State Water Infrastructure Grant Program

The State Water Infrastructure Grant Program is administered by the Kansas Water Office and represents a significant state-level investment in water security, infrastructure modernization, and long-term community resilience. The program originated through earlier legislation and was expanded and refined through subsequent legislative action, including updates enacted in 2026 that clarified eligibility, scoring criteria, and administrative procedures. The program is funded through the State Water Plan Fund and operates through two primary funding tracks: the Technical Assistance Fund and the Water Projects Grant Fund, both designed to address water quantity and quality challenges across Kansas communities. The primary purpose of the program is to support water-related infrastructure development and planning activities that ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable water systems. The Technical Assistance Fund focuses on preparatory and planning activities such as engineering studies, feasibility assessments, environmental reviews, and development of preliminary engineering reports. In contrast, the Water Projects Grant Fund supports implementation activities, including construction, repair, replacement, and modernization of water infrastructure, as well as assistance with eligible loan balances and matching funds for other financing sources. Both funding tracks aim to improve public health outcomes, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and promote regional and economic development. Funding under the program is flexible but capped depending on the grant type. Technical Assistance grants may be awarded up to a maximum of one million dollars per project, while Water Projects grants may reach up to eight million dollars per project unless otherwise authorized by the legislature. Awards may be provided as full or partial funding, and the program encourages leveraging additional funding sources to maximize impact. Although matching funds are not required, applicants that demonstrate additional financial contributions or partnerships are prioritized during evaluation. Eligibility for the program is limited to municipalities and special districts related to water that are organized under Kansas law. Municipalities include cities and similar entities, while eligible special districts include rural water districts, watershed districts, and groundwater management districts. Additional eligibility conditions apply to larger municipalities and special districts, including demonstrating public health risks or alignment with Kansas Water Plan priorities. All applicants must submit applications through the Kansas Water Office online portal and include detailed project narratives, budgets, timelines, and supporting documentation such as preliminary engineering reports. The application process is competitive and occurs annually, with a firm submission deadline of September 15 at 11:59 PM Central Time. Applications undergo a structured review process that includes eligibility screening, completeness review, technical and competitive scoring, and final approval. Evaluation is based on a 35 point scoring system that considers public health impact, existing resources, regional cooperation, additional funding sources, economic impact, conservation and resiliency, and emergent issues. Applicants may be contacted for additional information if submissions are incomplete, and failure to respond may impact scoring. Award administration includes reimbursement-based payments, typically issued quarterly upon submission of invoices, progress reports, and compliance documentation. Recipients must adhere to reporting requirements, including quarterly progress and financial reports as well as a final closeout report. Awards may be revoked under certain conditions such as lack of progress, noncompliance, or misrepresentation. The program emphasizes transparency by publishing scoring results and award decisions, reinforcing accountability and encouraging strong, well-prepared applications in future cycles.

Clearly document public health impacts provide strong supporting data identify additional funding sources and ensure project readiness with engineering documentation