The International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City (ITCGKC) is a membership-driven 501(c)(3) organization that networks Kansas City area professionals in the international business and academic communities, delivers timely international trade education, and bridges access to relevant resources. ITCGKC’s signature programs include the Global Research Initiative, where members guide graduate student teams through focused global business research for an area firm; and the TradeWins international trade simulation for students or young professionals preparing for a global business career.
Address
4747 Troost, Ste. 119E, Kansas City, MO 64110
Contact
Pam Dobies
Website: www.itcgkc.org
Email: office@itcgkc.org
Phone: (816) 235-6654
HEDC offers one-on-one consultation services for current and aspiring entrepreneurs with a focus on providing education and information. With offices in Jackson County, Mo., and Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas, HEDC is conveniently located for clients throughout the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
The organization provides loans and microfinancing options to small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities, that don’t qualify for traditional bank financing. The loans can range in size from $500 to $50,000, but most tend to be for $8,000 on average. The money can be used for inventory, working capital, equipment or real estate.
HEDC team members are bilingual and entrepreneurs with many years of combined education and practical experience, allowing the organization to provide quality services that clients have come to expect for the past 20 years. While the target market is the Hispanic community, HEDC services are available to any and all interested in the business development services.
Address
2130 Jefferson St., Kansas City, MO 64108
Contact
Pedro Zamora
Website: www.kchedc.org
Email: pzamora@kchedc.org
Phone: (816) 221-3442
Blue Valley CAPS is a program for juniors and seniors in the Blue Valley School District. Students work on projects in bioscience, business, engineering and human services, helping them develop the skills required by the 21st century workplace. Blue Valley CAPS students regularly collaborate with small and large businesses on real-world problems.
Address
7501 W. 149th Terrace, Overland Park, KS 66223
Contact
Corey Mohn
Website: www.bvcaps.yourcapsnetwork.org
Email: cmohn@bluevalleyk12.org
Phone: (913) 239-5900
The Center for Entrepreneurship in the Craig School of Business furnishes counseling assistance free of charge to small business owners. Assistance is available for all stages of entrepreneurship, including starting a business, operating a business and growing a business. The center staff will provide one-on-one business coaching and connect clients to additional resources and programs.
Address
4525 Downs Drive, Popplewell Hall, Room 203, St. Joseph, MO 64507
Contact
Annette Weeks
Website: csb-cfe.missouriwestern.edu
Email: aweeks@missouriwestern.edu
Phone: (816) 271-4283
Kansas City District Office
1000 Walnut St., Ste. 500
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: (816) 426-4900
Website: www.sba.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SBAgov
Twitter: @SBAgov
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) mission is to help people get started in business and to stay in business. Through a variety of financial, technical and management assistance programs, the SBA offers new and experienced entrepreneurs access to resources to help them start and expand their small businesses. The Kansas City District serves the eastern third of Kansas and the western half of Missouri.
See individual listings in this guide for particular programs affiliated with the SBA, such as the Small Business Development Centers, SCORE and Women’s Business Centers. In addition, the SBA offers the following programs.
Business Resource Center
4747 Troost, Ste. 128
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone: (816) 235-6675
Email: chapter.0019@scorevolunteer.org
Website: www.scorekc.org
The Business Resource Center has an extensive small business reference library of books and publications to help entrepreneurs plan their business, expand an existing business or venture into new business areas. Computers and software are available for client use. All services and resources are provided at no cost.
Economic Development Division
Neida Heusinkvelt
1000 Walnut St., Ste. 500
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: (816) 426-4906
Email: neida.heusinkvelt@sba.gov
The agency’s finance programs enhance the ability of lenders to provide long- and short-term loans to small businesses that might not qualify through normal lending channels.
There are four basic types of SBA lending and equity investment programs available: the 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program, the 7(m) Microloan Program, the 504 Certified Development Company Loan Program and the Small Business Investment Company Program.
Government Contracting Program
David Turner
1500 Bannister Road
Kansas City, MO 64131
Phone: (816) 823-1722
Email: david.turner@sba.gov
The SBA negotiates small business goals with each federal agency to ensure that the government-wide small business goal of 23 percent, required by the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997, is met. The SBA monitors the agencies’ progress toward achievement of the goal.
To increase opportunities for small businesses in the federal acquisition process, the SBA negotiates goals for small business set-asides, identifies new small business sources and counsels small companies on how to do business with the federal government.
HUBZone Program
Rhonda Hardin
1000 Walnut St., Ste. 500
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: (816) 426-4911
Email: rhonda.hardin@sba.gov
This program encourages economic development in historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones) through the establishment of federal contract award preferences for qualified small businesses located in such areas. To qualify for the HUBZone Program, a small business generally must be located in a HUBZone, be owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens, and have at least 35 percent of its employees residing in a HUBZone.
Central Exchange (CX) provides a venue and voice for women seeking to reach their full personal and professional potential. With more than 1,000 members, CX represents a cross-section of women and men from throughout the Kansas City area. The organization hosts hundreds of programs on leadership, professional and personal development each year.
Address
1020 Central, Kansas City, MO 64105
BioKansas (formerly known as KansasBio) serves as the voice of the bioscience community in Kansas, connecting, educating and advocating to grow bioscience jobs in human, animal and plant science technologies across the state. BioKansas is a member- and donor-funded 501(c)(3) public charity. BioKansas programs include monthly bioBreak networking events that are open to people who are involved with and interested in the biosciences, health care and medical devices. BioKansas runs awards programs for students in high school through post-doc studies, including the BioGENEius Challenge.
Address
4220 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 350-B, Fairway, KS 66205
