Opportunity Overview
The Kansas Department of Commerce 2026 Community Development Block Grant Water and Sewer Infrastructure Program supports projects that improve the reliability, safety and sustainability of public water and wastewater systems. Eligible work includes water and sewer line construction or renovation, water towers, water and wastewater treatment facilities, sewer lagoons, water-meter replacement, and eligible post-award professional services.
Funding and Deadline
The controlling 2026 guidelines list $1.5 million in available funding and expect approximately six awards. The maximum grant is $800,000, subject to a funding ceiling of $2,000 per beneficiary. The required local match is 25% of the CDBG grant request. Full applications are due October 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time.
Eligible Applicants and LMI Requirement
Only eligible non-entitlement Kansas cities and counties may apply. Kansas City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Overland Park, Topeka, Wichita, and all of Johnson County are excluded from the State CDBG program. All proposed Water and Sewer activities must meet the Low- and Moderate-Income national objective with at least 51% LMI beneficiaries. Communities with an open CDBG project currently in a time extension are not eligible until that project is successfully closed.
Readiness and Pre-Application
An approved pre-application is required before a full application may be submitted. The controlling guidelines set the pre-application deadline at September 15, 2026. Because that date has passed, Atlas should treat the 2026 full-application cycle as actionable only for communities that can authoritatively verify a timely approved pre-application.
Applicants must also secure and document matching funds, complete the required initial public hearing, and include the applicable Preliminary Engineering Report or Preliminary Architectural Report and environmental-review materials. The initial public hearing must occur at least 15 full days before the application is submitted.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 60/100. N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. The program protects public health through safe water and wastewater infrastructure, but the controlling eligible-use language does not establish a defensible pathway for telehealth, remote physical examination, clinical equipment, or healthcare-service delivery. Atlas should not force N9+ or QC Healthcare into this opportunity.
Next Action
For a Kansas city or county with a verified approved 2026 pre-application, confirm LMI eligibility, project scope, public-hearing timing, secured 25% match, PER/PAR readiness, environmental documentation, procurement compliance, and current portal requirements before preparing the full application. Do not initiate cold outreach to a community unless approved pre-application status can be verified.
Controlling sources: Kansas Department of Commerce — Water & Sewer Infrastructure and 2026 CDBG Water and Sewer Guidelines.