Build Kansas Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

 

BUILD KANSAS FUND OVERVIEW

  • The Build Kansas Matching Fund (Build Kansas Fund) will provide state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas awarded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). These funds will enable Kansas communities to move forward with infrastructure projects, including improvements to water, transportation, energy, cybersecurity, and broadband.

  • The Build Kansas Fund was signed into law by Governor Laura Kelly as part of Senate Bill 25 on May 15, 2023, after passing both chambers with bipartisan support.

  • Build Kansas funds must be used by BIL award recipients to support the non-federal match requirements included in BIL grant programs. Funds may not be used for other matching purposes (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act).

  • The Build Kansas Fund can provide up to $200M in state matching dollars for entities to apply for and achieve federal local match requirements until the fund has been fully expended. Applications for local match funding assistance will be accepted on a rolling basis over the next 4 years, until all funds have been committed or the Build Kansas Fund expires June 30, 2027. 

    The fund seeks to invest at least $10 million in each Economic Development District (EDD) and a special geographic designation that includes the Mo-Kan EDD and those counties to the west not currently included in any EDD. A map of Kansas EDD’s can be found here.

  • Yes. There is a recorded webinar called, “Build Kansas Fund - Application 101,” which can be found here. There is also a Build Kansas Fund Program Guidance document that provides general guidance for applicants.

  • The Build Kansas Fund can pay up to 100% of the local match requirement for a particular project. There is no dollar cap or specific percentage that the Build Kansas Fund is limited to.

    The only exception to this is where a project is not 100% located in Kansas. In those instances, the Build Kansas Fund will cover a pro-rated share.

 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)

  • The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), is a once-in-a-generation investment in the United States’ core infrastructure. The total investment across the United States is $1.2 trillion and includes nearly 400 formula and discretionary grant programs across 12 federal agencies. BIL supports investments in transportation, energy, broadband, water, and cybersecurity. Read more about the BIL online at https://whitehouse.gov/build.

  • The following websites contain information on specific BIL programs as well as open and upcoming BIL opportunities:

  • Formula grants are noncompetitive awards that are distributed to recipients based on a predetermined formula. Discretionary grants, also known as competitive grants, are awarded through a competitive process. To receive a discretionary grant, entities must complete and submit an application to the relevant federal agency.

Eligibility

  • Eligible applicants are any entity identified as eligible by a Federal BIL grant opportunity. This includes counties, cities, municipalities, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, for-profits, institutions of higher education, etc.

  • There are four eligibility requirements for the Build Kansas Fund:

    1. Eligible for and applying to a viable BIL funding opportunity.

    2. Have a required non-federal match component.

    3. The primary project zip code must be located in Kansas.

    4. Must submit your Build Kansas Fund application on or before the federal BIL application due date.

    For guidance on applying for Build Kansas funds when projects are located in multiple states including Kansas, please refer to FAQ question “The project I am applying for is located in multiple states including Kansas. Am I eligible to apply for the Build Kansas Fund?”

  • Many federal grant programs require a local match contribution. A local match is non-federal cash or in-kind contributions that a grantee is required to contribute toward project costs funded by a federal grant award. The terms “cost sharing” and “match” are often used interchangeably.

    BIL funding opportunities come with “Notice of Funding Opportunity” (NOFO) documents. These documents have a section titled “Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement” that details the amount of matching funds the applying entity must provide for the Federal government to approve the grant.

    Some BIL funding opportunities waive the match requirement for certain types of applicants, such as rural or disadvantaged communities. Applicants can request 100% federal share. Please read the NOFO in order to understand the match requirement for your organization.

  • Entities can apply for Build Kansas funds if the project benefit is demonstrated within communities in Kansas.

    If the project falls across state boundaries, the Build Kansas Fund award will be prorated based on the percentage of the project that is located in Kansas.

  • The applying entity is not required to provide matching funds for additional project dollars to be eligible for Build Kansas funds. 

  • Yes. If the state opportunity is a direct federal pass-through of a BIL program, you can apply for the local match funding through the Build Kansas Fund.

  • No. The Federal BIL opportunity must be actively accepting applications in order to verify eligibility and other requirements.

Means Test

  • Yes. The Build Kansas Fund was established to help entities with a demonstrated need apply for BIL grants by providing access to matching funds.

  • This question is included to verify that your entity has explored other options to obtain matching funds for the BIL project outside of the Build Kansas Fund. Please share the additional funding source(s) explored for this match. 

  • The public benefit narrative will be used to present a detailed description of how your entity’s proposed project will benefit the public and accomplish a public purpose. Please provide supporting data and other metrics or information indicating potential public benefit.

Application Process

  • The Build Kansas Fund application can be found here.

    Applications are being collected through Submittable, an online application-based program that simplifies the application process. If you need additional assistance with Submittable, please refer to this Help for Applicants resource: Help for Applicants | Submittable Help Center.

  • If you do not have a Submittable account, you can create a free account by selecting the “sign up” tab. You will be required to enter in a preferred email, first and last name, and a password.

    Once you've created an account, signing back in is simple. Use the email and password you used to create your account and sign in here. If you need to recover your password, you can do that here.

  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. You should apply for Build Kansas funds as soon as you know that you will be applying for a BIL funding opportunity.

  • Yes. Sign into your Submittable account.  Choose the Submissions tab in the main navigation bar or click your username in the upper right corner of the screen and select Submissions. Click on the Active tab to see your active submissions. Click on the title of the submission you wish to withdraw. When the submission opens, click the Withdraw link in the upper right area. Your submission status will now be set to Withdrawn. 

  • EDDs are divided along county lines, and a map of Kansas EDDs can be found here.

    Eight counties (Brown, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Nemaha, Osage, and Shawnee) do not fall into any EDD. For Build Kansas Fund purposes, these counties will be grouped into the MO-KAN EDD.  

  • Please reach out to your dedicated Regional Points of Contact.

  • The Build Kansas Fund is for entities in the process of applying for BIL funds. Build Kansas funds cannot be used for previously awarded BIL funded projects. 

    Entities should apply for Build Kansas funds, and have received confirmation of approval, prior to submitting their federal award application. In the Build Kansas Fund application, you must provide either a copy of the BIL grant application (a draft version is acceptable) or a brief executive summary of the planned project. 

  • The executive summary should include a description of the project, the needs addressed, a list of collaborators being partnered with, project goals, budget information, and expected outcomes. The executive summary should be around two pages. 

  • Applications will receive a recommendation from the Build Kansas Fund Steering Committee, which is comprised of state agency leaders and members of the Kansas Infrastructure Sub-Cabinet. The Build Kansas Fund Steering Committee will share their recommendations with the Build Kansas Advisory Committee which is composed of nine legislators. The Advisory Committee will review each application and report their advice to the State Treasurer. 

  • The Hub estimates a two-week turnaround for Build Kansas Fund applications. If additional information is needed, the Kansas Hub will make a request through the Submittable platform.

  • The Hub will notify you via email from Submittable once a decision has been made. The email will be from notifications@email.submittable.com . Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable account regularly.

  • To send a direct message to the Kansas Infrastructure Hub about your application or if you have additional questions after the application submission, please log into your account, click Submissions to view the list of your personal submissions, the click on the title of the submission you want to communicate about.  Select the Messages tab. Please click here for additional information about messages in Submittable.  

    You can also reach out to your Regional Point of Contact.

Award Information

  • Entities will receive their monetary award once their Build Kansas Fund application has been approved and their federal grant has been awarded. If a federal grant application is not awarded, then the applicant will not receive the Build Kansas Fund award. Disbursements of funding will align with the approved BIL grant budget. 

  • There is no explicit minimum or maximum award size. 

  • Yes. Once a Build Kansas Fund application is approved by a federal agency, the awarded applicant will be asked to submit the official federal notice of award and executed grant agreement through the Submittable platform. Once those documents are received, Build Kansas Funds will be processed for distribution. 

  • The funds will be de-obligated and returned to the Build Kansas Fund.

    Please document that your organization was not awarded in your Submittable account.

  • You will be asked to submit your Award Notice, the Executed Grant Agreement, AND the final BIL grant application. 

    Please submit those documens in your Submittable account.

  • After approval to receive Build Kansas funds and the federal award notice has been received, the Kansas Hub will initiate the disbursement of the awarded Build Kansas Match Fund.

  • Award recipients will be asked to submit concurrent copies of all federally required reporting to the Kansas Infrastructure Hub through their Submittable account.

  • Entities awarded Build Kansas funds should expend funds according to the grant agreement. The Build Kansas Fund expires once all funds are obligated and awarded or the Build Kansas Fund expires. 

  • More information to come.

  • More information to come.

Miscellaneous