Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners Now Have Easy Access to Free Consulting
and Tools to Start and Grow a Small Business
TOPEKA, Kan.--(Business Wire)--
Today small business owners and entrepreneurs have easier access to the tools
they need to start and grow a business - especially in these tough economic
times. Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) has launched its
enhanced Web site at http://www.kansas.gov/ksbdc. The KSBDC partnered with
Kansas.gov to develop the new site, which is housed in the Kansas Business
Center, the state`s online "one-stop-shop" for businesses in Kansas
http://www.kansas.gov/businesscenter.
"This partnership will provide current and future KSBDC clients access to the
resources they need as entrepreneurs," said Wally Kearns, KSBDC state director.
"It is a collaborative effort that illustrates the commitment the state has to
economic development and providing online access to state resources."
The redesigned KSBDC site includes information about how to access one-on-one
business consulting at no charge from one of 12 regional or outreach centers
throughout Kansas. Online virtual business training in areas such Starting Your
Business, Managing Your Finances, and Foundations of Marketing is accessible
anytime at http://www.kansas.gov/ksbdc. The free online courses are also
available in Spanish. In addition, the new site includes business success
stories of Emerging and Existing Business of the Year in Kansas.
The KSBDC provided more than 12,000 hours of free one-to-one counseling to 2,000
clients in 2007. Approximately 4,650 individuals attended onsite workshops at
the eight regional and four outreach centers throughout Kansas. In 2007, the
KSBDC assisted clients in 263 new business ventures and helped generate
approximately 1,400 new jobs in Kansas.
About Kansas Small Business Development Center:
The KSBDC is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration,
the Kansas Department of Commerce, Allen County Community College, Cloud County
Community College, Coffeyville Community College, Emporia State University, Fort
Hays State University, Fort Scott Community College, Garden City Community
College, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Independence Community College,
Johnson County Community College, Labette Community College, Manhattan Area
Chamber of Commerce, Neosho County Community College, Pittsburg State
University, University of Kansas, Washburn University and Wichita State
University. The statewide host for the KSBDC is Fort Hays State University.
About Kansas.gov
Kansas.gov is the official Web site for the state of Kansas. The portal operates
through a public-private partnership between the Information Network of Kansas,
(INK) and the Kansas Information Consortium, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of
eGovernment firm NIC Inc. (NASDAQ:EGOV).
About NIC
NIC is the nation`s leading provider of official government portals, online
services, and secure payment processing solutions. The company`s innovative
eGovernment services help reduce costs and increase efficiencies for government
agencies, citizens, and businesses across the country. NIC provides eGovernment
solutions for 2,900 federal, state, and local agencies that serve more than 70
million people in the United States. Additional information is available at
http://www.nicusa.com.
Kansas Small Business
Development Center
Anne Woods, 785-296-6514
Asst. Dir. Marketing & Training
or
Kansas.gov
Lisa Counts, 1-800-4KANSAS
General Manager
Copyright Business Wire 2009
