(KNZA)--Five local northeast Kansas communities have been awarded grants for infrastructure improvements.

 Atchison, Hiawatha, Highland, Marysville and Valley Falls are among 40 rural Kansas communities that will receive Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) totaling more than $17.6 million.  

Governor Laura Kelly announced the grant awards Friday.  

The city of Atchison was awarded $370,000 for sidewalk improvements.

Hiawatha will receive a $600,000 grant for improvements to the lift station and sanitary sewer system.  

The city of Highland was awarded a $600,000 grant for street improvements.  

Marysville will receive a $600,000 grant for sanitary sewer treatment facility improvements  

Valley Falls was awarded a $600,000 grant for sanitary sewer system improvements  

The awards are administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce and granted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Small Cities CDBG program.