Downs, Kansas Services & Businesses

Kansas has awarded $117,408 to support 18 tourism marketing projects designed to attract visitors and promote destinations throughout the state.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced the awards October 29, 2026.

The funding will support advertising, digital marketing, tourism planning, and promotional campaigns involving local attractions and communities.

Participating organizations will contribute approximately $244,000 in matching funds toward the approved projects.

Tourism Marketing Grants Support Local Promotion

The awards come through the Kansas Tourism Marketing Grant program.

The initiative supports new marketing activities intended to introduce destinations to additional visitors.

Tourism marketing can involve advertising campaigns, destination promotion, digital media, and other activities designed to encourage travel.

According to Kansas officials, tourism generated approximately $8.4 billion in visitor spending throughout the state during 2025.

The latest grants represent a targeted investment in promoting individual destinations and communities.

The announcement does not establish how much additional visitor spending the newly funded campaigns will generate.

Dodge City Museum Receives Marketing Assistance

Boot Hill Museum received $4,200 to promote its inaugural Unbridled Western Art Show.

The exhibition is scheduled to open in January 2027.

The museum plans to use the funding for advertising and promotion targeting audiences within approximately 400 miles of Dodge City.

The campaign is intended to introduce the event to potential visitors throughout the surrounding region.

The award supports marketing activities rather than construction or expansion of the museum.

Ottawa Plans Digital Tourism Campaign

The City of Ottawa received $6,600 for a targeted digital marketing campaign.

The project will promote Ottawa as a destination for travelers interested in trails and outdoor recreation.

The planned campaign will use multiple digital channels to reach potential visitors.

Trail-related tourism can involve visitors seeking recreational activities, lodging, restaurants, and other local services.

However, the state has not announced projected visitor totals or specific revenue increases associated with Ottawa’s campaign.

Junction City and Geary County Coordinate Advertising

The Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau received $10,000 for a coordinated tourism marketing campaign.

The initiative brings together the City of Junction City, Geary County, and Junction City Main Street.

The project will use paid digital advertising, cost-per-thousand-impression advertising, and search engine marketing.

The coordinated approach is intended to promote the area through multiple organizations working toward a shared tourism objective.

The announcement does not identify individual advertising vendors or specific contracts available to outside businesses.

Kingman Receives Tourism Planning Funding

The City of Kingman received $3,000 to support development of a comprehensive tourism strategy and marketing plan.

The project will focus on increasing visitation, visitor spending, and overnight stays.

Unlike the advertising campaigns planned in other communities, Kingman’s project emphasizes developing a coordinated marketing strategy.

The resulting plan may help local organizations identify target audiences and promotional priorities.

What Local Businesses Should Know

Tourism promotion can increase awareness of destinations that also support restaurants, retailers, accommodations, and service providers.

However, individual businesses are not guaranteed additional customers or revenue as a result of the awards.

The October 29 announcement identifies completed grant selections rather than a new application opportunity.

Businesses interested in participating in local tourism initiatives can monitor their community’s destination marketing organizations for future promotional activities.

For Kansas communities, the 18 awards represent additional investment in marketing destinations and encouraging travel throughout the state.

Small communities across Kansas have a new opportunity to secure funding for downtown improvements, public spaces, and projects intended to support local economic activity.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced October 23, 2026, that applications are open for the second round of its Towns Grant program.

The state has allocated $500,000 for the initiative, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 for projects within a single community. Collaborative projects spanning multiple ZIP codes may qualify for awards of up to $50,000.

Applications are due December 23, 2026.

Grants Focus on Smaller Communities

The Towns Grant program is administered by the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity.

It is intended to help smaller communities complete improvements that might otherwise be difficult to finance through existing local resources.

Eligible projects must serve communities with populations of 5,000 or fewer residents or qualifying distressed urban areas.

The program focuses on improvements that can strengthen community gathering places, downtown districts, and other public spaces.

Kansas officials are also encouraging collaboration among neighboring communities with similar needs.

What Projects Can Receive Funding?

The program supports tangible improvements intended to enhance community spaces.

Eligible activities may include installing downtown benches, community welcome signs, pedestrian lighting, bicycle racks, public artwork, and park equipment.

Projects involving small infrastructure improvements, accessibility upgrades, and downtown beautification may also qualify.

For example, a community development organization could propose new wayfinding signs that help visitors navigate a downtown commercial district.

Another community might pursue improvements to a public gathering space near local businesses.

However, the program does not provide unrestricted operating grants to individual businesses.

Expenses such as salaries, building renovations, event fees, and certain professional consulting services are excluded.

Which Organizations Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include municipal and county governments, community development organizations, economic development organizations, local chambers of commerce, qualifying nonprofit organizations, and tribal organizations.

Applicants must represent an eligible Kansas community.

The program generally allows one application per community, and communities that previously received a Towns Grant are excluded under the current program guidelines.

Applicants must provide matching contributions equal to at least 10% of project costs.

For communities with populations of 1,000 or fewer residents, qualifying in-kind contributions may satisfy the matching requirement.

Matching support must come from private sources or grants not funded by the state.

Application Deadline Is December 23

Applications opened October 23 and close at 5 p.m. December 23, 2026.

The Department of Commerce will host an informational webinar October 30 at 10 a.m.

Additional virtual office hours will provide opportunities for prospective applicants to ask questions about eligibility, project requirements, and the application process.

Award announcements are expected in early 2027.

Grant recipients will be required to complete their approved projects within the program’s established implementation period.

What the Program Means for Local Businesses

Although individual businesses are not the primary grant recipients, improvements to downtown districts and community gathering places may benefit nearby commercial activity.

More accessible public spaces, improved signage, and maintained gathering areas can contribute to the overall experience of residents and visitors.

However, the program does not guarantee increased sales or additional customers for individual businesses.

For eligible Kansas communities, the new funding round provides an opportunity to pursue improvements that support local business districts and community development.

Businesses and residents across rural Kansas are expected to benefit from approximately $27 million in broadband infrastructure investment following a new round of state grant awards.

Governor Laura Kelly announced October 22, 2026, that Kansas has awarded $12.9 million through its Broadband Acceleration Grant program.

The state funding will be combined with nearly $14 million in private and local investment.

Together, the commitments will support high-speed internet infrastructure projects across 44 rural Kansas counties.

The investments are intended to expand service in communities where distance, population density, and infrastructure costs have limited broadband development.

Eleven Grant Awards Support Rural Connectivity

The Kansas Department of Commerce identified 11 awards involving internet service providers and telecommunications companies.

The projects include expanding broadband connections to homes, businesses, and agricultural operations.

Several awards support infrastructure serving multiple counties.

IdeaTek received two awards totaling approximately $6.48 million.

One award will support broadband connections for 657 homes and businesses across 18 counties.

The second will extend middle-mile fiber infrastructure within 15 counties.

Middle-mile networks provide connections between major telecommunications infrastructure and local networks serving individual customers.

Expanding these networks can help providers reach communities where additional infrastructure is needed.

Multiple Counties Included in New Projects

Several awards identify specific counties expected to receive improvements.

Blue Valley Technologies received approximately $1.79 million for a project serving 154 homes and businesses in Marshall County.

ExcellentWireless received $211,902 for a project involving 232 homes and businesses in Douglas and Franklin counties.

Home Communications received approximately $1.96 million for improvements serving 246 homes and businesses in Ellsworth and McPherson counties.

Rainbow Communications received $614,298 for a project serving 104 homes and businesses in Atchison and Brown counties.

The Junction Internet received $469,548 for improvements involving 380 homes and businesses in Labette and Montgomery counties.

Other projects will serve portions of Stafford, Sedgwick, Sumner, Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Ottawa, Riley, Shawnee, and Wabaunsee counties.

The state also identified additional broadband infrastructure projects involving counties not individually listed in its announcement.

Why Broadband Matters to Small Businesses

Reliable internet service is an important part of modern business operations.

Retailers use online platforms to process transactions, manage inventory, and communicate with customers.

Professional service providers depend on internet access for scheduling, document management, and remote collaboration.

Agricultural businesses increasingly use connected equipment and digital systems for monitoring operations and managing information.

Broadband availability can also influence whether employees can work remotely and whether businesses can offer certain digital services.

However, the announcement does not establish that every business within the 44 counties will receive a new connection.

Actual availability will depend on individual project boundaries and infrastructure development.

Program Combines Public and Private Investment

The Broadband Acceleration Grant program was established in 2020 as a 10-year initiative.

Kansas originally committed to a program framework involving $85 million in broadband investment.

The latest awards bring total program investment in broadband infrastructure to approximately $44.6 million, according to the Department of Commerce.

The program is administered by the Kansas Office of Broadband Development.

Funding comes through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program.

Projects were selected following an application review process that included public input.

What Rural Business Owners Should Know

The October 22 announcement identifies funding recipients rather than opening a new grant application period.

Individual businesses are not receiving unrestricted cash grants through these awards.

Instead, telecommunications providers will use the funding to develop broadband infrastructure.

Business owners interested in potential service improvements should monitor announcements from participating providers.

They may also contact the Kansas Office of Broadband Development for information about projects affecting their ...

Businesses and organizations involved in drone technology and aviation infrastructure have a new funding opportunity in Kansas.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced October 22, 2026, that applications are open for a one-time $2 million grant program supporting unmanned aircraft systems, aviation testing infrastructure, and advanced flight operations.

The initiative, called Air Innovation Range in Kansas (AIR KS), is intended to support technology development and commercial applications involving unmanned aircraft.

Applications will be accepted through November 22, 2026.

Funding Supports Advanced Drone Operations

The AIR KS program focuses on improving infrastructure and operational capabilities for unmanned aircraft systems, commonly called drones.

A particular emphasis involves Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, or BVLOS.

These operations allow qualifying unmanned aircraft to fly beyond the distance at which a pilot can directly observe the aircraft.

Such capabilities are relevant to commercial applications involving agriculture, infrastructure inspection, transportation, emergency response, and other specialized services.

Expanding these operations requires appropriate navigation infrastructure, technology systems, and compliance with applicable aviation requirements.

The new grant program is intended to help qualifying organizations develop those capabilities.

Private Companies and Public Organizations May Apply

The Kansas Department of Commerce identifies several categories of eligible applicants.

These include private companies, airport authorities, airport sponsors, municipalities, counties, nonprofit organizations, colleges, universities, tribal governments, and other qualifying governmental entities.

Partnerships involving eligible organizations may also apply.

Applicants must demonstrate the technical, managerial, and financial capabilities necessary to complete their proposed projects.

The program specifically supports Kansas-based aviation infrastructure and operations.

Businesses located outside Kansas should not assume they qualify simply because they work in the drone industry.

Similarly, the funding is not intended as unrestricted financial assistance for every Kansas small business.

Applicants must propose activities consistent with the program’s aviation technology objectives.

What Expenses Can Be Funded?

The state identifies several potential uses for approved grant funding.

Eligible expenses may include navigation infrastructure, technology systems, software improvements, specialized equipment, professional services, and other project-related costs.

Certain infrastructure, travel, and project management expenses may also qualify.

Projects are expected to contribute to the development of Kansas-based unmanned aircraft testing and operational capabilities.

The program also seeks to encourage cooperation between private businesses, public agencies, and research institutions.

Individual applicants should review the complete program guidelines before determining whether specific purchases or activities qualify.

Projects Must Be Completed Within Eight Months

The grant program establishes a relatively short implementation period.

Approved projects must be completed within eight months after recipients receive funding.

Awards will be distributed in two installments.

The first installment, representing 50% of the award, will be provided when funding is awarded.

The remaining amount will be distributed after the project reaches at least 50% completion.

This structure makes project readiness an important consideration for prospective applicants.

Organizations should evaluate their equipment requirements, project schedules, and implementation capabilities before submitting proposals.

Applications Close November 22

The application period opened October 22 and closes November 22, 2026.

Kansas officials expect to announce grant recipients in December.

Interested organizations can obtain program information and application instructions through the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The state has not established that every eligible applicant will receive funding.

Awards will depend on the application process and available program resources.

For Kansas businesses and organizations developing advanced aviation technologies, AIR KS provides a new opportunity to pursue funding for infrastructure and operational improvements.

The program also establishes another potential source of investment in the state’s growing unmanned aircraft industry.

Kansas residents looking for employment will have an opportunity to connect with participating employers during a three-day virtual job fair beginning Friday, October 23, 2026.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced the event on October 20.

Hosted by KANSASWORKS, the Weekend Virtual Statewide Job Fair will allow jobseekers to explore employment opportunities, submit applications, and communicate with employers through an online platform.

The event is designed to accommodate individuals who may be unable to participate in traditional job fairs held during weekday business hours.

Three-Day Event Runs Through Sunday

The virtual job fair begins at 8:00 a.m. Friday, October 23, and concludes at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 25.

Because the event takes place online, participants can access the platform using digital devices rather than traveling to a physical location.

The format allows jobseekers to review participating employers and explore available positions.

Depending on employer participation and availability, attendees may also communicate directly with recruiters or participate in virtual interviews.

The state encourages participants to prepare for professional interactions, including dressing appropriately if an interview is requested.

Registration Is Required

Individuals interested in attending must register through the official virtual job fair platform.

The Kansas Department of Commerce states that registration is required even for individuals who have participated in previous virtual job fairs.

The event portal provides access to a list of participating employers, registration information, and a training video designed to help jobseekers navigate the platform.

Participants should review the available information before the event begins.

Preparing a current résumé and identifying positions of interest may help applicants make more effective use of their time.

Jobseekers should also verify the requirements of individual employers before submitting applications.

Opportunities for Employers and Jobseekers

Virtual hiring events provide an alternative to traditional recruitment methods.

For jobseekers, online participation can reduce travel requirements and make it easier to explore opportunities across different communities.

For employers, statewide virtual events may provide access to candidates outside their immediate geographic areas.

This can be particularly relevant to businesses operating in smaller Kansas communities where local recruitment pools may be limited.

The Department of Commerce encourages both jobseekers and employers seeking talent to participate.

However, the announcement does not establish that every Kansas employer can register at any time or that every industry will have openings.

Businesses interested in participating should contact KANSASWORKS for current employer registration information.

Accessibility Assistance Available

Individuals with disabilities may request accommodations before the event.

The Kansas Department of Commerce directs participants needing assistance to contact their nearest workforce center.

The statewide contact number is 877-509-6757.

Accommodation requests should be made before the event to allow time for coordination.

How to Participate

Jobseekers can find the event registration link through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s official October 20 announcement.

The state recommends reviewing the online training resources and participating employer information before entering the event.

Candidates should be prepared to complete applications and respond to potential interview requests.

The announcement does not provide a verified total number of available positions or participating employers.

Those details should be checked directly through the event portal.

For Kansas residents considering a career change, returning to work, or seeking additional employment opportunities, the October 23–25 event provides a statewide online recruitment opportunity without requiring attendance at a physical job fair.