JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Twenty Kansas communities have earned PRIDE program awards for their work in community development and civic improvements.
"Each is a participating community in the Kansas PRIDE Program, a volunteer-driven statewide community and economic development program," said Dan Kahl, Kansas State University Research and Extension PRIDE Program coordinator.
The program is co-administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce.
During the 2008-2009 program year, on which the awards were based, 60 PRIDE communities raised $900,712 for community improvements and completed 1,216 projects.
Projects vary by community, said Kahl, and this year many focused on health and fitness, cultural events, leadership development, economic development and/or improvements in a community's infrastructure.
The PRIDE projects only succeed if communities can engage volunteers, he noted, adding that, in the last program year, PRIDE volunteers invested more than 85,231 volunteer hours. When calculated as a dollar value, these efforts were valued at more than $1.7 million.
While nurturing the grass-roots, community-based programs, the Kansas PRIDE Program typically assists volunteer community leaders in identifying and prioritizing needs, researching resources, building and supporting a volunteer base, and using development tools such as grant writing to secure funds to make such improvements a reality.
"Building the right structure for collaboration is key to a community's success," said Kahl, who noted that during the current award year, PRIDE groups partnered with 644 other community organizations to reach shared goals and objectives.
Two categories of community development awards were presented at PRIDE Day in Junction City, Kan., recently, said Trudy Rice, who serves as K-State Research and Extension's state liaison with participating communities.
According to Rice, PRIDE Community of Excellence Awards are given to recognize engagement in a sustainable community development process; STAR Awards recognize outstanding work toward an important community project.
Community of Excellence Award recipients each earned a glass commemorative plaque and a check for $500 to help fund future projects.
The 2008-2009 award recipient-communities (listed in alphabetical order) and evaluator comments included:
* Alton, pop. 117, which is located in Osborne County in north central Kansas, impressed evaluators with their communication and engagement efforts including the creation of the "Alton Twitter" newspaper, and a move to re-establish local polling sites.
* Goff, pop. 181, is located in Nemaha County in northeast Kansas. The community was recognized for its willingness to take on significant projects, which included building a fire station, a community and fitness center, and a library. PRIDE volunteers also operate a community food pantry and established a toy museum.
* Grinnell, pop. 329, is located in Gove County in northwest Kansas, and earned kudos for maintaining, supporting and promoting walking trails and health-promoting activities.
* Highland, pop. 976, is located in Doniphan County in northeast Kansas. The community built partnerships with community collaborators, including local nonprofit organizations and faculty and students at Highland Community College. PRIDE volunteers established a community garden and have taken an active role in operating a community food pantry.
*Lakin, pop. 2,316, is located in Kearney County in southwest Kansas. PRIDE volunteers are supporting a vision/planning process for the community, while also maintaining three parks and downtown beautification projects.
* Lenora, pop. 306, is located in Norton County in northwest Kansas, and earned high marks for nurturing shared youth and adult leadership and involving new residents in community improvement.
* Melvern, pop. 429, is located in Osage County in east central Kansas. PRIDE volunteers earned high marks for collaboration with other agencies and the Healthy Ecosystem-Healthy Communities program, while serving as the driving force in an environmental makeover of a nearby recreation area. Volunteers logged more than 4,000 hours in developing a walking trail, yet the trail was only one of 17 projects completed.
* Potwin, pop. 457, is located in Butler County in southeast Kansas, and is building collaborations with organizations outside their community. PRIDE volunteers recently tackled recycling and cleanup projects in addition to a community garden, in which residents are invited to "Plant a Row for the Hungry," and donate produce to local and regional food pantries.
* Rossville, pop. 1,014 is located in Shawnee County in northeast Kansas, and earned high marks for integrating health and fitness opportunities, including a new swimming pool and volleyball court, into community life. A rain garden project combines civic involvement with education and beautification, while redirecting storm water runoff.
* Spearville, pop. 813 is located in Ford County in southwest Kansas. PRIDE volunteers are working to build capacity via community goal setting. This year, the community tackled projects that emphasize community, fitness and health.
* Stafford, pop. 1,161 is located in Stafford County in south central Kansas, and earned high marks for emphasizing health and fitness and working to maintain and promote the use of walking trails and fitness activities such as the Quivera bike and hike event. The local PRIDE organization also honors a Youth of the Month to nurture community service.
* Troy, pop. 1,054 is located in Doniphan County in northeast Kansas, and is a relatively new PRIDE community. The small city is being mentored in the program by the Highland PRIDE Committee, and current projects include revitalizing a city-owned pond and city-wide beautification project with a Yard of the Month award.
* Wilson, pop. 765 is located in Ellsworth County in central Kansas, and also is a relatively new PRIDE Community. PRIDE volunteers earned kudos for organizing a survey of needs and public meetings to identify priority efforts and begin to move forward in making them happen.
PRIDE STAR awards are given annually to recognize important community project completion, said Trudy Rice, K-State Research and Extension liaison to PRIDE communities. Star award recipients each receive an award trophy and a $350 cash award toward future improvements.
The 2008-2009 award recipients and a brief description of their projects are:
*Cunningham, pop. 514, is located in Kingman County in south central Kansas. PRIDE volunteers converted a vacant lot on Main Street into a park with a gazebo and memorial lights.
* Elk City, pop. 305, is located in Montgomery County in southeast Kansas. PRIDE volunteers worked to establish a youth and adult volunteer-driven recycling program.
* Glasco, pop. 536, is located in Cloud County in north central Kansas. In supporting healthy lifestyles, PRIDE volunteers expanded a walking program for kindergarteners-8th graders with high-school age mentors (initiated last year) to include swimming and biking.
* Goff, pop. 181, is located in Nemaha County in northeast Kansas. PRIDE volunteers organized fund raisers and book drives to establish the Goff Honors Library.
* Greeley, pop. 327, is located in Anderson County in southeast Kansas. PRIDE volunteers sought support to beautify the city's park and upgrade playground equipment in the park.
* Grinnell, pop. 329, is located in Gove County in northwest Kansas. This year, PRIDE volunteers in Grinnell renovated a community bulletin board and added an entrance sign to a recently completed walking trail at the city park.
* Melvern, pop. 429, is located in Osage County in northeastern Kansas. PRIDE volunteers organized a Christmas Box Project and distributed more than 3,000 pounds of food, essentials and gifts to 120 adults and 95 children. The project is an outgrowth of a free community Thanksgiving dinner (also organized by PRIDE volunteers) as a thank-you to the community for their work on ongoing community improvement projects.
* Portis, pop. 123, is located in Osborne County in north central Kansas. PRIDE volunteers surveyed residents to identify needed community improvements, and, then built a much-needed shelter house at the City Park.
* Rossville, pop.1,014 is located in Shawnee County in northeast Kansas. PRIDE volunteers worked with Kansas PRIDE's Healthy Ecosystems-Healthy Communities program to create a flower-filled rain garden to filter pollutants from rainwater run-off from parking lots and other structures.
* Spearville, pop. 813, is located in Ford County in southwest Kansas. PRIDE volunteers secured funding to improve the playground area of a popular city park.
PRIDE projects represent a significant community investment in time, energy and resources. And, while PRIDE projects vary to meet specific needs, all reflect the energy and willingness of volunteers with a can-do attitude, Rice said.
More information about the PRIDE Program and how it can facilitate community and economic development, is available on its Web site: www.kansasprideprogram.ksu.edu or call either Dan Kahl or Trudy Rice at 785-532-5840.
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