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Kansas Rural Opportunity Zones

Kansas is filled with the natural beauty, simplicity and communal bonds of rural life. We want you to experience the peace and joy of rural Kansas so much that we’ll even throw in some added bonuses. 

The state of Kansas has designated 95 counties as “Rural Opportunity Zones,” which means moving there comes with significant added benefits. Designated counties offer one or both of the following financial incentives for new full-time residents: Student Loan Repayment Assistance and/or 100% State Income Tax Credit.

  • County, City, Employer, and Foundation Sponsors
  • City, Employer, and Foundation Sponsorships only
  • Eligible ROZ county, has not sent in 2024 Resolution
  • Not ROZ
  • ⭐ City or Foundation Sponsor

1. Do you have a College Degree and Outstanding Student Loans?
2. Are You Interested in Moving to a Rural Community in Kansas?

You May Be Eligible for ROZ Student Loan Repayment Assistance

Program Guidelines

Student Loan Repayment Assistance

What is ROZ Student Loan Reimbursement Assistance?

  • ROZ Student Loan Reimbursement Assistance is administered By Kansas Department of Commerce (KDC)
  • Partners with Counties, Cities, Employers, and Foundations
  • Provides up to $15,000 in Student Loan Repayment Assistance over 5 years

You May Be Eligible for ROZ Student Loan Reimbursement Assistance

  • You must have a newly established permanent address in a participating county (see map above), so long as that address was established after the county began participating in the program. 
  • Applicants must have an active student loan balance in their name, as well as an associate’s, bachelor’s or post-graduate degree prior to moving to the participating county.
  • To apply, you will need to provide proof of domicile in the ROZ County, proof of previous permanent residency (prior to earning your degree), transcripts with degree dates and student loan balance with distribution dates.

Application Period

Applications are open for Gold and Blue Counties Applications close Sept. 30th

For questions regarding ROZ applications and eligibility please email [email protected] for the quickest response.

ROZ 100% State Income Tax Credit

What is ROZ 100% State Income Tax Credit?

  • ROZ Income Tax Credit is administered By Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR)
  • The credit is 100 percent of the taxpayer’s Kansas tax liability.
  • The credit is limited to the amount of the taxpayer’s Kansas tax liability.

A resident individual may claim this credit for not more than five consecutive years following establishment of their domicile in a rural opportunity zone. This assumes the individual establishes domicile in a rural opportunity zone on or after July 1, 2011 and prior to January 1, 2026 and was domiciled outside this state for five or more years immediately prior to establishing their domicile in a rural opportunity zone in this state. If an individual establishes their domicile in a rural opportunity zone after January 1, 2019, the number of years for which they can claim the credit will be reduced. The last opportunity to claim the credit will be on the individual’s 2026 tax year return, which will be filed in 2027.

More information regarding qualifications

Rural Opportunity Zone frequently asked questions

You May Be Eligible for ROZ 100% State Income Tax Credit

  • Establish domicile in a rural opportunity zone on or after July 1, 2011 and prior to Jan. 1, 2026.
  • Must have been domiciled outside Kansas for five or more years immediately prior to establishing their domicile in a Kansas rural opportunity zone.
  • Must have had no more than $10,000 in Kansas source income in any one year for five or more years immediately prior to establishing their domicile in a Kansas rural opportunity zone;
  • Must have been domiciled in a Kansas rural opportunity zone during the entire taxable year for which the credit will be claimed;
  • The tax return on which the credit is claimed must be timely filed (including an extension of time); and
  • The taxpayer may not be delinquent in filing any tax return with or paying any tax due to the state of Kansas or any political subdivision.

For questions regarding ROZ applications and eligibility please visit the Kansas Department of Revenue

ROZ County Participation Registry

CountyEstablished dateCounty Start Date
Allen County7/1/20139/17/2013
Anderson County7/1/20134/21/2014
Atchison County5/27/20216/8/2021
Barber County7/1/20117/1/2011
Barton County5/27/202111/9/2021
Bourbon County7/1/20139/16/2013
Brown County7/1/201311/4/2013
Butler CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Chase County7/1/201401/01/2024
Chautauqua County7/1/201110/31/2011
Cherokee County7/1/20132/9/2015
Cheyenne County7/1/20117/29/2011
Clark County7/1/20117/8/2011
Clay County7/1/20138/19/2013
Cloud County7/1/20118/29/2011
Coffey County7/1/201312/23/2013
Comanche County7/1/20118/20/2013
Cowley County5/27/20215/18/2021
Crawford County5/27/20216/18/2021
Decatur County7/1/20117/19/2011
Dickinson County5/27/20216/17/2021
Doniphan County7/1/20138/19/2013
Douglas CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Edwards County7/1/20117/18/2011
Elk County7/1/20117/30/2012
Ellis County5/27/20216/21/2021
Ellsworth County7/1/201310/14/2013
Finney County5/27/20216/21/2021
Ford County5/27/20216/21/2021
Franklin County5/27/20215/26/2021
Geary County5/27/20216/7/2021
Gove County7/1/201112/12/2011
Graham County7/1/20117/1/2011
Grant County7/1/20137/1/2013
Gray County7/1/20137/1/2013
Greeley County7/1/20117/1/2011
Greenwood County7/1/20117/25/2011
Hamilton County7/1/20117/1/2011
Harper County7/1/20117/11/2011
Harvey County5/27/20216/29/2021
Haskell County7/1/20139/9/2013
Hodgeman County7/1/20117/1/2011
Jackson County7/1/20144/2/2018
Jefferson County5/27/2021Never Opted In
Jewell County7/1/201110/17/2011
Johnson CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Kearny County7/1/20117/1/2011
Kingman County7/1/20117/1/2011
Kiowa County7/1/20118/20/2012
Labette County7/1/20132/16/2015
Lane County7/1/20117/1/2011
Leavenworth CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Lincoln County7/1/20118/22/2011
Linn County7/1/20134/7/2014
Logan County7/1/20112/21/2017
Lyon County5/27/20216/24/2021
Marion County7/1/20119/26/2011
Marshall County7/1/201311/25/2013
McPherson County5/27/20216/15/2021
Meade County7/1/20147/1/2016
Miami County5/27/20216/16/2021
Mitchell County7/1/20117/1/2011
Montgomery County7/1/20136/9/2014
Morris County7/1/20138/13/2013
Morton County7/1/20117/1/2011
Nemaha County7/1/20137/1/2013
Neosho County7/1/201310/4/2013
Ness County7/1/20117/1/2011
Norton County7/1/20117/25/2011
Osage County5/27/20216/14/2021
Osborne County7/1/20119/23/2013
Ottawa County7/1/20138/26/2013
Pawnee County7/1/20111/23/2012
Phillips County7/1/20119/6/2011
Potawatomie County5/27/20213/4/2022
Pratt County7/1/20117/1/2011
Rawlins County7/1/20118/31/2011
Reno CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Republic County7/1/201112/17/2012
Rice County7/1/20138/5/2013
Riley CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Rooks County7/1/20117/1/2011
Rush County7/1/20118/8/2011
Russell County7/1/20117/1/2011
Saline CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Scott County7/1/20117/1/2011
Sedgwick CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Seward County5/27/20216/21/2021
Shawnee CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
Sheridan County7/1/201110/21/2013
Sherman County7/1/20117/12/2011
Smith County7/1/20117/18/2011
Stafford County7/1/20117/25/2011
Stanton County7/1/20114/1/2013
Stevens County7/1/20138/19/2013
Sumner County7/1/20138/22/2016
Thomas County7/1/20117/18/2011
Trego County7/1/20117/1/2011
Wabaunsee County7/1/20145/7/2018
Wallace County7/1/20117/1/2011
Washington County7/1/20117/7/2014
Wichita County7/1/201111/4/2013
Wilson County7/1/201112/19/2011
Woodson County7/1/20117/1/2011
Wyandotte CountyNot ROZNot ROZ
ROZ Employer-Foundation Sponsorship Form

ROZ Sponsors may confirm their ROZ Sponsorship here, you will need the applicants ROZ ID number.

Sponsor Match Digital Payment

ROZ Sponsors may submit their annual matching funds here via electronic transfer or electronic check once they have received their invoice

*A 2.5% service fee will be applied to online Credit and Debit Card payments (2.5% of the total charge) 
**A $1.50 service fee will be applied to online ACH payments 

ROZ Sponsorship

ROZ Sponsors may confirm their ROZ Sponsorship here with the applicants ROZ ID number. ROZ Sponsors may also submit their annual matching funds here via electronic transfer or electronic check once they have received their invoice.

*A 2.5% service fee will be applied to online Credit and Debit Card payments (2.5% of the total charge)
**A $1.50 service fee will be applied to online ACH payments

ROZ Informational Flyers

Talent Recruitment ROZ Flyer
Download
Student Recruitment ROZ Flyer
Download
Placemaking ROZ Flyer
Download
Hiking Trails ROZ Flyer
Download
Healthcare Employer ROZ Flyer
Download
Education Recruitment ROZ Flyer
Download
Biking Trails ROZ Flyer
Download

Additional Resources

1099-G Information
Visit Site
2024 ROZ City Resolution Template
Download
2024 ROZ County Resolution Template
Download
ROZ Program Guidelines FY24
Download
ROZ Program Evaluation and Recommendations
Download
ROZ Applicant FAQ FY24
Download
CONTACT

Rural Opportunity Zones, General Inquires

[email protected]

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