There is hereby created within the department of commerce the high performance incentive fund to provide matching funds for business assistance and consulting services to qualified firms under the provisions of K.S.A. 74-50,131, and amendments thereto, or that are entitled to a workforce training tax credit under the provisions of K.S.A. 74-50,132, and amendments thereto, subject to appropriation of funds and program criteria, as provided in this section. The department of commerce may provide funds to qualified firms, on a matching basis, to pay up to 50% of such firm's costs of acquiring consulting services provided by the mid-America manufacturing technology center, or approved private consultants to assist in improving the firm's management, production processes or product or service quality. Qualified firms also shall receive priority consideration for any other business assistance programs administered by the department of commerce.
K.S.A. 74-50,133