The Kansas Department of Commerce seeks proposals from public broadcasting stations to produce original, educational content highlighting rural workforce opportunities, remote work readiness, and emerging technologies that can transform how Kansans live and work in rural communities.
Donor Name: Kansas Department of Commerce
State: Kansas
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/10/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The purpose of this program is to support the creation of original, educational public broadcasting content that highlights rural workforce opportunities, remote work readiness, and emerging technologies shaping how Kansans live and work. The program seeks to increase awareness of workforce resources, strengthen digital literacy, and elevate real stories from rural Kansas communities.
The WorKS funding was created by the legislature in 2025 in the State budget bill SB 125. The goal of this program is to provide public broadcasting stations funding to produce original, educational content highlighting rural workforce opportunities, remote work readiness, and emerging technologies that can transform how Kansans live and work in rural communities.
Funding Priorities
Projects will be awarded based upon the following:
- How well the proposal addresses rural workforce and remote work themes.
- Originality of concept, creativity, and potential to inform and inspire.
- Strength of collaboration with rural communities, workforce entities, or local orgs.
- Realistic scope, timeline, and technical capacity.
- Clarity of audience engagement and sustainability beyond the grant period.
Funding Information
Total funding available will be $500,000 for a one-time funding opportunity from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
- Total Funding Available: $500,000
- Minimum Award Amount: $10,000
- Maximum Award Amount: $100,000.
Grant Period
12 months from date of award.
Eligible Projects
Funding is to be used to create educational or documentary style content that addresses one of the four required themes for workforce growth and development:
- Emerging Technologies in Rural Economic Development
- How technologies such as broadband, AI, automation, or telehealth are reshaping rural jobs.
- Real stories of Kansas communities using innovation to sustain local economies.
- Remote Work Readiness
- Best practices for identifying, applying for, and thriving in remote or hybrid jobs.
- Educational series on digital literacy, online professionalism, or cybersecurity for rural workers.
- Rural Workforce Resources
- Spotlighting state or local economic development programs, workforce training centers, or entrepreneurship hubs.
- Success stories of rural Kansans leveraging these resources to grow careers or
businesses.
- Youth and the Future of Work
- Content aimed at helping high school or college-aged students explore remote or tech-enabled careers that allow them to stay in their communities.
- Each funded station must produce and distribute:
- At least one broadcast-quality program or series (TV, radio, or digital format).
- Accompanying digital content (e.g., podcast, online article series, or social media shorts).
- A public engagement plan, such as town halls, webinars, or community screenings.
- A brief impact summary with metrics like audience reach, community engagement, and
- lessons learned upon project completion and published broadcast period has closed.
Eligible Program Costs
Production, postproduction, editing, and other content creation costs, equipment (up to 25% of grant award), labor, supplies, staff time, travel, music or other additional content costs, marketing, administrative costs directly related to project.
Eligibility Criteria
Licensed Public Broadcasting Stations serving Kansas communities (television or radio).
For more information, visit Kansas Department of Commerce.
