Special to The Hays Daily News

From rehabilitating housing to upgrading emergency services, nine northwest Kansas towns and counties are among 44 communities across the state sharing a total of $13,081,660 -- including $4,370,331 in stimulus dollars -- in federal grants through the Community Development Block Grant program, the Kansas Department of Commerce announced this week.

"We're pleased to announce the awarding of these funds to some very deserving Kansas communities," said Commerce Secretary David D. Kerr. "These grants allow the department to assist the small and rural communities that are so important to the livelihood of our state."

The CDBG program provides federal funds to local governments for the development of viable communities by addressing their housing, public facilities and economic development needs. To be awarded funds, local government units must meet at least one of three program objectives: benefit low and moderate-income persons, prevent or eliminate slums and blight, or resolve an urgent need where local resources are not available to do so.

CDBG funds are one of the department's primary tools in supporting the state's small, predominately rural communities. The department has distributed more than $245 million in CDBG funding since 1998.

For more information, contact the Rural Development Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce at (785) 296-3004 or ruraldev@kansascommerce.com, or visit KansasCommerce.com.

Area communities receiving the block grants are the following:

* Bird City, $308,740, to rehabilitate 12 housing units and demolish three dilapidated unsafe residential structures.

* City of Ellis, $251,600, to rehabilitate 10 housing units and demolish two dilapidated, unsafe residential structures.

* Graham County, $19,855, to purchase and install a storm siren for Nicodemus Township.

* Morland, $143,550, to remodel a building owned by the Morland Community Foundation to allow the opening of a community-owned grocery store.

* Norton County, $165,000, to purchase a full-size ambulance/emergency vehicle for the department's Norton Station.

* Osborne County, $109,670, to purchase a new brush fire truck for Osborne County Rural Fire District No. 3.

* Rawlins County, $400,000, for renovations at the Rawlins County Health Center, including construction of a new entrance. The Rawlins County Health Center will provide $101,905 in matching funds.

* City of Victoria, $500,000, for the replacement of water mains within the city. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will provide $270,000 in financing.

* WaKeeney, $353,980, to rehabilitate 14 housing units and demolish five dilapidated housing units within the city.