Carbondale Community Building

The City of Carbondale, located in Osage County in east central Kansas, has been awarded a KAN STEP grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce to construct a new community building. Construction will begin early in 2004.

Carbondale's project, which is being formulated through the local E.L.M. Foundation (Eastern Star, Lions and Masons), has an estimated retail value of $575,720. The city will receive a KAN STEP grant not to exceed $342,339, which leaves a local contribution of $233,381. KANSTEP is an acronym Kansas Small Town Environment Program. KANSTEP has successfully used "sweat equity" to help communities reduce cost of water systems and now community centers and fire stations.

The project representatives at Carbondale are Scott Fulton, President of the E.L.M. Foundation and John Ryan, who is also Mayor. Grant administration will be by Donna Crawford of Governmental Assistance Services. Dan Hall with BG Consultants, Manhattan, is architect. Kansas Rural Water Association will provide inspection services and technical assistance.