NEK-CAP, Inc.

NEK-CAP, Inc., originally founded in November 1965 as the Northeast Kansas Community Action Program, was established by a dedicated group of individuals to combat poverty within the Northeast region of Kansas. Initially serving six counties, NEK-CAP has since expanded its reach to encompass sixteen counties in Northeast/North Central Kansas.

From its inception, NEK-CAP has been committed to mobilizing federal, state, and local resources to assist low-income individuals and families in addressing the challenges associated with living in poverty. The organization's traditional strategies have focused on helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life.

Over the years, NEK-CAP has made a significant impact on the lives of many individuals, enabling some to overcome poverty despite formidable odds. However, with an estimated 30,000 low-income individuals residing within its service area, NEK-CAP is only able to assist approximately 6,000 people. Despite various interventions and efforts over the past thirty-five years, the overall poverty rate in the region has remained largely unchanged.

In response to this ongoing challenge, NEK-CAP recently completed a comprehensive transformational planning process aimed at restructuring the agency and pursuing new strategies that hold the potential for not only addressing poverty within the region but ultimately eliminating it within two or three generations. This ambitious goal reflects NEK-CAP's renewed commitment to its mission and its determination to make a lasting impact on all communities served.

As part of its efforts to achieve this goal, NEK-CAP employs approximately 130 staff members and maintains administrative offices located in Hiawatha, KS. In November 2015, NEK-CAP celebrated fifty years of dedicated service to the community—a milestone that underscores its enduring commitment to combating poverty and improving lives throughout Northeast/North Central Kansas.