Active Atlas Opportunity Score 64/100
KS-KDC-KCE-IMPACT-2026-FALL | Kansas | Kansas Department of Commerce | Community Development | Quality of Place | Rural Communities | Nonprofits | Local Government
Kansas Community Empowerment 2026 Impact Grant — Fall Round
The Kansas Department of Commerce is accepting applications for the Fall 2026 round of the Kansas Community Empowerment (KCE) Impact Grant. The program supports permanent or long-term improvements to public spaces and community assets in registered KCE communities, with an emphasis on locally driven projects that strengthen community vitality, engagement and quality of place.
Funding: Kansas Commerce identifies $60,000 total Impact Grant funding for 2026, with $30,000 available in each round. Communities in the Community of Empowerment tier may request up to $15,000.
Match: A 1:1 match is required. Up to 50% of the match may be in-kind, including volunteer hours valued at $28 per hour under the current guidelines.
Current Fall 2026 application window: September 1 through October 31, 2026. The current program page and August 2026 Impact Grant guidelines publish the date but do not state a submission time or time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Eligibility: The project must occur in a registered Kansas Community Empowerment city and the community must qualify at the Community of Empowerment tier. Eligible applicant entities include county or municipal governments, economic development organizations, local chambers of commerce, 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits, and community foundations. Other organizations may be able to apply through an eligible contracted fiscal agent with the required Letter of Intent.
Eligible project examples: Permanent public art, community placemaking improvements, park and recreation equipment, community signage and wayfinding, downtown facade improvements, community gardens, and coolers or equipment for a local community center. Projects must be permanent or long-term, investment-oriented, sustainable, and tied to community vibrancy rather than primarily promotional or advertising activity.
Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically through the Kansas Community Empowerment online application system. Required materials include bids and estimates, proof of matching funds, an updated W-9, required state-policy forms, tax-clearance documentation, covered-technologies documentation, proof of good standing, and a fiscal-agent Letter of Intent when applicable.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The verified program is focused on permanent community assets, placemaking, recreation, signage, facade improvements and community-center equipment. The current materials do not establish a clinical technology, telehealth, medical-device or connected-examination pathway, so N9+ should not be introduced or forced into this opportunity.
QC Healthcare Fit Score: 0/100. The current scope does not establish a healthcare-service or physician-coverage funding pathway.
Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. Atlas has not identified a legitimate Dr. Miltie or QC Healthcare direct-vendor role under the current solicitation.
Controlling sources: Kansas Department of Commerce KCE Kickstart and Impact Grants program page; August 2026 KCE Impact Grant application guidelines.
Verified September 24, 2026.