Network assists business owners
Staff reporter
Attention, local entrepreneurs: Help is close at hand.
NetWork Kansas, a part of the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, is devoted to the growth of entrepreneurship and small businesses throughout the state.
Its mission is to promote an entrepreneurial environment by establishing a central portal that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with the right resources.
"The center was created as part of an attempt to foster an environment of entrepreneurship," Eric Pedersen, operations manager said.
Pedersen was the guest speaker Friday at the monthly luncheon of Marion Chamber of Commerce.
Pedersen said he was a former business owner and shared his own experiences of opening and operating businesses.
"I learned from my mistakes," he said. He moved on and became involved with the state's program of assisting businesses and those wanting to start a business.
"Every entrepreneur has an idea and every business owner has a challenge," Pedersen said.
Through this program, business people are connected with the right resources — expertise, education, and economic resources.
Expertise
More than 280 organizations are involved with NetWork Kansas which created an infrastructure network.
When a business owner or entrepreneur calls the network, a staff of counselors are available at the center to assist. All are full-time Wichita State University students, majoring in business-related fields.
The students interact by telephone or e-mail with those requesting information.
The student counselor requests information about the location of the business or individual wanting to start a business, type of business, business plan, funding, and challenges. The counselor then researches information, contacts government and economic development entities, then steps out of the way and lets local entities do their jobs, Pedersen said.
Pedersen used an example of a small community that was losing its grocery store. The owner of a gas station decided to expand her business to include some grocery items.
NetWork Kansas served as a conduit, Pedersen said, in matching up resources with the community and the business owner.
Education
Statewide educational classes and seminars are promoted, Pedersen said.
Chartered by legislature, an inventory of all entrepreneurial teaching was conducted. Public and private schools were included.
The purpose, Pedersen said, was to introduce entrepreneurship to children.
"We had to do an inventory to know what already existed," Pedersen said, in order to know what to teach.
Economic resources
When the program began, $450,000 was made available to be awarded to rural businesses through grants and loans.
Funds are being made available to those entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain conventional loans.
Thus far, there have been two rounds that have awarded four loans and one grant.
Pedersen used as an example the owners of a newspaper in Washington County who wanted to sell the newspaper.
"Their collateral didn't justify funding," Pedersen said, but through this program, funding was made available and the deal was made.
"This wouldn't have happened without NetWork Kansas," he said.
Two million dollars worth of tax credits at 75 percent also are available.
The organization recently became qualified as a non-profit organization, a 501(c)3, and now can provide tax credits for donations.
If an individual or business donates $10,000, the donor will receive $7,500 in tax credits on their state income tax.
Resource partners are being sought, Pedersen said, which are from the public sector.
For more information, go to www.networkkansas.com.
