The City of Salina is requesting community input to support an application for a Community Development Block Grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce, aimed at funding improvements to the North Town Community Garden & Orchard at the former Stimmel Elementary School site.
Earlier this month, surveys were mailed to 831 households in Salina as part of the application process. The feedback will be used to demonstrate community need and support, a required component of the grant submission.
The proposed project is a public-private partnership involving the City of Salina, Lakewood Discovery Center, K-State Research & Extension, North Salina Community Development, Trinity United Methodist Church, and the Community Resilience Hub at Kansas Wesleyan University.
Survey Process and Privacy
City officials emphasized that all survey responses are anonymous and will be tabulated by a neutral third party. Individual responses will not be reviewed by city staff or elected officials.
Each survey includes a unique identification code to prevent duplicate submissions while maintaining anonymity. Surveys must be completed in full and returned by December 31, 2025, to be counted.
To increase participation, volunteers are expected to conduct in-person follow-ups in late January and February for households that have not yet responded.
Completed surveys should be returned using the provided postage-paid envelope to the City of Salina Finance Department, 300 W. Ash St., P.O. Box 736, Salina, KS 67402-0736.
What Is a Community Development Block Grant?
Community Development Block Grants are federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered at the state level in Kansas by the Department of Commerce.
CDBG funding is designed to support community development projects that primarily benefit low- to moderate-income residents. Eligible projects often include neighborhood improvements, public facilities, housing rehabilitation, and community services.
To qualify, communities must demonstrate local need, public support, and alignment with program requirements. Surveys like the one mailed to Salina households are a standard tool used to document that need and ensure compliance with federal guidelines.
Grant applications are competitive, and funding decisions are typically made based on documented community benefit, readiness to proceed, and alignment with state and federal priorities.
Why Community Input Matters
Public participation is a required component of the CDBG process. Survey responses help establish eligibility, demonstrate community engagement, and strengthen the city’s application.
The City of Salina stated that the survey is being used solely for the purpose of applying for CDBG funding related to the North Town Community Garden & Orchard project.
Contact Information
Residents with questions about the survey or the grant application process may contact:
Angelica Carrillo-Hernandez
Grants Coordinator, City of Salina
Phone: 785-833-8079
Email: angelica.carrillo@salina.org
The City of Salina encouraged residents who received a survey to complete and return it by the December 31 deadline.