Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) announced today that the Argonia Spaces to Places Initiative has been awarded a $1,000 grant from the WEC Sharing Success Fund to help support a community mural as part of ongoing revitalization efforts.
Argonia was recently recognized by the Kansas Department of Commerce as one of only two towns in the state to be selected for its Spaces To Places initiative. This statewide program empowers communities to turn public spaces into vibrant places, with input gathered directly from residents through local meetings and outreach.
The Sharing Success grant will help fund a mural to be painted by local artist Daniel Thompson on the north side of the R. Greene Photography Studio downtown Argonia this spring. The mural will feature the phrase “Welcome to Argonia”, with each letter in “Argonia” filled with images representing the town’s identity and spirit. In a playful touch, the “I” will be left blank to create a fun “selfie spot” where residents and visitors can step in and take photos.
The grant will help cover paint, stencils, and artist labor, helping to bring this vibrant vision to life. As a colorful new selfie spot and a symbol of Argonia’s momentum, the mural will leave a lasting impression—serving as a bold reminder of the town’s commitment to growth, creativity, and community spirit.
The Scott Community Foundation began formally accepting applications for grants from the WEC Sharing Success Fund from community-based organizations on December 1, 2012. Since then, the application process has been moved internally and is currently handled directly by WEC. This year, WEC and CoBank have once again each contributed $10,000 to the fund. The program will continue to run until the funds are exhausted. Since 2012, WEC’s Sharing Success Fund has made $195,000 available to community-based organizations and projects across their service territory.
Community based organizations interested in receiving funding from the WEC Sharing Success Fund can apply online. Questions should be referred to Alli Conine, director of member services and corporate communications, at 620-874-4563 or aconine@weci.net.
