NetWork Kansas recently announced that Marion was among seven additional Kansas communities chosen to participate in its innovative Entrepreneurship Community (E-Community) partnership.
First introduced in September 2007, communities were granted $775,000 in tax credits, enabling them to raise more than $1 million in seed funding for entrepreneurs. Other communities and counties chosen include Augusta, Bird City, Chase County, Kiowa County, Linn County, and Woodson County.
“Being selected as an E-Community is particularly important in these economic times, which allows us to encourage grass roots business opportunities,” said Doug Kjellin, City of Marion Economic Development Director. “A partnership with NetWork Kansas is an excellent avenue to help us grow and improve our economy by encouraging entrepreneurship throughout Marion. We are excited to participate.”
Each E-Community benefits from an injection of capital raised locally through the NetWork Kansas Entrepreneurship Tax Credit Program to help start and grow businesses. The first six E-Community partners were granted more than $1 million in tax credits in 2007, which they used to raise $1.6 million in funding.
E-Community partners will achieve these results:
- Through a tax credit grant, communities establish a fund for entrepreneurs and small business owners that is administered at the local level.
- Each community identifies local, regional, and state assets available to assist entrepreneurs and businesses.
- Each community establishes a long-term tracking and accountability system to measure business and economic growth.
- A long-term partnership with 448 NetWork Kansas resource partners statewide provides assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
For more information, contact Kjellin at (620) 382-3703 or e-mail at doug@marionks.net.
NetWork Kansas can be reached by visiting www.networkkansas.com or (877) 521-8600.