Historic Preservation and Economic Development are priorities of the Leavenworth Main Street Program. We offer many avenues for business support including gap funding opportunities.
It’s important that your business is successful and grows and prospers in beautiful, historic downtown Leavenworth. Within these efforts, many opportunities are afforded to our business members. The Leavenworth Main Street office should be your first point of contact when you are considering starting a business, leasing or purchasing a building, expanding or relocating your business and projects that could utilize gap financing to stretch your private investment.
KU Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Leavenworth Main Street works hand in hand with the KU SBDC. Their director is a free generalist consultant, who comes to Leavenworth on a regular basis, offering support to businesses.
- Helping you understand Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Getting the Right Start
- Helping you write and further develop your Business Plan
- Helping businesses understand financial planning, budgets and related
- Your confidential business consultant
Contact Leavenworth Main Street, 913-682-3924 or director@leavenworthmainstreet.com to schedule an appointment.
IWW (Incentives Without Walls) LARGE PROJECTS
- Available to LMS Business Members in good standing
- 0% Loan, payable over 1 – 5 years, depending on the amount of the loan
- 1:3 match required; $20,000 maximum public funding; $60,000 minimum private match
- Interior renovations including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, floor restoration, construction, painting and more
- Exterior renovations including façade renovation, awning, signage, brick repair and more
- Building purchase
IWW (Incentives Without Walls) SMALL PROJECTS
- Available to LMS Business Members in good standing
- 0% Loan, payable over 1 – 2 years
- 1:1 match required; $2,000 maximum public funding; $2,000 maximum private match
- Façade renovations, awnings, signage, technology upgrades
IWW Application
Contact, director@leavenworthmainstreet.com for additional information and to start the application process.
City of Leavenworth Grant
The City of Leavenworth provides a matching grant for building updates and/or renovations to new and existing commercial, retail and industrial businesses. Owners may be reimbursed for 50 percent of the cost of the improvements, up to a maximum of $5,000.
Click here for application
Network Kansas/e-community
Network Kansas was established as a component of the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 to further Entrepreneurship and small business growth as a priority for economic and community development in the State of Kansas.
On November 14, 2011, Network Kansas announced that Leavenworth’s First City Development Corporation was selected as the 2011 Entrepreneurship (E-) Community member and awarded $166,000 to the local community business loan fund to assist Entrepreneurs in the City.
First City Development Corporation is a Network Kansas E-Community member and is making loans to Entrepreneurs for new business expansion within the City limits of Leavenworth. E-community loans cannot exceed $45,000. Terms of the “Zero” percent loans cannot exceed ninety-six months.
Click here for application.
Kansas Department of Commerce Grants
The Kansas Department of Commerce has also recently revamped its “grants at a glance” page to make it easier for the state’s business owners to review available funding opportunities, including those geared toward tourism marketing.