Kansas Department of Commerce / NetWork Kansas

Supports Kansas entrepreneurs and small businesses through state commerce programs and local startup networks.

Kansas Department of Commerce is Kansas's lead economic development agency, while NetWork Kansas is the statewide nonprofit partner that cultivates resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Together they sit behind the state's main business-incentive and entrepreneurship channels.

The Commerce side runs PEAK, KIT, KIR, KITMAP, KITSAP, STEP, HPIP, industrial revenue bonds, and CDBG-ED, with support spanning training subsidies, matching grants, tax credits, and financing tools. NetWork Kansas operates GrowKS loan and equity programs, the eCommunity partnership, and entrepreneurship training routes, with GrowKS matching private capital up to $1 million and Kansas receiving about $69 million in SSBCI 2.0 funds.

The strongest fit is a Kansas employer, exporter, rural project, or startup that can work through a local partner and connect state incentives to payroll growth, investment, or export expansion. Commerce sets the policy framework; NetWork Kansas handles much of the small-business front door and the partner network that moves applicants toward capital.