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
Royals roll out the blue carpet for entrepreneurs with campaign focused on small businesses that define KC, its fandom
Editor’s note: The Kansas City Royals is an advertiser with Startland News, although this report was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Kansas City’s hometown baseball team is coming to the plate with a new pitch as opening day nears: a marketing campaign for the Royals that puts its city, fans and inspiring local…
Made in KC reveals plans for Barrywoods shop in the Northland (and where it’ll open next)
Made in KC is intentionally growing where local demand takes it, said Keith Bradley, detailing the brand’s expansion plans that hinge on customer convenience and include a new store in a prominent Northland shopping center. “We realized that we don’t have a strong presence in the Northland,” said Bradley, a co-owner of Made in KC…
National pain points meet local solutions at C3KC; How ‘energy of the day’ can spark lasting change
Editor’s note: The Junior League of Kansas City — through its C3KC conference — is an advertiser with Startland News. Fostering conversations about the most-pressing concerns facing communities not only helps expose the best of Kansas City innovation, said Becky Haddican, it also serves as a catalyst for even greater collaboration in the future. Now in…
AI-generated bedtime stories are just the first chapter in JQ Sirls epic venture to make the publishing industry more inclusive
Every great children’s story deserves the opportunity to be published, JQ Sirls said, adding his own footnote that more people are qualified than they think to create them. “I could put 1,000 people in one room and tell them all to write a short story about their childhood. While many of them may have a…