Opportunity Overview
On September 23, 2026, the Kansas Department of Commerce announced the new Kansas Office of Apprenticeship State Grant, administered through the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship. The program is intended to expand new and existing Kansas-based Registered Apprenticeship programs, with emphasis on high-wage, high-demand occupations and increased opportunities for youth ages 16 and 17.
Funding and Application Window
Individual grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded. Applications are accepted from September 18 through October 23, 2026. The current public announcement and program page reviewed by Atlas do not state an exact October 23 submission time or time zone, so applicants should not assume one and should confirm the live application deadline before relying on a same-day submission.
Eligible Program Structure and Performance Requirements
The current program materials describe funding for initiatives that increase the number of Registered Apprentices in Kansas through expansion or development of multi-employer intermediaries or single-employer program sponsors. New programs must register at least five Registered Apprentices within 12 months of award. Current programs must increase Registered Apprenticeship enrollment by at least 5% year over year in high-wage, high-demand occupations.
Applicants must also address youth engagement by either successfully registering at least two apprentices ages 16-17 or completing at least four structured K-12/community engagement activities. Qualifying examples include presentations to students, counselors, school boards, chambers of commerce or local governing bodies, and coordinated site visits with K-12 partners. Career fairs do not count toward the four-activity requirement. Applicants must identify target occupations and industries using NAICS codes and develop a strategy to increase outreach to ages 16-17.
Allowable Program Uses
Kansas Commerce identifies program development and expansion, staffing, outreach, employer engagement, technical instruction, partnership development and other operational costs that strengthen Registered Apprenticeship programs as supported activities. The current program page also identifies business support, marketing and training equipment as examples of direct operational support.
Required Documents
The current program page requires business and nonprofit applicants to provide a screenshot showing current good-standing status with the Kansas Secretary of State. Government and tribal applicants are exempt from that screenshot requirement. The page also identifies a Sexual Harassment form, Anti-Israel Boycott form and W-9 among required documents. Applicants should use the live application guidelines and rubric to confirm all required attachments, cost rules and any additional conditions before submission.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 72/100. N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 10/100 conditional. Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. This is primarily a workforce and Registered Apprenticeship expansion opportunity, not a clinical technology, telehealth or medical-device procurement program. A healthcare employer, intermediary or training partner may be relevant only when it independently satisfies the current Kansas Registered Apprenticeship requirements and the proposed occupation is a qualifying high-wage, high-demand pathway. Ordinary Atlas outreach should not introduce or sell N9+ for this opportunity.
Current Verification Controls
Atlas does not import older award minimums, total program budgets or match requirements from earlier Kansas Office of Apprenticeship State Grant cycles into this 2026 round unless they are confirmed by the current 2026 guidelines. The September 23 announcement establishes the current per-award maximum of $100,000; any match requirement, total 2026 pool or additional cost restrictions should be confirmed from the live 2026 application materials before applicant-specific package production.
Next Action
Verify the applicant’s current Registered Apprenticeship sponsor or intermediary status, new-versus-existing program pathway, target occupation and NAICS industry, enrollment and youth-engagement commitments, organizational good standing where applicable, current rubric and application guidelines, complete required forms, and the live submission cutoff before preparing an applicant-specific package.
Official sources: Kansas Department of Commerce September 23, 2026 announcement and Kansas Office of Apprenticeship State Grant program page.