In 2023, Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Legislature, through Sen. Sub. for HB 2302, increased the amount of state funding for the State Water Plan Fund (SWPF). The State Water Plan Fund was created in 1989 to provide funding for projects, programs, and activities recommended in the Kansas Water Plan (KWP) to address the various water issues identified in the KWP. In August of 2022, the Kansas Water Authority approved the updated Kansas Water Plan, which the Kansas Water Office had developed with input from federal, state, and local agencies, regional advisory committees, non-profit organizations and members of the public. During the following legislative session, Sen. Sub. for HB 2302 became law. Its provisions included the creation of two new water-related grant funds: the Technical Assistance Grant Fund and the Water Projects Grant Fund.
The two grant funds serve to help identified Kansas entities to obtain the up-front technical assistance and the on-the-ground actions needed to address various water quantity and quality needs. The two funds are generally directed to supporting water-related infrastructure activities. The new law directs the Kansas Water Office (KWO) to administer these two grant programs, according to certain criteria and parameters.
Read the press release from Governor Kelly.
Applications submitted by December 29, 2023 will be considered for this initial round of funding, with submittals after this date to be evaluated pending available funds.
Read the complete guidelines:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Eligible projects and activities for Technical Assistance Fund Grants:
Limits on Grant Awards
The KWO may provide full or partial grants. No single grant awarded under the Technical Assistance Grant Fund shall exceed $1,000,000 (unless specified by a specific action of the Legislature).
Matching Fund Requirements
There are no matching funds required to be eligible for a Technical Assistance Grant Fund award.
Application Process for Technical Assistance Fund Grants
The grant application must be submitted through the form posted on the KWO’s website.Eligible Applicants include:
Eligible projects and activities for Water Project Grant Funds:
Limits on Grant Awards:
The KWO may provide full or partial grants. No single grant awarded under the Water Projects Grant Fund shall exceed $8,000,000 (unless specified by a specific action of the Legislature).
Matching Fund Requirements
There are no matching funds required to be eligible for a Water Projects Grant Fund award.
Application Process for Water Projects Grant Fund
The grant application must be submitted through the form posted on the KWO’s website.