Special to The Hays Daily News

Six rural Kansas communities will share $500,000 in Small Communities Improvement Program funding from the Kansas Department of Commerce, officials announced Monday.

The cities of Phillipsburg, Rossville, St. Marys, Tribune, Udall and White City were each awarded funds through the program, which is designed to assist communities with populations of 5,000 or less.

"We are excited to provide funding to these deserving communities and organizations," said Secretary of Commerce Bill Thornton. "The Small Communities Improvement Program was created especially for our smallest communities, those communities that sometimes struggle to secure other funding sources. SCIP funding is a great tool for us to encourage rural community development in Kansas."

In Phillipsburg, funding will go toward the completion of phase II improvements to the Majestic Theatre. This award will allow for the restoration of the historical building housing the theatre. The community will provide at least $142,700 in labor and materials.

SCIP allows communities to apply for funds for projects and determine which parts of the project they can complete on their own. The community acts as the general contractor, organizing local labor and equipment and coordinating work done by a subcontractor. The SCIP provides direction, technical assistance, guidance and support to make it happen. Self-help and volunteerism must produce savings of at least 40 percent of the project's marketplace price. This year's six winners were chosen from a pool of 14 applicants.

For more information, visit www.KansasCommerce.com/SCIP or contact Joe Monaco, public information officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce, at (785) 296-3760 or jmonaco@kansascommerce.com.