Interested in starting or improving your business?

Regardless of the size, entrepreneurs and small businesses are key to a vibrant future for rural Kentucky.Whether you are self-employed, starting a new business, or want to grow your current business, resources are available to assist you at each stage of your growth.

Entrepreneurs’ Resource Centers are available throughout south-central Kentucky* as an outreach of the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute.  The goal is to assist citizens in accessing the local, state, and national resources available to help you start and sustain healthy businesses.

KECI continues to identify and gather the most relevant, comprehensive, and easy-to-use sources of information to help entrepreneurs save time and money!  This webpage is one tool available to you as part of your local Entrepreneur’s Resource Center (ERC).  The physical ERC in Washington County is located at the following address:

Washington County Public Library
210 E. Main Street, Springfield, KY 40069
Phone: 859-336-7655
Email: jwandrey at washingtonkylibrary dot org

At this ERC, you will find printed materials including reference books and resources, local regulations, and related license and registration applications.

The list of resources you will find below is by no means exhaustive, but rather includes those we have found to be the most relevant, comprehensive, and easy-to-use sources of information for new entrepreneurs.

*ERC locations at this time include: Adair County, Barren County, Green County, Hart County, Marion County, Metcalfe County, & Washington County.

What is KECI?

Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute (KECI) combines leadership development with entrepreneurial coaching and advocacy. Funded by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, this unique educational initiative trains volunteer leaders from formerly tobacco dependent counties throughout the commonwealth to coach individual entrepreneurs and work with others to stimulate entrepreneurial friendly communities. For more information about the Institute check out the KECI website by clicking here:  KECI .

Entrepreneurs may not be able to do everything needed to start or expand a business themselves. Just as athletes depend on a coach to help them reach new horizons, an entrepreneurial coach can help you to think and act more creatively for success.  The bottom line: a coach can help you save time and money.  It should also be noted that coaches have worked with communities to help them move forward as shared entrepreneurial ventures.

Entrepreneurial coaches are well-trained volunteer leaders who have been selected in a competitive process and receive significant training and practical experience.  Coaches come from diverse backgrounds including agribusiness, industry, professional services, community and economic development and education.  Click here to find a coach near you: Find A Coach.

What resources are available in Washington County?

Springfield/Washington County Economic Development Authority

Contact Hal Goode at hal at sweda dot org and see www.sweda.org

South Central Kentucky: www.southcentralky.com

Through this site you can research our 10-county region along the Interstate 65 corridor in Kentucky. Our economic development site contains demographics, economic data, workforce information and a state of the art geographic information system which allows detailed analysis of available sites and buildings and other data about this region.

KENTUCKY RESOURCES

Kentucky is working hard to provide entrepreneurs will the resources they need to get started. Below are several resources available to businesses in Kentucky including information, forms, research, grant funding, and even one-on-one assistance. Most of these resources are available at little to no cost to you.

Kentucky Small Business Development Center

http://www.kybizinfo.com

Connect to Kentucky’s small business experts through kybizinfo.com. More than 100 programs and professionals throughout the state of Kentucky stand ready to help you start or grow your small business.  You can access them all from this site. Find assistance with the following issues: Business Planning; Training; Financing; Marketing; Patents; Human Resources; Procurement and more.

Market Maker: Market Maker

An interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Kentucky, providing an important link between producers and consumers.

The MarketMaker:Kentucky project is made possible by a unique partnership among the following public and private entities that have joined forces to promote and enhance Kentucky’s local food economy by linking farmers to consumers:

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture Kentucky Proud Program: Kentucky Proud

Kentucky Proud is a trademarked initiative developed by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to aid Kentuckians in establishing or expanding their market place. The program is funded by monies set aside by the Kentucky legislature from Kentucky’s portion of the Master Tobacco Settlement.Considerable time, effort and financial resources are invested each year to further promote the Kentucky Proud brand. Food producers and retailers can be “Kentucky Proud”.

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service:UK Cooperative Extension Service

Based in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, the UK Cooperative Extension Service reaches millions of Kentucky residents each year with educational programs in agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H and youth development, and community and economic development. They serve as the local “front door” to the campus of the University of Kentucky through local agents working in each of the Commonwealth’s 120 county Cooperative Extension offices.

The Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy:Governor’s Office.

The Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP) provides a direct link between the Governor and one of the state’s most important industries. The office administers the Governor’s Commission on Family Farms, the Kentucky Agricultural Resource Development Authority (KARDA), the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (Phase I), the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Trust Corporation (Phase II), and the Kentucky Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund. Additionally, this office represents Kentucky’s interests as national agricultural policy is developed.

Kentucky is one of only two states to set aside money and assist its farming community in expanding and/or creating new sustainable agricultural opportunities. The Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy is dedicated to doing all it can to develop and implement agricultural development policies that result in a brighter future for our Commonwealth.

Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation

Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the capacity of people, companies and organizations to develop and apply science and technology and compete responsibly in the global marketplace.

Kentucky Enterprise Fund

The goal of the Kentucky Enterprise Fund is to stimulate private investment in Kentucky-based technology companies.

Rural Innovation Fund

The goal of the Rural Innovation Fund is to assist rural companies with the development and commercialization of technology with the ultimate goal of developing new or value-added companies, jobs, technology, or products. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ability to develop and lead a commercially successful venture. Companies seeking capital go through a rigorous due diligence process and are judged in terms of industry fit, return on investment, and potential for economic development.

Innovation and Commercialization Center Network (ICC):  A statewide network of six (6) regional urban offices and six (6) rural offices throughout the Commonwealth focused on helping Kentucky entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers perfect their business strategies to build successful high-tech businesses.  The ICC is funded through the Kentucky Department of Innovation and Commercialization (DCI) for the Knowledge-Based Economy, a Department within the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

Think Kentucky:http://thinkkentucky.com/BIC

Starting a business (or buying an existing business) requires an understanding of local, state and federal requirements to legally operate the business. The required permits, licenses and registrations can vary depending on the type of business, how the business is structured, where the business is located, etc.

Use this link to find, in general, the steps that most businesses need to consider when starting and operating a business in Kentucky.

Business Guide: Think Kentucky Business Guide

Kentucky Entrepreneurial Accelerator Network:www.kyean.org/

A partnership of The Center for Rural Development, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, and the University of Kentucky.The Kentucky Entrepreneurial Accelerator Network (KEAN) is an Internet portal providing access to Kentucky’s rich wealth of entrepreneurial resources and technical assistance through the KEAN website.

Click here for the KyEAN Document Library:http://www.kyean.org/relaunch/doclib/index.php

Kentucky Small Business Development Center http://www.ksbdc.org/

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center has been assisting the Commonwealth’s small business community for more than 25 years. With 15 service centers statewide and an experienced and knowledgeable staff, KSBDC provides unparalleled consulting and training services that help existing business owners and potential entrepreneurs succeed. Our services include: one-on-one management consultations, training workshops, market research, loan packaging help, assistance with financial projections and information needed to make informed business decisions.

New Businesses

Starting a new venture or purchasing an existing business is an enormous decision considering the professional and personal risks involved. However, with proper research, careful planning, relentless dedication and a burning passion for the business success can be achieved.

KSBDC is ready to help you succeed in your new venture.  Our training workshops and one-on-one management consultations will provide the tools, knowledge and guidance necessary to start you business. By working with the KSBDC you will receive many benefits, including:

Gaining access to experts on funding sources and options

Decreasing risk due to extensive research and analysis

Saving time collecting and compiling resources

Business Planning: http://www.ksbdc.org/new-businesses/business-planning/

Workforce Kentucky: http://www.workforcekentucky.ky.gov/

This is the Workforce Kentucky web site delivered by the Office of Employment and Training (OET). The site is designed to serve employers, job seekers, students, counselors, educators and training providers. It is the largest source of labor market data in the Commonwealth. Users can explore occupations, labor markets, geographic areas, industry projections, and much more. For more information, please take the tour.

Kentucky State Data Center http://ksdc.louisville.edu/

This site provides statistics, maps, presentations, and publications about data related to Kentucky employment, education, housing, economy/business, and income/poverty.

Kentucky SOS Trademarks and Service Marks Database: http://apps.sos.ky.gov/business/trademarks/

This is a part of the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website. It can be used to select search criteria and enter keywords that can identify and find a registered mark. It is important to understand the limitations of the database.

What federally-funded resources are available to me?

The following are national organizations and governmental programs which provide helpful information and assistance to entrepreneurs.

SCORE:

SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Click here to download templates and get SCORE advice. To download, click on the link and choose “Save this file to disk”. Save the templates to a desired folder on your hard drive.http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html

Center for Rural Entrepreneurship: http://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/

Welcome to the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. Our mission is to help leaders and citizens in rural communities and regions across the U.S. embrace entrepreneurship as a core rural economic development strategy. To learn more about the tools, success stories, research and other information we have developed, please click Enter.

The Appalachian Regional Commission: http://www.arc.gov/index.jsp

The Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.

The Kauffman Foundation: http://www.kauffman.org/

The Kauffman Foundation is often referred to as one of the largest foundations in the United States—or as the world’s largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis: http://bea.doc.gov/

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner. BEA is an agency of the Department of Commerce. Along with the Census Bureau and STAT-USA, BEA is part of the Department’s Economics and Statistics Administration.

BEA produces economic accounts statistics that enable government and business decision-makers, researchers, and the American public to follow and understand the performance of the Nation’s economy. To do this, BEA collects source data, conducts research and analysis, develops and implements estimation methodologies, and disseminates statistics to the public.

BEA is one of the world’s leading statistical agencies. Although it is a relatively small agency, BEA produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence the decisions made by government officials, business people, households, and individuals. BEA’s economic statistics, which provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy, are key ingredients in critical decisions affecting monetary policy, tax and budget projections, and business investment plans. The cornerstone of BEA’s statistics is the national income and product accounts (NIPAs), which feature the estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) and related measures.

Small Business Resource Guide: www.sbrg.irs.gov

In order to provide the most timely and up-to-date tax information, The Small Business Resource Guide (SBRG), formally a CD-ROM, is now available exclusively online.

Designed to equip small business owners with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully start and manage a business.  The SBRG 2009 Website offers a wide range of tax topics, Web links to business forms, publications, other useful governmental Web sites, and much more.

Small Business Video and Audio Presentations: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97726,00.html

As a part of the Internal Revenue Service website, these short presentations are dedicated to helping your small business. In addition to these video and audio presentations, please visit the Small Business Tax Workshop Video page for instructional lessons. To view the videos, please download the Flash Player if you don’t already have it.

Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center: www.irs.gov/businesses/small/selfemployed

Small business and the self-employed will also find information and resources in this Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center.

Don’t forget to also read the articles on this page, as they highlight items of interest to rural entrepreneurs.

210 E. Main Street, Springfield, KY 40069
Phone:859-336-7655    Fax: 859-336-0256
Email: washingtoncopl at bellsouth dot net