TOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that the Port Authority of Stafford County (PASC) has secured $25 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program.
“The Port Authority of Stafford County project is an example of what can be accomplished with crucial funding,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By utilizing matching funds, we are making a difference for communities across Kansas.”
The PASC will use the grant to design and create a rail-served transload facility and grain terminal adjacent to a BNSF Railway. The PASC project will facilitate the movement of a variety of commodities that currently move by truck.
“I am so glad to hear that the Port Authority of Stafford County is receiving a RAISE grant. This is a project that we have been working on for a few years now that will make a positive difference for Stafford County and central Kansas,” said Troy Waymaster, Build Kansas Fund Advisory Committee Chair. “This is the prime purpose of the BUILD Kansas Committee: to make prominent changes for our small and rural communities by providing them with assistance and matching dollars for federal grants.”
Combined with $5 million in matching funds from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub and Build Kansas Fund, the total investment in Kansas for this inland port infrastructure project totals $30 million.
“On behalf of the Port Authority of Stafford County, I want to express our sincere appreciation to the Build Kansas Fund for their invaluable support through both matching dollars and technical assistance. The partnerships created will be instrumental in the development of our new rail-served transload facility and grain terminal,” said Carolyn Dunn, Port Authority of Stafford County President. “This facility will enhance our region’s transportation infrastructure, foster economic growth, and provide critical resources to our agricultural sector, strengthening Stafford County’s role in the global supply chain.”
With this award, the Build Kansas Fund has provided the required match dollars for 38 federal grant awards across Kansas. The combined total investment by the Build Kansas Fund in all projects is over $34.6 million, which has resulted in federal grant awards of more than $75.9 million.
“Local stakeholders have repeatedly noted that with the right technical assistance and matching funds, they can unlock additional federal funding for their communities,” said Matt Volz, Executive Director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub. “The Kansas Infrastructure Hub’s support demonstrates the state’s leadership in infrastructure development and provides communities with the tools they need to fully capitalize on the opportunities available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.”
The Kansas Infrastructure Hub connects multiple state agencies and serves as a resource center for Kansas communities to identify best practices for maximizing BIL funding opportunities. The Build Kansas Fund provides state matching dollars for projects throughout Kansas that successfully apply for federal grants under BIL. In 2023, the Kansas Legislature and Governor Kelly approved $200 million for the Build Kansas Fund to provide state matching dollars to Kansas entities and projects to meet federal local match requirements.
