K-State 105 project Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference selects locations for 2025, 2026
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024
Partners involved in a collaborative K-State 105 project have selected Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference locations: Kingman in Kingman County, pictured, will be the host site in June 2025 and Courtland in Republic County will be the host site in June 2026. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN, ANDOVER AND TOPEKA — Partners involved in a collaborative K-State 105 project have selected locations for the inaugural Kansas Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference: Kingman in Kingman County will be the host site in June 2025 and Courtland in Republic County will be the host site in June 2026.
The Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference promotes small communities and highlights people, businesses and best practices for creating an entrepreneurial mindset. All Kansans are invited to attend the two-day conferences in the host communities.
The conference has received funding and support from K-State 105, the university’s economic growth and community engagement initiative for all 105 counties in Kansas. Partners involved include K-State Research and Extension; NetWork Kansas; the Kansas Department of Commerce Quality Places Division, including the Office of Rural Prosperity and Kansas Main Street; and Thrive Kansas.
"While K-State Research and Extension was developing the idea for the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference, we knew we couldn't do it alone," said Nancy Daniels, community vitality specialist with K-State Research and Extension. "By working together with K-State 105 partners across the state, our resources and knowledge expanded exponentially. We're looking forward to bringing this new event to Kansas."
More than 25 Kansas communities applied to be host sites for the 2025 and 2026 conferences. A requirement was that the host site must be a small city with a population of less than 10,000 people.
Through the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference, the partners are aiming to expand equitable entrepreneurial capacity by sharing knowledge, tools and resources with Kansans.
"Kansas is home to incredible places and people, and it's those very people and communities that make great entrepreneurs," said Sarah LaRosh, director of E-Community Partnership with NetWork Kansas. "Unfortunately, challenges like economies of scale, negative perceptions or lack of community support can hold them back. My vision for Kansas is that no individual or community feels overlooked or less than. Dreams can flourish, communities can prosper and entrepreneurs can thrive even in our small, rural towns."
Courtland in Republic County will be the host site for the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference in June 2026. | Photo courtesy Jenny Russell, Courtland.
2025 will mark the first time that a conference like this has been hosted in Kansas. The Kansas Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference replicates a national Extension model where 100-150 local entrepreneurs, community leaders, entrepreneur support organizations and state partners come together to share best practices, entrepreneur stories and regional planning.
"The Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference gives us a unique opportunity to highlight the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit found in small towns across Kansas," saidMatt Godinez, Kansas Department of Commerce assistant secretary of quality places. "By bringing together innovators, leaders and business owners, we can create a stronger foundation for local growth and empower communities to shape their own futures."
The Kansas conference will offer opportunities to spotlight communities, share energy and connect resources. Conference participants will stroll to workshops in downtown areas and community entrepreneurs will be highlighted as conference presenters. Experts from across the state will share best practices to help entrepreneurial communities.
More information about the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference, including dates and registration, will be released in the coming months. Learn more about the conference at k-state.edu/105/projects/connecting-entrepreneurial-communities-conference.html.
About K-State 105:
K-State 105 is Kansas State University's answer to the call for a comprehensive economic growth and advancement solution for Kansas. The initiative leverages the statewide K-State Research and Extension network to deliver the full breadth of the university's collective knowledge and solution-driven innovation to every Kansan, right where they live and work. Additionally, K-State 105 forges the connections and partnerships that create access to additional expertise within other state institutions and agencies, nonprofits and organizations — all part of an effort to build additional capacities and strengths in each of the 105 counties in the state.
About NetWork Kansas:
NetWork Kansas was established as a component of the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 to further entrepreneurship and small business growth as a priority for economic and community development in the state of Kansas. Backed by more than 500 partners statewide, the NetWork Kansas service promotes an entrepreneurial environment by connecting entrepreneurs and small business owners with the expertise, education and economic resources they need in order to succeed.
NetWork Kansas facilitates the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem within participating communities through the Entrepreneurship (E)-Community Partnership. Contributing factors to successful development include availability of financial capital, support by local leadership and development of educational resources. All of these factors combine to increase entrepreneurial activity in participating towns, leading to increased startup activity, business expansion, job creation and more.
For more information about the E-Community Partnership, visit ecommpartnership.com or call 877-521-8600.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. These strong partnerships allow Commerce to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce's project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine's prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor's Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
