Kansas Infrastructure Hub reports rapid growth in grant activity; executive director Matthew Volz announces departure

Matthew Volz, executive director of the Kansas Infrastructure Hub, updated the Build Kansas steering committee on hub activities, staffing and program metrics and said that the April 9 meeting would be his last in that role due to family-care responsibilities.

Volz summarized the hub's first-year metrics since the office was staffed in April 2024: the hub has approved dozens of Build Kansas Fund applications (Volz said 79 approved previously and that with the six items considered at this meeting the total would be 85), reported roughly $34.63 million committed from the Build Kansas Fund to date and said the combined federal, local and state total project value approaches $140 million. Volz told the committee, "This would be my last time addressing you as the executive director of the infrastructure hub. I have some family, member care issues that I'm gonna be addressing that take priority for me. So I wish you the best of luck moving forward, and thank you very much." Committee members thanked him for his service.

Volz described a new grant-assistance program the hub started in February to reimburse local applicants for hiring grant professionals for application writing and administration. He said two requests were already active: the Kickapoo Tribe (requesting about $25,000) for a rural and tribal assistance grant application and the Port Authority of Stafford County (seeking roughly $50,000) to support administration for a recently awarded $25 million Rebuild grant.

Volz also noted the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant publication and predicted a surge of Build Kansas Fund applications in the coming month, because SS4A requires a 20% local match and local applicants frequently seek Build Kansas support for that match. He described the hub staffing level (about 15 combined state and contract personnel) and outreach activities (monthly webinars, regional meetings and a Kansas Infrastructure Summit with more than 200 registrants).

Committee members discussed communications with local legislators and the public. Senator Schallenberger requested the hub develop a mechanism to notify local legislators when their districts receive awards; hub staff agreed that clearer communications at both the pending-application and awarded stages would be helpful. Members also cautioned that local press releases should avoid implying federal awards before official federal notices are received.

The hub said it will continue outreach and that staff will provide follow-up to the committee on federal award notifications and requested applicant clarifications.