Corning Community Center

Corning to construct 9,400 sq. foot community center through KAN STEP Program

The Kansas Department of Commerce has awarded a $269,229 KAN STEP Grant to the City of Corning to construct a new community center. Corning is located in Nemaha County in northeast Kansas.

The building will be a 9,400 sq. ft. structure (60' x 150'). It will include a library, a conference room, kitchen and medical exam room. Cost of the project is estimated to be $450,115; $180,885 will be provided by volunteer labor with the $269,229 from KS Dept of Commerce to cover the costs of materials, architect, inspection and grant administration. Corning's present library is in a WPA constructed stone building that is difficult to heat and cool. The library contents will be moved to the new building with the present library to then store and display items from the existing museum that will be demolished to make room for the new community building.
Architect for the project is M. J. Rigby of Rosemann & Associates, Overland Park, KS. Kansas Rural Water Association will provide inspection and assistance on the project. Rural Development Association of Northeast Kansas will provide Grant administration. Sparkplugs for the project are Roger Haug, Diane and Travis Haverkamp and Joe Niehues.

KAN STEP is a self-help program that enables small communities to make major infrastructure improvements. Local people volunteer labor and services, while the Kansas Department of Commerce provides funding for materials and technical services. An acronym for Kansas Small Towns Environment Program, KAN STEP gives small Kansas communities an opportunity to do projects they could not otherwise afford. The funding is provided through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.