Kansas Tourism today announced $421,820 in Attraction Development Grants has been awarded to 10 recipients. The funding will be used to develop new tourism attractions or enhance existing sites across the state.
Attraction Development Grants assist in the development of travel experiences that will influence visitors’ travel decisions. The program also spurs economic growth through the creation of jobs, capital investment, revenue and number of visits.
An additional $2,064,910 in matching funds will result in a total of $3,441,517 that will be invested in the approved projects.
The 2023 grant recipients:
- City of Garden City, Finney County, $40,000 – Buffalo Dunes Golf Course renovations
- City of Lyons, Rice County, $13,120 – Creation of the World’s Largest Salt Shaker
- Gunnar’s Bourbon Company, Chautauqua County, $70,000 – Distillery enhancements
- Jalu LLC, Douglas County, $31,700 –Bathhouse enhancements
- Kansas State Historical Society, Shawnee County, $40,000 – Kansas Museum of History enhancements
- Kansas Oil Museum, Butler County, $80,000 – Energy Education Center feature
- Morton County Historical Society Museum, Morton County, $5,000 – Landmark windmill replacement
- Oz Museum/Columbian Theatre Foundation, Pottawatomie County, $17,600 – Oz Museum exhibit
- Trego Sky View Foundation, Trego County, $44,400 – Drive-in theater enhancements
- Wabaunsee County Historical Society, Wabaunsee County, $80,000 – New exhibits at county museum
The Attraction Development Grant recipients were chosen based on the projects’ economic impact to the state, availability of leveraged funding, ability to complete the project within 18 months, and the presence of a sound business and marketing plan. Grant dollars may fund up to 40 percent of a project, with the community or business funding the remaining 60 percent.
