We are very fortunate in the Kansas City metro area to have so many small business resources and publications dedicated to educating, celebrating and informing us about our small businesses.

We are thankful to this publication and former CEO Kelly Scanlon, who for 25 years built Thinking Bigger Business magazine from the fledgling Kansas City Small Business Monthly to its now-stable print publication as well as its online presence. We are additionally encouraged as the publication transitions to a capable next-generation editor and president, Katie Bean. Without Thinking Bigger, the U.S. Small Business Administration would be less known.

At whatever stage of small business ownership you find yourself, there are excellent partners, not only with the SBA, but connected to our bi-state governments, local and county governments, libraries, nonprofit agencies and media from which to find help.

While the SBA will advocate for you, work with you and empower you to confidently start, grow and strengthen your business and help position you to succeed with access to capital, valuable resources, business know-how and the right expertise for each state of your business lifecycle, we rely on publications like this one to let you know we are here.

We invite you to learn about all of the area’s great small businesses and resources available to you in Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as we celebrate our small businesses during National Small Business Week 2018, April 29-May 5.

All of these connections, and this publication, give Kansas City area entrepreneurs a true edge—the relationships we need to help our businesses, our communities and each other succeed.

 – Tom Salisbury // SBA Region 7 Administrator