In focus: Some schemes, initiatives & grants for women entrepreneurs in Kansas
#WomenEntrepreneurs #KansasBusiness #BusinessGrowth #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessSupport #BusinessResources #WomenEmpowerment
Women entrepreneurs in Kansas are growing in numbers and making significant contributions to the state’s economy. According to the National Women’s Business Council, as of 2019, women-owned businesses in Kansas account for 18.1% of all firms and 12.4% of all employment. These businesses range from startups to established enterprises, and they operate in various industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance.
Many women entrepreneurs in Kansas have received support from various organizations, including the Women’s Business Center of Kansas City and the Small Business Administration’s Kansas Women’s Business Center. These resources provide essential services such as business training, mentoring, and access to funding opportunities. Additionally, state-specific initiatives and grants further empower women to overcome challenges and thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors. By leveraging these schemes and resources, women entrepreneurs in Kansas continue to innovate, create jobs, and drive economic growth in the region.
Let us look at some schemes, initiatives, grants and other resources available to women entrepreneurs in Kansas.
> OneKC for Women
What is interesting is that OneKC for Women is an umbrella alliance that ropes in several organizations, each with unique roles – all dedicated to providing resources, opportunities and connections for women.
This alliance brings together the following organizations – Women’s Employment Network, Women’s Business Center, Women’s Capital Connection, and Women Lead Initiative; and these four organizations are powerful advocates for women and are committed to assisting women on their quest for personal, professional and financial self-sufficiency. By working together as OneKC for Women, these partner organizations are able to better achieve a common goal: empowering women to achieve financial independence.
Significantly, OneKC for Women is where women can find the resources, opportunities and connections needed to advance employment opportunities, start a business, grow a business or receive guidance and support in overcoming barriers to success. Whatever resources a woman needs, the alliance is here to help support each one on her journey.
https://onekcforwomen.com/about-us/about-onekc-for-women
> Women’s Business Center
The Women’s Business Center offers a variety of programmess and services which are for women who have an idea, want to test the feasibility of it and potentially develop it into a business.
Here many additional workshops and seminars are open to the general public, including both male and female entrepreneurs.
https://kansascitywbc.com/programs-and-services/starting-out
Kansas Government Agencies
> Kansas Business One Stop
Kansas Business One Stop is your one-stop-shop for interacting with Kansas government – whether your business is getting started, making changes, growing or expanding.
This is an inter-agency collaborative between the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Department of Labor, Kansas Department of Revenue, and Kansas Secretary of State.
> Kansas Department of Commerce – Start in Kansas
Kansas is committed to the development of a comprehensive network – to support research and facilitate commercialization across the state with a variety of tools to promote new technology for companies, whether they are in the early stages of their business or more mature in their operations.
Start in Kansas includes a large variety of statewide resources, Wichita regional resources and Kansas City metro resources.
> Kansas Small Business Administration – KSBA
The Kansas SBA provide services including – funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery.
They are supported by two district offices, with a total of three offices across Kansas and Missouri They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/kansas-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
Kansas Agencies & Non-profit Organizations
> Kansas Women’s Business Center
The mission of the Women’s Business Center is – to develop, counsel and mentor women in all stages of business development and growth. This is done through a number of options – like classes, seminars, peer roundtables, one-on-one consultation, networking and referrals. Women entrepreneurs are also educated on sources of funding that include micro-loans and angel funding through the Women’s Capital Connection.
Although the office is located in Kansas, the Women’s Business Center team serves the entire metropolitan area of Kansas City, advising women-owned businesses on both sides of the state line.
> Women’s Business Development Center – WBDC
The WBDC Kansas office in Overland Park supports and accelerates business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners.
Coaching and education services include – strategic one-on-one and group business advising, specialized cohort-based curricula and workshops, and digital learning. Contract assistance is available for private sector procurement opportunities, public sector contracting assistance, and WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise) certification. Capital-related services include – financial education, debt and equity placement, direct lending, and Kiva microlending.
> NetWork Kansas
NetWork Kansas is focused on the growth of entrepreneurship and small businesses throughout the state of Kansas, providing a central portal that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with the right resources – expertise, education and economic assistance.
In pursuit of this mission, they partner with well-respected business development organizations and educational institutions that work with entrepreneurs and small business owners, who have the vision and potential to succeed. And, the result is a seamless system that accelerates economic and community development in Kansas.
> Kansas Small Business Development Center – KSBDC
Kansas SBDC provides services and training for every stage of business including – Start-Up, Loans and Grants, Marketing and Sales, HR and Employees, Accounting and Sales Tax, Exit and Transition, Strategic Planning, Government Contracting and Inclusion and Business Protection.
What is the system they follow? Kansas SBDC can help Kansas businesses up to 500 employees and they do it in a confidential and judgment free manner; and there is no cost for a majority of services.
Eight regional offices and several outreach centers are spread across Kansas and located in Hays, Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, Wichita, Emporia, Topeka, Manhattan, Wetmore, Lawrence, Overland Park, Pittsburg, and Independence.
> National Association of Women Business Owners – NAWBO Kansas City
NAWBO KC helps local women win in business and in life too. It brings together women in business – to learn, connect and grow.
So, whether you are launching your business, scaling up, or expanding beyond your wildest dreams, you will enjoy fresh, educational programming, access to peer support groups and professional mentoring, national opportunities, and more.
> SCORE – Wichita
SCORE provides a wide range of services to established and budding business owners alike, including:
Free Mentoring: Access free, confidential business mentoring in person or remotely via email, phone and video.
Webinars and Courses: SCORE regularly offers Free online events on topics ranging from startup strategies to marketing and finance are available as live programs or online recordings.
Library of Online Resources: An extensive collection of guides, templates, checklists, blogs, videos, infographics, and more provide the most relevant and current educational content to help small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/kansas-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
Funding – State and Federal Sources
> U.S. Small Business Administration – Funding Resources
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get the funding they need. Funding resources include:
Loans: Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA.
Investment capital: Find an investor for your business. Investors make both debt and equity investments.
Disaster assistance: Get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans.
Surety bonds: Protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond.
Grants: Look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and
development.
> Kansas Department of Commerce – Small Business R&D Acceleration Grants
The Small Business R&D Acceleration Grants are designed to assist Kansas small businesses in advancing a product or service to commercialization; modifying a product or service to enter a new market; or gaining a new client by leveraging higher education facilities, equipment and expertise.
This grant programme partners smaller businesses with Kansas public higher education institutions, who will support the business through engagement and mutual benefit. Prospective grant recipients who work with a public higher education institution to conduct research and development can receive a 50/50 matching grant up to $25,000 for research and development cost at the public institution.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/kansas-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
> Amber Grant
Each month, the Amber Grant (a remarkable initiative of WomensNet), presents a promising opportunity for female entrepreneurs. This initiative empowers female entrepreneurs to pursue their business dreams by awarding a generous grant of $10,000 to a woman-owned business in a specific, rotating category.
In addition, the organization provides a second $10,000 monthly grant to another woman-owned business, as well as a quarterly $10,000 grant to one startup and one nonprofit.
At the end of the year, the programme honors outstanding accomplishments by giving an extra $25,000 to two of the twelve winners of the general grant and one recipient of the industry-specific grant.
How to apply? The application procedure is relatively simple: candidates must pay a $15 application fee, explain how they plan to use the grant and present their business vision. The foundation’s advisory board is in charge of choosing candidates; it looks for women who have a strong backstory and steadfast enthusiasm for their companies.
The Amber Grant is even more appealing because it is open to businesses in the United States and Canada. This grant program is an excellent option for businesses, especially startups, looking for financial support to launch or expand their entrepreneurial endeavors because it has no strict time-in-business requirements.
https://www.wishup.co/blog/grants-for-women-owned-businesses/
> Kansas City Women’s Business Center
Kansas City Women’s Business Center provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs, supporting women-owned businesses. The mission of the Women’s Business Center is – to develop, counsel and mentor women in all stages of business development and growth.
This is done through classes, seminars, peer roundtables, one-on-one consultation, networking and referrals. We also educate women entrepreneurs on sources of funding to include micro-loans and angel funding through the Women’s Capital Connection.
Although their offices are in Kansas, the Women’s Business Center team serves the entire metropolitan area of Kansas City and has been advising women-owned business on both sides of the state line for over 20 years. They provide counseling services to new and existing clients.
> Kansas GrantWatch
Here you can avail of – 96 Women Grants for Kansas. Grants for women entrepreneurs, seed money to individual women, college grants for women, small business grants for women, enterprise grants and grants for minority women.
GrantWatch is the premier grant listing directory in the USA. Their biggest points of difference include: equity pricing for all, providing plans for all budget types & they specialize in listing grants from foundations that aren’t publicly available.
GrantWatch is a recognized and trusted leader in the field of grant services, awarded the highest rating by TopConsumerReviews.
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