Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills Awarded $162,000 in Kansas Community Service Tax Credits
Fueling Economic Empowerment & Historic Preservation Through Strategic Giving
Manhattan, KS — Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills (BEFH) is proud to announce it has been awarded $162,000 in Community Service Program Tax Credits by the Kansas Department of Commerce. This transformative opportunity will significantly advance BEFH’s mission to empower Black and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs throughout the Flint Hills region.
Through the Community Service Program (CSP), Kansas taxpayers who contribute to BEFH will receive a 50% tax credit on their donation. These credits create a powerful incentive for individuals and businesses to invest directly in grassroots economic development and culturally anchored capital projects like the Yuma Street Cultural Center (YSCC)—a future hub for innovation, belonging, and entrepreneurship.
"This tax credit award is a powerful endorsement of our vision to reclaim history and rise into a future where all entrepreneurs thrive," said Sheila Ellis-Glasper, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BEFH. "With this support, we are creating space for our legacy to be honored and our dreams to be built right here in the Flint Hills."
The funding will help BEFH launch the next phase of its capital campaign and further key initiatives including:
Development of the Yuma Street Cultural Center
CommerceUplift Business & Capital Readiness Program
Rotating restaurant and entrepreneurship incubator spaces
Culturally-Responsive Mental wellness initiatives
BEFH is one of only 30 organizations across Kansas selected for the CSP program this year, which will distribute $4.1 million in total tax credits statewide.
“Strong, vibrant communities are what draw new businesses, visitors and potential residents to Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “CSP allows locally led initiatives to attract additional capital support – and further expand the economic opportunities in their communities.”
Supporters interested in maximizing their impact through the CSP can connect with BEFH to learn more about how to contribute. Your donation does more than help a nonprofit—it helps reclaim space, honor history, and uplift a thriving ecosystem of Black-led innovation.
Together, we reclaim. Together, we rise.
For more information on how to give and earn a 50% tax credit, please contact Jermain Glasper directly at engage@blackflinthills.com or 785-341-0008.