Series designed to help utilize resources; begins in February
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 30, 2013) — The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development is partnering with a number of local, state and federal organizations to host a series of free seminars designed to educate small business owners and entrepreneurs on resources available to help them start, grow and sustain their businesses.
The series, Kentucky: Here We Grow Business,will begin in February and run through June, stopping in all 15 of Kentucky’s Area Development Districts.
“These seminars provide a great opportunity for business owners to get their arms around the wealth of programs that can help grow their businesses, whether startups or existing operations,” said Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Larry Hayes. “The Cabinet and its partners are able to assist small businesses with everything from exporting, to accessing loans, tax credits and government procurement to almost everything in between.”
Numerous businesses already have taken advantage of programs such as the Kentucky Small Business Credit Initiative. The program, which is designed to help an approved lender make a loan to a small business that it normally may not have been able to lend to, has helped to fund over $200,000 million in loans by providing a little over $2 million in support. Every Kentucky county has at least three lenders who are participating in the program and many have more than five participating lenders servicing it.
Attendees also will learn how to access funding that can help them investigate and break into new foreign markets. Through the Kentucky Export Initiative, approved companies can receive STEP grant money to increase export activities. Small businesses can also obtain assistance with government procurement and applying for valuable tax credits. There are also programs available for innovative, technology-based businesses.
“We are extremely excited to begin the tour and help small business owners and entrepreneurs across the commonwealth,” said Mark Johnson, assistant director of the Cabinet’s Small Business Services Division. “About nine out of 10 businesses in Kentucky are small businesses, so this is something that can provide tremendous support to a large portion of our economy.”
Small businesses represent more than 96 percent of all employers and employ 48 percent of the private-sector workforce. By definition, small businesses have fewer than 500 employees, but more than 90 percent of the businesses in Kentucky have fewer than 50 employees.
The Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts, the Small Business Development Centers, Kentucky World Trade Center and the Kentucky Innovation Network are partnering with the Cabinet for the series, which begins with two seminars on Feb. 19. The seminars are free and registration is at the door. For more information call 1-800-626-2930.
Kentucky: Here We Grow Business Tour Stops:
Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency
Feb. 19: 9 a.m. – noon ET
11520 Commonwealth Drive, Louisville
Northern Kentucky Area Development District
Feb. 19: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET
22 Spiral Drive, Florence
Bluegrass Area Development District
Feb. 26: 9 a.m. – noon ET
699 Perimeter Drive, Lexington
Buffalo Trace Area Development District
March 21: 9 a.m. – noon ET
201 Government St., Suite 300, Maysville
FIVCO Area Development District
March 21: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
32 FIVCO Court, Grayson
Gateway Area Development District
April 18: 9 a.m. – noon ET
110 Lake Park Drive, Morehead
Kentucky River Area Development District
April 18: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET
917 Perry Park Road, Hazard
Cumberland Valley Area Development District
May 1: 9 a.m. – noon ET
342 Old Whitley Road, London
Lake Cumberland Area Development District
May 1: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CT
2384 Lakeway Drive, Russell Springs
Barren River Area Development District
May 7: 9 a.m. – noon CT
177 Graham Ave., Bowling Green
Lincoln Trail Area Development District
May 7: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET
613 College Street Road, Elizabethtown
Green River Area Development District
May 21: 9 a.m. – noon ET
300 GRADD Way, Owensboro
Big Sandy Area Development District
June 4: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET
110 Resource Court, Prestonsburg
Purchase Area Development District
June 18: 9 a.m. – noon CT
1002 Medical Drive, Mayfield
Pennyrile Area Development District
June 18: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT
300 Hammond Drive, Hopkinsville
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