Submitted

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland has announced that three Department of Commerce programs were selected as recipients of the 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck NADO Impact Award. The awards from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) recognize the innovative efforts that are strengthening Kansas communities through housing, community engagement and economic development.

“These awards represent three very different projects, but each are designed to understand what communities need and find ways to help them move forward,” Toland said. “We want to meet communities where they are, give them the tools and resources they need, and help them turn their ideas into action.”

NADO announced 94 winning projects led by 58 organizations across 20 states. The awards recognize projects and partnerships that demonstrate how regional development organizations are turning vision into action and delivering measurable results.

NADO awarded the following programs:

• Fostering Residential Advancement through Mentoring and Education (FRAME) – The grant supports technical and community colleges in Kansas to enhance and expand programs that train skilled trade workers while addressing the state’s housing needs. FRAME provides funding for colleges to build homes, collaborate with local high school students, and create sustainable workforce training programs.

• Kansas Community Empowerment Listening Tour – The tour marked the beginning of Commerce’s administration of the Kansas Community Empowerment program. The agency traveled throughout Kansas to listen directly to communities, understand their priorities and learn what they needed to succeed. The tour helped build a framework where communities of different sizes, needs and levels of capacity can find a place to participate and grow.

• Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) – A program that encourages the renovation and improvement of upper floors in commercial buildings with local Main Street districts, creating new housing opportunities in downtowns while rehabilitating and preserving existing properties and expanding the local tax base.

“Economic development is about building places where people can launch a career, put down roots, start a business and invest in the community they call home,” said Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Matt Godinez. “Our awarded projects show that when we tackle the fundamental needs, we’re able to improve communities and set the stage for continued growth.”

Together the projects demonstrate a broader approach to economic development and why it’s important to invest in people, places and infrastructure to create a foundation for long-term growth.

The awards are named in honor of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s founding executive director, and recognizes 20 years of steadfast advocacy for rural and small-town economic development through regional collaboration.

The Kansas Department of Commerce and the awarded projects will be recognized alongside the other 2026 honorees at NADO’s 2026 Annual Training Conference in Reno, Nev., this October.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses.

Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.