A little-known provision in Kansas's budget bill opens the door to free, customized workforce training for fitness businesses.
Most gym and fitness studio owners in Kansas don't realize that a provision buried in HB2513 creates a direct pathway to free workforce development—and it's worth understanding before the funding window closes.
Here's what's happening: HB2513, Kansas's supplemental and multi-year appropriations bill, allocates $14.3 million to Kansas community and technical colleges specifically for apprenticeship development and business-industry outreach. The money is designed to help small businesses—including fitness facilities—access workforce-ready apprentices and customized training programs at no direct cost to the business.
Instead of recruiting and training staff on your own dime, your gym or studio can partner with a local community or technical college to develop an apprenticeship program tailored to your needs. The college receives state funding to create and manage the program. You gain access to apprentices who are earning while they learn, reducing your training burden and labor costs. The apprentices get paid work experience and credentials. It's a three-way win.
The funds are distributed by formula to community colleges across Kansas, so every region has access. This isn't a competitive grant you have to fight for—it's built into the system. Your nearest community college is already receiving an allocation.
This matters because there's a hard deadline. The funding is designated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Community colleges must certify that they are not increasing their 2027 tax levy, or the funds lapse on June 30, 2027. That means if you're interested in exploring this, the window to connect with your local college and start planning is now—not next year.
The provision is found in Section 65(b) on page 199 of HB2513.
If you operate a gym or fitness studio in Kansas and have workforce challenges—whether it's finding reliable personal trainers, front-desk staff, or fitness instructors—contact your local community or technical college's workforce development or business services office. Ask specifically about apprenticeship programs funded under HB2513. They can walk you through whether an apprenticeship model makes sense for your business and what the process looks like.
You're not applying for charity. You're accessing a state resource designed specifically to connect small businesses with trained workers. The college handles recruitment, curriculum design, and compliance. You provide the job and mentorship.
The fitness industry has real staffing needs, and this funding exists partly because state policymakers recognize that small businesses like yours need help building pipelines of qualified workers. The money is there. The colleges are ready. The clock is ticking until June 2027.
For a detailed, business-specific guide to apprenticeship funding and how it applies to fitness facilities, contact your Kansas community college's workforce development office or the Kansas Department of Commerce.