Kansas Economic Kansas Economic Gardening Gardening NetWorkNetWork

NetWork Kansas in NetWork Kansas in BriefBrief• Quasi-Government

• Centralize resources for small businesses

• Gap funding programs

• Entrepreneurship Communities (E-Communities)

• Economic Gardening

BackgroundBackground• Rural Opportunity Conference

• Developed Rural Partner Focus & Research Group

• USDA Grant to launch Economic Gardening Pilot Program

• Partnerships would be key to success

PartnershipsPartnerships• Partner with National Center for Economic Gardening &

Edward Lowe Foundation

• Resource Partners• Existing network• Use communities to identify potential candidates• Increases rural reach

E-CommunitiesE-Communities• Focus on Community Engagement and Empowerment• Town, cluster of towns, or entire county

o Often starts with local ED Director

• Competitive Process• Access to Resources• Requirements

o Create local leadership teamo Create financial review boardo Partner with administrative support organizationo Establish local loan fund (NetWork KS-owned) via E-ship Tax Credits

E-CommunitiesE-Communities• Local loan fund• Low-level engagements

o Lenders’ roundtables, business resource fairs

• Deeper Engagementso Discussion about priority areas, engage resource partners, business

inventory, economic assessment

• Board Certified Programso Ice House (Entrepreneurial Mindset)o Growing Rural Businesso Youth Entrepreneurship Challengeo Destination Boot Camp (existing businesses)o Economic Gardening (2nd Stage businesses)

Economic GardeningEconomic GardeningPilot ProgramPilot ProgramLaunched in 2011 with 29 RURAL Businesses

So, how did it go…?

AWESOMEAWESOME

+ $33.9 million +141 Jobs

2010 to 201322 of 29 Businesses

Pilot DataPilot Data2010 to 20132010 to 2013

3 Year GrowthAverage Annual Growth

REVENUEREVENUE JOBSJOBS

U.S. U.S..KS KSKS EG Businesses

KS EG Businesses

Source: www.youreconomy.org

Kansas Economic Gardening Kansas Economic Gardening ProgramProgram

55Businesses

Secon

d-Stage

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned• Some of the pilot projects did not fit the profile

• Ex: Struggling, too many employees, commodity based, etc

• Know second-stage businesses are job growers

• Key piece for rural and metro strategy to grow businesses• Board Certified Program• E-Communities

Why do I love Economic Why do I love Economic Gardening?Gardening?• The data doesn’t lie

• Deepens business’s connection with community

• Learn about amazing products in small rural towns• Reliance Label Solutions & Honey Bees

“We grew by 30% in revenue in 2014 over 2013…up by 42% YTD

compared to last Jan-April” – Laura Schmidt, Notes to Self

“The research team made me realize the potential of my business…This wouldn’t have happened if not for

them.” – Mary Kueny, The Porch Swing

“Being able to have access to market research to really fine tune who you are, where your

niche is, and really accelerate your growth is so beneficial. I’d absolutely recommend it.” – Mike

Bosch, CEO Reflective Group

Imagene Harrisiharris@networkkansas.com

(785)296-0383@imajayhawk

Facebook: /networkkansas

Twitter: @networkkansas

LinkedIn: NetWork Kansas

www.networkkansas.com