ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Water projects are becoming increasingly important throughout Kansas, and recently, the state granted some funding to help with just that.
Thursday, Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Water Office announced the award winners for the second round of the Senate Substitute for House Bill 2302 Grant Programs, which provide over $26 million in funding for water projects and technical assistance to communities across Kansas.
“Water is vital to the livelihood of our communities and Kansans,” Gov. Kelly noted in a release from the State of Kansas. “This funding is a crucial step in addressing pressing water issues to safeguard our water supply for generations to come.”
In 2023, Senate Substitute for House Bill 2302 increased the amount of state funding for the State Water Plan Fund (SWPF) and created two new water related grant funds: the Technical Assistance Grant Fund and Water Projects Grant Fund, the State of Kansas release noted, and in the first year, 34 municipalities and special districts related to water were rewarded $18 million.
“The expansion of the State Water Plan to include support for municipalities and water districts continues to be a critical component towards ensuring communities across the state have access to a reliable supply of clean water,” Sen. Kenny Titus, Kansas Senate District 18, noted in the State of Kansas release.
The grant program received more than 300 applications in its first year, and an additional $10 million was provided in 2024 through the Legislature to address the high demand for funding.
“We are grateful for the Legislature and Governor Kelly for approving this additional funding,” Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office, noted in the State of Kansas release noted. “We received a large number of applications again this year. This funding is necessary to Kansas communities.”
More than 270 communities applied for the 2024 funding period, requesting a total of $237 million. Thirty-nine technical assistance grants and 24 water projects grants were awarded to 70 communities and special districts related to water, including the community of Kismet, which will be receiving $146,500 from the Technical Assistance Grant Fund.
“Our small agricultural towns are the lifeblood of our state,” Sen. Rick Billinger, Kansas Senate District 40, noted in the State of Kansas release. “And this funding will help these communities have the clean and affordable water access they need to thrive.”
A total of $26,287,103 was awarded.
“I am so pleased to see the list of rural communities and rural water districts across Kansas that have been awarded grants to mitigate their specific water issues,” Rep. Lisa Moser, Kansas House District 106, noted in the State of Kansas release. “Water is the lifeblood of our state. Without it, nothing else matters.”
See the full list of funded projects at kwo.ks.gov.
