Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative has been awarded funding for a pole and line replacement project as part of a statewide infrastructure investment announced by Gov. Laura Kelly.
The local project represents a total investment of $1,483,333. That includes $1 million in federal funding, $459,167 from the Build Kansas Fund and a $24,166 applicant contribution from Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative.
For local residents, the award is significant because pole and line replacement directly affects the reliability and resilience of the electric grid serving rural customers. In areas such as the Flint Hills, where severe weather, distance and rural terrain can create challenges for utilities, investments in electric infrastructure are important for maintaining dependable service. Kelly announced that 18 Kansas communities secured more than $13.7 million in federal and state funding for airport and energy grid resilience improvement projects. The awards include more than $10.1 million in federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding and more than $3.6 million in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund. Combined with more than $165,000 in local contributions, the total investment in Kansas for this round of infrastructure grants is more than $13.9 million.
“Kansas’ commitment to investing in critical infrastructure has helped create opportunities to secure additional funding and advance projects that benefit communities statewide,” Kelly said. “These investments are about more than strengthening infrastructure; they are about improving quality of life, supporting economic opportunity, and building a stronger future for our state.” The Kansas Infrastructure Hub connects multiple state agencies and serves as a resource center for Kansas communities seeking federal and state funding opportunities. The Build Kansas Fund provides state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas that successfully apply for federal grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
According to the announcement, the Build Kansas Fund has provided required non-federal match dollars for 92 federal grants across Kansas. The combined Build Kansas investment for all projects is more than $51.28 million, resulting in more than $161 million in federal grant awards returning to Kansas.
“These awards demonstrate the Kansas Infrastructure Hub’s commitment to supporting improvements across multiple sectors and ensuring communities of all sizes can compete successfully for federal funding opportunities,” Shawn Wesner, executive director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub, said. “Through the support of the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly, we are bringing together federal, state and local funding to make strategic investments that will strengthen our state infrastructure and support communities for years to come.”
State officials said the latest awards support both airport infrastructure and energy grid resilience, with the goal of strengthening transportation networks, improving energy reliability and supporting long-term economic growth throughout Kansas.