See How These UBGI Scholarships Can Help You Start, Grow Your KC Business

Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or have one you’re ready to grow, the Urban Business Growth Initiative is ready to help with a suite of high-impact classes for high-impact entrepreneurs who live or work in Kansas City, Missouri—and all at low-impact dollars.

So, what kind of impact are we talking about?

In the past six years, thanks to the huge support of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, the UBGI program has helped entrepreneurs in Kansas City’s urban core start 75 businesses, create 455 jobs and increase sales by $55 million. Not to mention, the 500 total scholarships to-date (we’re talking at least an 80% discount, worth hundreds of dollars) that have helped KC entrepreneurs (like YOU) reach the next level, which means more money in your pocket to help you fund your hustle and create your own path.

See the numbers yourself in the 2019 UBGI annual report.

The bottom line: The program will equip you with the mindset, knowledge and skills to scale that passion, improve what you do as a small business owner to unlock your business’s potential and take the next step with confidence.

That huge 80% discount aside, just think about this opportunity: actual time to work ON your business and not just IN it. Plus, you’ll get help from coaches, peer business owners, seasoned entrepreneurs, who can help you think through your plan and map out your steps toward success. And you can do that with people—expert business coaches and peer business owners who are in the trenches with you—who all understand your challenges (because they’ve been there) and can help you clear those hurdles to help you vet your business idea and prime your venture for the next step.

These courses will expand your business knowledge, grow your network and help you make all the right moves as you learn with other aspiring and ambitious entrepreneurs in Kansas City, Missouri.

So what’s stopping you from signing up for a class? Or applying for a scholarship? These classes will start before you know it.

Bonus: Save Hundreds of Dollars and Learn How to Launch Your Business

The courses are open to anyone in the Kansas City bistate metro, but if you reside or operate your business in Kansas City, Missouri, you’re eligible to save hundreds of dollars on these classes when you apply for an Urban Business Growth Initiative scholarship.

(See a list of UBGI-qualifying courses at the bottom of the post.)

And not only will you save on the class, you’ll also save on the time, money, sweat, tears and frustration you would’ve spent trying to figure how to start and scale a business on your own … because #teamwork.

Ready? Apply now.

Upcoming Classes with Available UBGI Scholarships

This fall, UBGI will help more KCMO small-business owners, contractors and construction business owners develop their entrepreneurial mindset, plan and solidify their businesses’ financials and prepare for strategic growth with scholarships to selected programs.

Click on the class title to apply. Scholarships go fast. Don’t wait to apply:

Social Media Road Map for Business

Sept. 1 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Want to learn how to craft a social media strategy for your company? This is the course. Get examples and ideas, understand what really matters for your biz, find out what to do about ugly comments and bad news and learn a whole lot more. You’ll leave with a clear action plan you can use.

Normal cost: $199

$0 after UBGI scholarship

Reading and Understanding Financial Statements: It’s All about the Benjamins!

Sept. 8 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Financial statements may be complicated, but they’re also the core of any successful business. Experts will guide you through every tricky bit.

Normal cost: $149

$0 after UBGI scholarship

Entrepreneurial Mindset Training

Sept. 16 – Nov. 11 on Wednesdays from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Have a business idea but don’t know where to start? Do you want to learn how to be an entrepreneur? Get that vital foundation (and some inspiration) during this nine-session course.

Normal cost: $649

$75 after UBGI scholarship

ELEVATIONLAB™ TECH VENTURE

Sept. 17 – Nov. 12 on Thursdays from 3 – 6 p.m.

If you’re in a tech or science-based field, this nine-session course (designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs) will give you a proven framework and connections to help grow your great idea into the next viable innovation.

Normal cost: $649

$75 after UBGI scholarship

GROWTH360

Sept. 18 – Nov. 20 on Fridays from 9 a.m. – noon

You asked for it, and the Missouri Small Business Development Center at UMKC created it. Growth360 is the newest ELEVATIONLAB offering for the KC entrepreneurial ecosystem and was created to fill that gap between starting a business and scaling it. Get a 360-degree perspective and avoid blind spots and make smarter business decisions.

Requirements: To be selected for Growth360 cohort, business owners must be in business for more than two years, have more than $50,000 in revenue for the prior year and work on the business full-time.

Cost: No cost for business owners who qualify for the class and are selected

ELEVATIONLAB™ NEW VENTURE

10/6 – 11/2 on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

If you want to own your own business, this program will help you see if your idea will work and help you make the tweaks to ensure your business will be a success. You’ll hear guest speakers and entrepreneurs who understand what it’s like to start and run a business, and you’ll get access to coaching that’ll help inspire you and solidify your idea. Plus, this course is geared toward those who want an accelerated program in just five sessions.

Normal cost: $649

$75 after UBGI scholarship

This is close to what I need but not quite. What else do you have for entrepreneurs?

Glad you asked. KCSourceLink is the go-to for KC entrepreneurship. We can plug you into the right course, mentor, organization or group for your small business, startup, passion project, side hustle or idea-in-the-making.

Just give us a call at 816-235-6500 or fill out your request over here at www.kcsourcelink.com/myplan. We’ll develop your very own personal action plan to help connect with resources and opportunities so you can hit that next milestone.