With scholarships available, urban business effort grows Kansas City
December 7, 2016 | Meghan LeVota
An effort to increase entrepreneurship in the urban core of Kansas City is increasing its area economic impact as well as its scholarship opportunities.
Launched in 2013, the Urban Business Growth Initiative offers a variety of programs that help applicants access resources, classes and counseling to create jobs and support urban business growth.
The UBGI helped its 92 scholarship award-winners generate $29.5 million in sales and $4.3 million in investment capital in 2016, according to a report from the UMKC Innovation Center. The report also found that the program helped retain about 130 jobs and create 83 new positions.
The UBGI is funded by the City of Kansas City, Mo. and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The initiative is a collaboration of KC BizCare, KCSourcelink, UMKC Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Justine PETERSEN and the Women’s Business Center. The initiative pushes its services to low- and moderate-income individuals in the urban core who wish to start or grow businesses.
“The UBGI is defining the path to economic mobility for Kansas City entrepreneurs,” assistant city manager Rick Usher said in a release.
Below is more information on upcoming winter scholarship opportunities. Eligible applicants must live or own a business in Kansas City. Accepted participants may select one free class and one $75 class. To apply, click here.
Winning Government Contracts:The First Steps
When: Jan. 5, Feb 2. Mar 2. Apr 6 and May 4
Cost: no cost with scholarship
Explains how to get started in government contracting including federal, state and local government registration and certification.
Construction Business Management
When: Jan. 17 – March 7
Cost: $645, $75 with scholarship
Assists construction business owners with issues of growth.
FastTrac® NewVenture™
When: Jan. 17 – Feb. 14
Cost: $649, $75 with scholarship
Explores the feasibility of a business concept and teaches participants how to develop a viable business plan.
FastTrac® TechVenture™
When: Feb. 8 – April 12
Cost: $795, $75 with scholarship
Provides technology and science-based entrepreneurs with a proven framework and network of connections to help grow a great idea into the next viable innovation.
Featured Business
2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
LaunchKC cuts applicant field to 100 grant finalists
An international grant competition that will welcome 10 new tech firms to Kansas City has cut a few hundred companies from its field of applicants. LaunchKC — which aims to attract 10 tech firms to relocate to KC with $50,000 grants — notified 100 finalists of the competition on Wednesday via an email. Judges identified…
UMKC kicks off high-impact entrepreneur speaker series
The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Bloch School is hosting a bevy of successful area entrepreneurs to offer lessons and insights. UMKC’s “First Wednesdays” series will kick off this fall, aiming to offer area residents and students the chance to network and learn from some of Kansas City’s brightest business minds. The university’s first event is…
Scholarship courses available to KC entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners in Kansas City, Mo., can now tap a variety of scholarship opportunities to help their ventures grow. The Urban Business Growth Initiative is offering scholarships to three courses this fall that hope to assist Kansas City business owners develop their vision, test market viability and more. Some scholarships are worth…
Gallery: Techweek countdown party
Dozens of entrepreneurs, technologists and businesspeople sipped cocktails Monday at Techweek’s countdown party. Below are some photos from the event, which revealed eight new speakers and a rough schedule of events. To learn more about the event, click here.