Air Innovation Range in Kansas (AIR KS), FY2027
Currently open. The Kansas Department of Commerce’s one-time competitive AIR KS grant accepts applications from October 22 through November 22, 2026. The controlling application guidelines do not identify a deadline hour or time zone. The program supports existing Kansas-based unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test-range capabilities, particularly Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) navigation and operations, including potential agriculture, rural healthcare, defense, and technology applications. This is a competitive state financial-assistance grant for a qualified applicant, not an open vendor-purchasing bid or a Rural Health Transformation Program funding round.
Funding and award qualifications
The official program identifies $2,000,000 total available and a $2,000,000 listed minimum and maximum individual award. However, the same guidelines reserve Commerce’s right to make one or more grants and to award all, part, or none of the pool or negotiate the project budget. Accordingly, an applicant should not assume a guaranteed $2,000,000 grant or that multiple awards must each be $2,000,000. No mandatory percentage match is specified in the available program instructions; applicants should identify proposed leveraged public or private investment in their budget. Grant expenditures may begin only after full contract execution and the start of the award performance period.
Eligible applicants and activities
Eligible lead applicants include airport authorities and sponsors; municipalities, counties and other governments; private companies; nonprofit organizations; colleges and universities; tribal governments; and qualifying partnerships. Consortiums must designate one primary responsible applicant. The proposal must demonstrate advanced aviation/UAS experience, managerial and financial capacity, and ability to obtain all required FAA approvals. Eligible expenses include navigation infrastructure, hardware, software, professional services and project management. Unallowable expenses include fundraising, lobbying and political contributions, many financing charges, fines and out-of-state travel. Applicants must explain the current Kansas-based test range, measurable BVLOS improvements, economic impact, project sustainability and the ownership and ongoing operation of funded assets.
Application and evaluation
Apply using the Kansas Commerce Salesforce grants portal, creating an account if necessary. Submit eligibility responses, a comprehensive technical proposal, project schedule, detailed cost proposal and requested supporting documents. The 100-point official rubric covers project readiness, feasibility, budget quality, applicant/partner qualifications, sustainability and BVLOS capability gains. Applications missing documentation or submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed. Selected grantees are expected to be notified in December 2026; the announcement describes a typical eight-month project period, while the grant guidelines tie the specific performance period to the contract. Payments are described as two 50% installments upon agreement execution and achievement of negotiated performance measurements. Awardees must maintain records, report quarterly and complete the final report under contractual terms.
Verification note: The funding instructions simultaneously specify $2,000,000 as both minimum and maximum award, say that one or more awards may be made, and expressly allow partial awards and budget negotiation. The exact permitted lower award for a partial proposal is therefore not fully reconciled. Applicants should confirm the intended award sizing directly with Kansas Commerce before submission. Official sources: FY2027 AIR KS application guidelines, application scoring rubric, program/application portal and October 22, 2026 funding announcement. Official material reviewed October 31, 2026. Applicants should review the official application guidelines and confirm funding terms directly with Kansas Commerce.