Emporia State University is currently accepting applications for small business grants disbursed by the Kansas Department of Commerce for a program called “JumpStart Kansas Entrepreneurs.” Along with receiving the grant, awardees will be able to participate in the ESU JumpStart Incubator.
“If we’re not continuously identifying entrepreneurs that have great stories, and if we don’t participate in some form or fashion, then I think we will be far behind,” said Antonio Soave, Kansas secretary of commerce.
The JumpStart Kansas Entrepreneurs program plans to aid in beginning capital for small start-up businesses who display innovative ideas or concepts. With the help of the Kansas Department of Commerce, Emporia State University is able to disburse grants of up to $10,000. The JumpStart program wants to incentivize small business growth while developing an entrepreneurial spirit between state universities and the surrounding communities.
“We were so excited to hear that vision of being able to take and leverage the strengths of the universities with the private sectors using, really, government in an entrepreneurial way as a connector to develop entrepreneurship in Kansas,” said Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents.
Emporia State University is developing a small business incubator for the clients awarded the grants. This incubator will include physical space, if needed, but not required to be used, monthly round table meetings for awardees to discuss their progress, and any other help the company needs.
For more information about this opportunity, please contact James Sage at 620-341-5306 or email at jsage@g.emporia.edu. Applications can be found at www.emporia.edu/jumpstartkansas.