KCKCC to hold Small Business Conference

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Kansas Community College is serving as a co-sponsor for an upcoming conference designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Reaching Out to You: A Small Business Conference is 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center, 6565 State Ave. There will be a light breakfast as well as a full lunch, and admission is free. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The conference is designed to assist small business owners in connecting with local resources and networks to help start, grow their business and create jobs.

Attendees will hear from a panel of experts on “How to Access Capital.” In addition, a credit report room will be available for individuals to check credit scores (identification is required). Several breakout sessions will be offered throughout the day, and many financial institutions, resource partners and business organizations will be in the resource room.

Breakout sessions include:

• Financial Education and Credit Reporting – how to be bankable, credit worthiness and credit Report.
• Simple Steps to Starting a Business – getting started, the business plan and marketing.
• Veterans Outreach – obtaining veteran certification, entrepreneurial development services and benefits available to veterans.
• Government Contracting – SBA’s certifications and federal contracts.
• Finance Room – Representatives from local financial institutions will be on hand to discuss financial needs and lending opportunities.
• Credit Reporting Room – Attendees can check their credit report. Representatives will be on hand to help individuals understand the report and answer questions.
• Resource Tables – Talk one-on-one with a wide variety of resource organizations that can assist through the life cycle of the business operation. (Resource room available all day)

The U.S. Small Business Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Urban Financial Services Coalition and KCKCC are serving as hosts of the Reaching Out to You conference.

For more information or to register, contact Joell Dickerson at [email protected] by calling 816-614-1946, ext. 6284.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.