New K-State program empowers small business success
Your morning coffee shop, your beloved boutique, your trusted mechanic — small businesses, especially in Kansas, keep communities running. In fact, 99.1% of businesses in the Sunflower State are mom-and-pop shops, making their success crucial to the state’s economy.
To empower entrepreneurial growth across Kansas, K-State has developed the K-State 105 program, connecting local entrepreneurs with university resources, expertise and support.
The inaugural cohort of the K-State 105 Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative — composed of 11 statewide projects that range from a graphic design studio in Wetmore to a commercial kitchen in Wellington — was selected after a rigorous application process.
“In a way, we’re co-creating blueprints that can guide future work for economic growth in Kansas,” said Jessica Gnad, K-State 105 director. “The program is an example of a next-generation land-grant university in action.”
The funding, generated through collaborations with Network Kansas, K-State Research and Extension, higher education institutions and various community partners, leverages untapped resources for statewide development.
“For nearly 20 years, we’ve had the privilege of seeing how innovative Kansas communities can be,” said Erik Pedersen, president and chief operating officer of Network Kansas. “The applicants in the Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative have raised the bar, proving once again that Kansas is a leader in creativity and forward thinking.”
Learn more about the community-based projects selected for the cohort.
Written By: Abbigail Marshall
