The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission offers a diverse portfolio of financial incentives for creative professionals and creative businesses that are looking to locate or expand in Kansas. These investments can be used for any one of the following three programs:

1. WORKFORCE EXPANSION
The program requires a qualified company or organization to commit to creating at least one new FTE over a one-year period. Either the organization or position must be classified in the creative sector.

Award Amounts
Applicants may request up to 10% of the employees wage up to a maximum of $5,000/eligible job.

2. CAPITAL INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE
This program recognizes the need for Kansas companies and organizations to remain competitive and encourages capital investment in facilities and technology. Benefits of this program are awarded to investments that will result in increased revenue, workforce, and/or client base.

Capital Investment Assistance funds can be used to:

• Expand or significantly alter an new or existing facility
• Purchase equipment and materials to expand or improve an applicant’s business or organization.

Award Amounts
Applicants may request up to 50 percent of the cost of facility enhancements with a maximum award of $10,000. Applicants may request a maximum of $5,000 for equipment purchases or technology upgrades. All requests require a one-to-one match, preferably in cash. In-kind donations may also be counted as match. Funded applicants will be required to document all in-kind donations needed for their match at the conclusion of the granting period. Applicants may apply for only one award within a single year, and the Kansas Creative Industries Commission may limit the number of awards granted to an individual or business over the course of multiple years.

3. WORKFORCE TRAINING ASSISTANCE
The Workforce Training Assistance program may be used to assist companies and organizations involved in pre-employment and on-the-job training of new employees, the training of existing employees on new technologies that will result in increased revenue and an expanded client base, the training and education of future employees using creative arts integrated programs to address emerging technologies, areas of skills shortages, and STEM curricula resulting in opportunities for increased student success and workforce readiness .

Award Amounts
An application must be submitted prior to or concurrent with the beginning of the training. The maximum amount of funding per trainee is $500 with a maximum award of $5,000 per applicant.

REVIEW PROCESS
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until May 15, 2013. The KCAIC will review and approve applications on a monthly basis. Approved applicants will sign and submit an agreement with the KCAIC for full execution with Commerce.

APPLICATION
Click here for the application process and detailed description of the three programs. Click here for the Grant Application Form.