Center Offers Great Resources
For Small Business Growth

An excellent resource for area small business owners and entrepreneurs is sometimes overlooked: The Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UMKC.

Although a university may not be the first place that business owners think of for assistance, the Center offers an impressive range of services for growing and developing organizations. It is also part of a nationwide network of similar organizations, offering connections give us unique access to the information and resources you need to take your business to the next level.

For one thing, the center’s team includes current and former business owners, executives and coaches who serve as partners in shaping the future of your business. They bring real expertise in consulting, management, finance, marketing, technology ventures, international trade, retail, accounting, strategic planning and more.

Best of all, SBDC services are often free or low cost. In partnership with generous sponsors, the center offers scholarships and grants for a number of areas. Scholarships are allotted on a first come, first serve basis. More information is available by emailing elevationlab@umkc.edu.

Two financial programs are good examples: the Economic Crisis Scholarship for classes and the Phase 0 Grants. The scholarship grant applications are at this link and the grant applications are at this link.

The most notable aspect of the center may be its sheer variety of programs. Classes on everything from “pitching to investors” to “the first steps to starting a business” are available. The “ElevationLab” SPARK classes focus on areas such as writing a business plan or reading and understanding a financial statement. The center even offers extensive coaching services at no-cost coaching to entrepreneurs and small business owners who need assistance launching or growing their small business.

Learn more about these and other center programs at this link.