TOPEKA – Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Water Office announced last week the winners for the second round of the Senate Substitute for House Bill 2302 Grant Programs, which provides 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,” Kelly said in a prepared statement. “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. In the first year, 34 municipalities and special districts related to water were rewarded $18 million.
The grant program received over 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,” said Connie Owen, director of the Kansas Water Office. “We received a large number of applications again this year. This funding is necessary to Kansas communities.”
Over 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.
A total of $26,287,103 was awarded.
Here are the winners of the grants from Southeast Kansas: Technical assistance grant: West Mineral, $33,000; Parsons, $92,000; Montgomery County RWD No. 9, $55,000; Wilson County RWD No. 4, $39,700.
Water project grants: Bartlett, $416,310; West Mineral, $664,000; Girard, $1,289,800; Humboldt, $3,000,000.
