TOPEKA – The International Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce today launched the Kansas Global Business Expansion (K-GLOBE) program. The program merges two formerly separate programs – the Kansas International Trade Show Assistance Program (KITSAP) and the Kansas International Trade Marketing Assistance Program (KITMAP) – into one international business development-focused grant.

“Commerce is streamlining the manner in which Kansas companies receive assistance to start or continue growing their exporting potential,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The K-GLOBE program is going to provide entrepreneurial businesses with resources to expand their sales internationally, putting their products and services in front of a much larger marketplace.”

K-GLOBE is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce’s International Division to support exporting efforts of small- and medium-sized Kansas businesses by exhibiting products internationally at trade shows and conferences. The grant assists Kansas companies by conducting export-related marketing and business development activities such as foreign sales trips, market research, website localization, and translation and interpretation services.

“95% of potential customers for Kansas products and services reside outside of the United States. We want Kansas companies to have the opportunity to effectively capture this international market share and bring revenue home from abroad,” Commerce International Director Laura Lombard said. “K-GLOBE aims to support companies by being a financial resource for those international goals and we are hopeful that Kansas businesses will take advantage.”

The new program provides companies with a reimbursement for 50% of eligible direct expenses up to $10,000 per fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Eligible businesses are companies with their headquarters located in Kansas whose products or services originated in the state, or with products that received substantial value-added processing in Kansas.

“Applications and paperwork are inevitable in any grant process, but we’re grateful to Kansas Commerce for their initiative to simplify the programs,” Sam Billen of Primary Color Music, LLC said. “We expect to continue using K-GLOBE and hopeful that many other Kansas-based businesses will take advantage of these resources.”

For more information about K-GLOBE, click here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

DCF Will Begin Taking Applications Nov. 18

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has announced that Kansans needing assistance with winter energy bills will be able to begin applying for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) Monday, Nov. 18. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 31, 2025.

“Kansas winters can be harsh and unpredictable. When temperatures fall, heating bills rise. By opening the LIEAP application period in mid-November, we’re hoping families will have the help they need to cover those higher heating bills and stay warm in their homes,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.

LIEAP provides a one-time per year benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating costs, whether the home is heated with electricity, natural gas, propane, or other home heating fuels. In 2024, over 40,000 Kansas households received an average benefit of $645.

To qualify, households must have an adult at the address responsible for the home’s heating costs. Applicants must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit received varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel, and utility rates.

DCF and partnering energy companies are planning in-person events to help Kansans submit their LIEAP applications. For a schedule of in-person LIEAP application events, visit dcf.ks.gov. Kansans applying for LIEAP should have with them their identification, proof of income for all adult household members, copies of heating utility bills (gas, electric, propane, etc.), and a copy of their rental agreement if living in subsidized housing (a complete list of required information can be found in the FAQ document). Partnering energy companies, Atmos Energy, Black Hills Energy, Evergy, Kansas Gas Services, and Midwest Energy, may attend LIEAP application events in their service areas.

Applications can be accessed online at dcf.ks.gov​ by clicking the “Apply for Services” button on the top right side of the website. LIEAP applications will be accepted beginning Nov. 18 until 5 p.m. March 31, 2025.

2025 Income Eligibility Guidelines

Learn more about LIEAP​ in Kansas, including frequently asked questions, other community resources, and the complete schedule of LIEAP application events. Funding for LIEAP is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Service through the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

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The Kansas Department for Children and Families’ (DCF) mission is to protect children, strengthen families, and promote adult self-sufficiency. DCF’s more than 35 service centers across the state offer a wide range of support services, including food, utility, child care assistance, child support services, and employment education and training. DCF also partners with grantees to provide foster care services to children, including case planning, placement, life skills, and foster parent recruitment and training. DCF partners with organizations, communities, and other agencies to support families, children, and vulnerable adults, connecting them with resources, supports, and networks in their home communities.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is moving closer to launching the Kansas Home Rebates Program to help Kansas households lower energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes. Under the program, established by the Inflation Reduction Act, Kansas is set to receive $105.6 million to lower energy costs for low to moderate income households.

The KCC has partnered with HORNE, a nationally recognized professional services firm, to assist the agency with the program design, application development, and implementation process. As a part of the program planning process, the KCC is scheduling engagement sessions with stakeholders (Kansas utility companies, contractors, other State agencies, and the community) to ensure the Home Rebates program is tailored to meet the Sunflower state’s needs.

For Kansans to be able to access the rebates, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) must approve the program design and grant applications, which are due by January 31, 2025. Rebate funding is expected to be accessible to Kansas households in 2025 following the application submission and DOE approval.

In the meantime, Kansans can visit the KCC website for information on how to participate in the engagement sessions, learn more about the Home Rebates program, track the status, and find answers to frequently asked questions.

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TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends October with total tax collections at $668.2 million. That is $23.4 million, or 3.4%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are down 2.5% from October 2023.

Individual income tax collections were $311.5 million. That is $1.5 million, or 0.5% above the estimate, and up 4.3% from October 2023. Corporate income tax collections were $38.1 million. That is $21.9 million, or 36.5% below the estimate, and down 33.7% from October 2023.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $294.6 million, which is $3.4 million, or 1.1% below the estimate, and down $11.4 million, or 3.7%, from October 2023.

The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, comprised of the Department of Revenue, Division of Budget, Legislative Research Department, and economists from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University will meet on Nov. 15.

Click here to view the October 2024 revenue numbers.

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TOPEKA – The Department of Commerce announced today that the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) is accepting nominations for the 2025 Kansas Governor’s Arts Awards. Nominations for these prestigious honors will be accepted through Friday, December 13.

Last awarded in 2011, the accolades celebrate individuals, organizations and communities for their outstanding contributions and leadership in advancing the arts in Kansas.

“The Kelly-Toland Administration has been committed to developing and prioritizing the arts and creative businesses across our state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “I am excited to reinvigorate these awards that will highlight Kansas leaders in the arts whose collective creativity is driving a significant portion of the state economy.”

An awards ceremony will be held in Topeka on February 20, 2025, to recognize excellence in the following areas: advocacy, arts education, community engagement and artistic achievement. Categories include:

• Arts Advocate of the Year
• Arts Community of the Year
• Arts Leader of the Year
• Arts Organization of the Year
• Arts Patron of the Year
• Emerging Arts Leader of the Year
• Emerging Arts Organization of the Year
• Excellence in Arts Education
• Excellence in the Arts in Business
• Excellence in Public Service in the Arts
• Kansas Arts Legacy Award
• Excellence in Artistic Achievement

“The arts inspire us, bring us joy and stimulate the state’s economy,” Kansas Arts Commission Director Curtis Young said. “The Governor’s Arts Awards acknowledge our vibrant arts and culture community for their contributions to a thriving Kansas.”

For more information about the nominations process or to submit a nomination, please visit here.

To learn more about the Kansas Arts Commission, visit here or contact Ben Stanton by email or phone (785) 213-5959.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

TOPEKA – The Cold Weather Rule, designed to help Kansans who are behind on their utility payments avoid disconnection during the winter months, begins  tomorrow and will remain in effect through March 31.

While the Cold Weather Rule is in effect, utility companies cannot disconnect a customer’s service when the local temperatures are forecast to drop below 35 degrees within the following 48-hour period. The Kansas Corporation Commission, the agency that regulates public utilities in the state, implemented the rule in 1983 to prevent utility companies from disconnecting a customer’s natural gas or electric service during periods of extreme cold.

The Cold Weather Rule also requires utility companies to offer a 12-month payment plan to allow consumers to maintain or re-establish service. Any residential customer with a past due balance will qualify for payment arrangements; however, it is the customer’s responsibility to contact their gas or electric company to make those arrangements.

Payment plan terms to maintain or restore service require that customers agree to pay 1/12th of the total amount owed, 1/12th of the current bill, the full amount of any disconnection or reconnection fee, plus any applicable deposit to the utility. The remaining balance must be paid in equal payments over the next 11 months, in addition to the current monthly bill.

The Cold Weather Rule applies only to residential customers of electric and natural gas utility companies under the KCC’s jurisdiction, however many municipal utilities and cooperatives have similar winter weather policies.

Information about the Cold Weather Rule is available on the Commission’s website. Kansans may also contact their local utility company or the KCC’s Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at (800) 662-0027 or 785-271-3140.

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission has received a report that an individual claiming to be working with the KCC is calling utility customers and offering a 30% discount on their electric bills. Based on what has been reported, the caller asks about Medicare or Medicaid eligibility, then asks for a credit card so the refund can be applied.

This individual is not affiliated with the KCC and the agency urges consumers to use caution if they receive a call. Above all, if you receive a call like this, do not provide credit card information. More information will be released if it becomes available.

Governor Kelly Announces KDOT Awarded
Nearly $98M for I-35, Santa Fe Corridor Project
in Olathe

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has awarded the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) a nearly $98 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to improve the I-35 and Santa Fe Street corridor in Olathe.

“This announcement is a win for Kansas and everyone who travels I-35 through Olathe,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This project represents my administration’s work to modernize and strengthen the infrastructure and transportation links that support commerce and economic growth across the state.”

The I-35 Santa Fe Forward project, which targets one of the region’s most congested corridors, seeks to eliminate bottlenecks at two interchanges: Santa Fe Street and Old Highway 56, address access management issues on Santa Fe Street, replace aging infrastructure, and provide multimodal access across I-35 to connect communities on both sides of the interstate.  Currently, the crash rate on I-35 surrounding the Santa Fe interchange is more than two and half times the state’s average, with nearly half of all crashes consisting of rear-end crashes at lower rates of speed.

INFRA, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a competitive grant program supporting multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of transportation for freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. The grant application was submitted by KDOT in partnership with the City of Olathe.

Governor Kelly sent letters to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of this project.

“Since coming to Congress, I’ve made it a priority to advocate for our community’s local infrastructure needs,” said Representative Sharice Davids, KS-03. “That’s why I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law. This law creates good-paying jobs, strengthens our supply chains, helps lower costs, and will make our roads more efficient and dependable. I’m thrilled to see these funds coming to Kansas with the I-35 Santa Fe Forward project and investing in improvements that our region will see for generations.”

“We are grateful to our federal and local partners who have been working with KDOT to move this project forward,” Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed said. “With this funding, we can tackle important infrastructure improvements that will enhance efficiency and connectivity, providing smoother travel for residents and businesses across the region.”

Construction on the I-35 and Santa Fe Street corridor between Ridgeview Road and Mur-Len Road is scheduled to begin in late 2026 with a total project cost of nearly $278 million. The City of Olathe is contributing $40 million. KDOT will contribute $140 million through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation (IKE) Program, a 10-year program that addresses highways, bridges, public transit, aviation, short-line rail, and bike/pedestrian needs across Kansas.

“The new I-35 and Santa Fe interchange wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of KDOT and the leadership shown by our congressional delegation, including Sen. Jerry Moran, Sen. Roger Marshall, and Rep. Sharice Davids,” Olathe Mayor John Bacon said. “We are grateful for the support of our partners and for their understanding of just how important this project is to Olathe and to the region.”

More information on the KDOT IKE Program can be found here: https://ike.ksdot.gov/.

For additional details on the U.S. DOT Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/infra-grant-program.

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