Emporia Main Street Awarded $12,500 Science Discovery Grant

Emporia, KS: Emporia Main Street was awarded a Science Discovery on Main Street Grant to research and identify unique aspects of Emporia, Kansas in relation to science.

This grant from Main Street America aims to help Main Street communities inspire curiosity, joy, and pride in what makes each community unique through creating engaging science-inspired attractions, events, and activities.

Through the Science Discovery on Main Street grant program, Emporia Main Street will explore unique aspects of their community in relation to science. With the funding, grantees will build relationships with partners and plan

science-centered events and programming for residents and visitors. Emporia Main Street and the other grantees will also have opportunities to collaborate, learn together, and share their experiences with each other.

Some communities have already identified science aspects to explore – with topic areas ranging from local environmental phenomena to paleontology to night sky exploration and more – while others are eager to see what they uncover through the process.

“We’re thrilled to use these funds to work with Emporia State University and the Peterson Planetarium to develop a unique educational exhibit that extends throughout the entire downtown and beyond. The combined efforts of ESU, the Emporia Main Street Fabrication Lab, and other educational and community partners make this project possible. We appreciate the Simons Foundation and Main Street America’s efforts to inspire educational efforts that lead to successful community development,” said Casey Woods, the Executive Director of Emporia Main Street.

To view the full list of twelve grant recipients in the nationally competitive initiative and learn more about the program, please visit the grant webpage here: https://mainstreet.org/about/partner-collaborations/the-simons-foundation-science-discovery-on-main-street

ABOUT EMPORIA MAIN STREET

Emporia Main Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering economic vitality, historic preservation, and community engagement. Through business support programs, redevelopment initiatives, the Fabrication Lab, and public events, Emporia Main Street works to create a thriving and sustainable regional environment. Founded in 1991, the Emporia Main Street program has helped generate over $174,000,000 in direct investment within the community.

Learn more about Emporia Main Street here: https://emporiamainstreet.com/

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA

Main Street America (MSA) leads an inclusive, impact-driven movement dedicated to reenergizing and strengthening older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through place-based economic development and community preservation. We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.

Main Street America was founded in 1980 as the National Main Street Center®, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over the past 40 years the MSA network has helped to generate over $101 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,000 buildings, create 782,000 new jobs, and start 175,000 new businesses in over 2,000 communities.

Learn more about Main Street America here.- https://mainstreet.org/