March 6, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IBRC Announces Two $5,000 ACCEL-KS Rural Innovation Grants for Montgomery County/Area Entrepreneurs

Independence, KS — The Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC) has announced the availability of two $5,000 innovation grants for local entrepreneurs as part of the statewide ACCEL-KS initiative administered through Groover Labs and funded by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

ACCEL-KS (Accelerating Concepts to Commercialization in Kansas) is designed to help early-stage founders validate innovative solutions to real-world problems. Groover Labs was selected to lead the initiative and was required to include rural partners as part of the program’s statewide impact strategy. IBRC is serving as the rural partner for Montgomery County and surrounding area.

“These grants are about helping entrepreneurs test whether their idea really works,” said Jim Correll executive director of IBRC. “It doesn’t have to be a brand-new invention. But it should represent a new or innovative way to solve a problem. We want to help founders determine if the problem is real, if the solution is viable, and whether it has the potential to scale.”

The grants are intended to support activities such as prototype development, market validation, pilot programs, feasibility studies, and other steps that move an idea toward commercialization.

Applications will be accepted through March 29 at midnight, with recipients announced on March 31.

Entrepreneurs located in or doing business in Montgomery County and surrounding area are encouraged to apply. Minority- and women-owned businesses are welcome and encouraged.

Those interested on learning more can visit IBRCenter.org/ ACCEL-KS/. In addition to information, the fillable PDF application can be downloaded from that page. Completed applications are emailed to jimc@ibrcenter.org before March 29 at midnight.

For questions, contact:
Jim Correll
Innovative Business Resource Center
620-252-5349