TOPEKA, Kan. – The city of Carbondale is among 23 Kansas communities that will share more than $11 million in federal grants for a variety of community improvement projects.

Carbondale will receive $600,000 in community development block grant funds for constructing a public library. The city will contribute $901,754 in matching funds to obtain the grant.

Through the Community Development Block Grant program, 12 Kansas communities will share a total of $6,806,637 in federal grants for water and sewer projects, two Kansas communities will share $600,000 for housing rehabilitation and nine communities will share $3,612,828 for community facility projects.

“Vital public services including water, sewer and community facilities are essential to all communities in Kansas,” said Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland. “The CDBG grants will help provide the funding needed by these 23 communities to ensure improved quality of life for their residents.”

The CDBG program, administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, 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: The grant will 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.

Other communities receiving grants of varying amounts included Assaria, Beloit, Bird City, Brewster, Caney, Chanute, Downs, Frankfort, Girard, Greenleaf, Gridley, Junction City, McPherson, Neodesha, Oberlin, Phillipsburg, Russell, Strong City, Tipton, Troy, Turon, and Washington.

Information thanks to Kansas Department of Commerce.