Elk County Community Development

10/15/2026

Own a business, thinking about starting one, or involved in a community organization? Join us for the FREE Elk County Business Summit!
Come explore business resources, attend helpful workshops, and connect with resource partners from across southeast Kansas. Then stay for a FREE dinner at 6 p.m. and a great presentation on marketing!
Whether you’re promoting a business, nonprofit, foundation, chamber, or community event, the marketing presentation will offer helpful ideas for spreading the word and reaching more people.
Come learn, ask questions, and make connections. We’d love to see you there! 😊https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/c4myf4w/lp/5a7758f0-37dc-47d5-8c44-4f88ddf829c7?fbclid=IwY2xjawU-AeVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5pAMb1deyhDLQrFPNUUXlUhO5A4-5puXG6YQYv9RqfHFc9DhBjAk93VsuK5g_aem_nSjPlpMmtY3Y8tPz1H8uYA

09/04/2026

🍋 **Follow the Elk County Lemonade Trail!** 🍋

West Elk and Elk Valley students have been working hard to prepare their lemonade stands for Labor Day weekend! From classic and strawberry lemonade to iced coffee, cookies, brownies and bracelets, there are plenty of delicious reasons to hit the road and support our young entrepreneurs.

📍 Follow the map
🥤 Visit as many stands as you can
💛 Encourage these hardworking kids
📸 Share your Lemonade Trail adventures with us!

Each purchase helps our students learn about planning, creativity, customer service and running their own small business.

**Saturday, September 5–Monday, September 7**

Grab your friends, bring your family and make a weekend of it! Please share the map and help us spread the word! 🍋☀️

08/25/2026

🍋 **DON’T FORGET — LEMONADE DAY PAPERWORK IS DUE TOMORROW!** 🍋

Kids ages **8–12** can sign up for Elk County E-Community’s Lemonade Day AND apply for grant funds to help get their stand started! 💵🍋

📅 **Grant paperwork is due TOMORROW, August 26!**

Check out the pictures for all the details and paperwork. We can’t wait to see our young entrepreneurs in action over Labor Day Weekend!

**Please share so we can get the word out!** 💛

08/03/2026

🍋 Coming Soon... Elk County Lemonade Day! 🍋

It's not just one day—it's a whole weekend!

📅 Labor Day Weekend | September 5–7, 2026

Open to all Elk County kids and students attending Elk County school districts, this fun event gives young entrepreneurs the chance to start their own lemonade stand, earn money, and learn valuable business skills.

💛 Registration, grant opportunities, and more details are coming soon. Stay tuned!

03/03/2026

📢 Calling all small Kansas towns (population ≤ 5,000)!

Only 1 week left to apply for Downtown Revive & Thrive, a program turning vacant or underutilized downtown buildings into incubator and pop-up business spaces. ✨

💰 $500,000 in total funding available
💵 $100,000 maximum grant request amount

Learn more & apply by March 10 at 5:00 p.m. here: www.kansascommerce.gov/downtown-revive-and-thrive/

03/02/2026

Build a strong financial foundation for your business. Learn key federal tax requirements, responsibilities, and best practices in this beginner-friendly session.
👉 Reserve your spot now.
https://secure.touchnet.com/C21797_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=6478&SINGLESTORE=true

03/02/2026

BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR ELK COUNTY

The Elk County Commissioners are officially calling for bids and redevelopment ideas for the former United Methodist Church building at 300 N. Plum Street in Moline.

But here’s the exciting part…

What could this building become for ALL of Elk County?

A small business?
Housing?
A community event space?
A childcare center?
A shared commercial kitchen?
A youth or senior center?
A makerspace?
Something we haven’t even imagined yet?

We’re inviting entrepreneurs, nonprofits, visionaries, and community members to bring forward ideas that create impact across Elk County.

📅 Proposals are due by March 30, 2026
📧 Submit to: [email protected]

📬 Or mail to:
Attn: Diane Cucar
Community Development & Business Resources Director
P.O. Box 606
Howard, KS 67349

The Commissioners reserve the right to reject any and all bids, but we are hopeful someone sees possibility in this space.

This is your chance to shape something meaningful for Elk County’s future.

If you have an idea, now is the time.

Let’s dream a little.

03/02/2026

03/02/2026