance grant.