Area Development
Finance Programs
Promoting Employment Across Kansas (PEAK) - This program offers qualified companies the ability to retain 95 percent of their payroll withholding tax for up to five to seven years. PEAK is available for new operations in Kansas as well as relocated operations to the state. In 2013, it became available for qualifying business retention projects as well. Companies need to create at least 10 new jobs within two years in metropolitan areas or five new jobs within two years in all other counties of the state. High-impact projects that create 100 new jobs within two years can retain 95 percent of payroll withholding tax for up to a period of 10 years. The number of years that the withholding tax can be retained depends on how much the annual median wage of the jobs at the Kansas worksite will exceed the current county median wage and the discretion of the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. A PEAK application must be submitted before locating or creating PEAK-eligible jobs in Kansas.

{{RELATEDLINKS}} Industrial Revenue Bonds - Industrial Revenue Bonds are a popular method of financing up to 100 percent of a growing business’ land, building and equipment. IRBs are securities issued by cities and counties to provide funds for creditworthy companies to acquire land, construct and equip new facilities or remodel and expand existing facilities. IRBs allow fixed-rate financing for the life of the bond for the project.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - Eligible small city and county governments may apply for Community Development Block Grant economic development funds to assist an expanding or new business in Kansas. There are two parts to the program: business finance and infrastructure. Under business finance, funds are available for working capital, machinery and equipment and real property. The interest rate is currently set at 3 percent below prime or 4 percent, whichever is greater. The term of the loan is based on the asset being financed - working capital loan is 6.5 years, machinery and equipment 10 years and real property is 15 years. For business loans, a match is required of $.50 to every $1 of CDBG funds. For infrastructure, funding is available for water lines, sewer lines, roads, rail spurs and pre-treatment facilities. Infrastructure funding requires that a quarter of the funds be paid back over a 10-year period at a rate of 0 percent. Funding requires the creation or retention of one full-time job per $35,000 of CDBG assistance up to the maximum of $750,000. At least 51 percent of the jobs created or retained must be held by individuals, who at the time of hire, meet HUD’s low- and-moderate income test, which is based on median family income in the county in which the project is located.

Partnership Fund - Commerce provides low-interest state funds to cities and counties for infrastructure improvements that support Kansas basic enterprises such as manufacturing and distribution. Eligible projects may include construction, rehabilitation or expansion of public facilities, including roads, streets, highways, water supply and treatment facilities, water distribution lines, wastewater collection lines and related improvements.

Kansas Bioscience Authority - Commerce works in partnership with the Kansas Bioscience Authority to assist in the expansion and recruitment of bioscience companies. The KBA has direct financing programs and other resources that can be used to recruit new bioscience companies and world-class scholars, fund equipment and lab space for research and facilitate the commercialization of bioscience discoveries.

Work Force Development Programs

The Department of Commerce has two workforce training programs to offset a company’s training costs. Companies creating new jobs may qualify for Kansas Industrial Training (KIT) assistance. Eligibility for the program depends on the number of jobs created and the corresponding wages. We also have the Kansas Industrial Retraining (KIR) program to retrain a Kansas company’s existing workforce on new technology or production activities. Projects involving a Kansas Basic Industry – which includes manufacturing, distribution or regional/national service facilities – may qualify for these programs. Both of these programs offer direct financial assistance to pay a negotiated portion of the costs to train a company’s employees. Companies may apply the assistance toward items such as instructors’ salaries; meals, travel and lodging (including out-of-state or international travel); video development; textbooks and training manuals; supplies and materials; temporary training facilities and curriculum planning and development.

Kansas State Contact:
Barbara Hake, CEcD
Business Recruitment Manager
Kansas Department of Commerce
22201 W. Innovation Drive, Suite 180D
Olathe, KS 66061
913-307-7379
Cell: 913-375-5835
Fax: 913-307-7392
Incentive and tax information is provided to Area Development by each state's economic development or commerce agency for information purposes only and is subject to revision at any time by the state government. Please contact the state agency directly for full requirements and offerings. This information was last updated November 2014.