TOPEKA — Kansas arts advocates say the National Endowment for the Arts has restored $560,000 in grants to Kansas.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the announcement comes two years after the NEA pulled its funding for Kansas when Gov. Sam Brownback de-funded the state arts commission.

After lobbying from arts groups, Brownback formed the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which is under the Department of Commerce and provides a vehicle for state arts funding with more focus on job creation.

Kansas Citizens for the Arts told members in an email Wednesday the NEA has provided $560,000 in matching funding to the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Commerce Department spokesman Dan Lara says the commission has an announcement planned Thursday, but he couldn’t comment beyond that.