The U.S. Agriculture Department has awarded Kansas $1.3 million in matching funds for a program to increase the availability of ethanol blended fuels for motorists.

The Kansas Corn Growers Association said in a news release Wednesday that Kansas is one of 21 states to receive funding from the U.S. Agriculture Department to expand infrastructure.

The funds will allow a coalition called the Kansas Better Blends Initiative to begin a substantial effort to help Kansas fuel retailers offer their customers choices for higher ethanol blends.

The coalition provides awards that cover 90 percent of the cost of installation for blender pumps and 75 percent of the cost of E15 pumps that provide higher blend ethanol products.