06/17/2026
One of the ways ACDC “initiates, stimulates and facilitates” opportunity in Atchison County is providing grant funds to amazing local businesses that are investing in themselves and organizations and individuals that are working to improve our community. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting the grants we offer.
The Business Improvement Grant, our flagship grant program, was created to encourage growth and development of existing Atchison County businesses and to support them in a tangible way. Over the past 13 years, this program has assisted with 185 different business improvement projects throughout our county. Grant recipients have invested in themselves and leveraged nearly $215,000 in ACDC funds (county tax dollars allocated to this office via the 1/4-cent economic development sales tax) to complete $1,091,652 worth of much needed business enhancements. Of that impressive investment, over $348,000 has been directly invested back into our local economy in the form of goods and services from Atchison County vendors.
ACDC offers two different levels of funding each year through this reimbursed matching grant program on projects that will improve aesthetics, safety, and/or function of existing businesses: BASIC (grant will equal up to 50% of the cost of eligible improvements, maximum $1,000) and 2.0 (grant will equal up to one-third of the cost of eligible improvements, maximum of $2,500.
Applications for this grant are accepted via mail (or at the ACDC office at 321 S. Main St in Rock Port, via mail slot in door if the office is closed). Any AC business current on taxes/licensure can apply unless it received a Business Improvement Grant in 2024 or 2025, and eligible projects must be approved prior to beginning work. Completed applications (including vendor bids and project estimates) will be considered by the grant committee in the order they are received. Applications will be accepted until all funds have been awarded. ($13,000 left as of June 2026). Visit www.atchisoncounty.org/acdcgrants to download the application and guidelines or contact us (660-744-6562, [email protected]) to have a copy sent to you.
