COVID is hurting small biz — but how to help? AltCap, KCBizCare launch listening tour to find best strategy

By Tommy Felts | November 12, 2020
Small Business Big Voice

To help Kansas City’s small business community, leaders first must know what entrepreneurs actually need, said Ruben Alonso, announcing the launch of a KCMO-backed, city-wide listening tour. “As we look to recover from the economic disruption caused by COVID-19, it is critical we hear from small businesses, the lifeblood of our communities so that we…

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ESHIP Communities: 10 ways Kansas City can support its businesses and entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts | May 7, 2020
Gabe Muñoz; photo by Ray Carrington for Forward Cities

Editor’s note: This story is sponsored and was produced by Forward Cities, a non-financial partner of Startland News and a national nonprofit that is managing the implementation of the ESHIP Communities program as a grantee of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Any opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. ESHIP Communities Kansas City is dedicated…

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‘Not a good look’: Amid budget cut criticism, Mayor Q shuffles $25K between small biz support groups

By Tommy Felts | February 29, 2020

Editor’s note: Startland News is a program of STARTLAND, an ecosystem-building organization that is among the participants in an informal coalition of entrepreneur support groups hoping to increase funding for small business support in the 2020-2021 Kansas City, Missouri, budget. This story was produced independently by Startland News’ nonprofit newsroom. Responding to sharp criticism of…

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