Blog Category

Entrepreneurs

Conservation Help for Your Farm: Apply Now!

Conservation Help for Your Farm: Apply Now!

December 1, 2022
Applications are open now for a free year of mentorship in Climate Smart farm conservation practices. Participants will receive 25 hours of one-one-one assistance from a team of experienced farmers who offer a broad spectrum of expertise.
Fresh thinking for women in business

Fresh thinking for women in business

July 26, 2022
The New Growth Women’s Business Center is pleased to offer an opportunity for six rural women entrepreneurs to join a peer-to-peer support group and work one-on-one with women’s leadership coach Dina Readinger.
Rural Café jumpstarts hometown with sales and love

Rural Café jumpstarts hometown with sales and love

June 30, 2022
Locally owned and rooted businesses will feature greatly in the revival of rural Missouri as a place where people and businesses want to be. That’s who the New Growth community development corporation is working to support with rural small business development and flexible micro-financing programs.
Region talks small business

Region talks small business

December 2, 2021
In one year the regional START HERE network has helped 14 new businesses start and launched a range of resources to help rural economies and communities grow. Its “5th Monday” luncheon in Warsaw brought partners together to explore this regional collaboration.
Back the New Growth Women’s Business Center

Back the New Growth Women’s Business Center

November 24, 2021
This year on Giving Tuesday November 30, 2021, we invite you to support the New Growth Women’s Business Center. The 15-county WBC is one of only five in the nation that focuses on rural entrepreneurs, men and women.
Workforce Action Opportunity

Workforce Action Opportunity

November 8, 2021
A major regional workforce study and next steps for funding west central Missouri action were the topic recently of the START HERE Business Acceleration Network’s bimonthly community partner meeting. View recording here.
Rural Businesses Grow with Credit Support

Rural Businesses Grow with Credit Support

September 30, 2021
Credit building program builds pipeline of bankable borrowers. Since October 2021, 26 participants in the New Growth community development corporation program have improved their credit scores 875 points, with a top entrepreneur achievement of 108 points.
Housing needed for rural revival

Housing needed for rural revival

May 18, 2021
A lack of housing options could nip new rural opportunity in the bud. Can the west central Missouri region muster the private-public collaboration and innovation needed to ramp up housing supply? This question is the topic of a “5th Monday” regional networking luncheon 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Monday May 24.
Two Benton County businesses launch with START HERE support

Two Benton County businesses launch with START HERE support

April 19, 2021
Two new Benton county businesses are the latest to get the startup boost they need from a new nonprofit financing resource in west central Missouri: The START HERE Revolving Loan Fund. Both are prime examples of what the START HERE Revolving Loan Fund is designed to do: Support rural businesses that are ready to get going and growing but are too new, too small, or too credit-challenged for traditional bank loans.
Conversation with Food Systems Director Katie Nixon

Conversation with Food Systems Director Katie Nixon

April 12, 2021
Katie Nixon is a farmer and a leader in the good food movement as Food Systems Director at West Central Missouri Community Action Agency. Backroad Production’s IN FOCUS podcast recently featured a conversation with Katie about several regional food and farm development initiatives, including her work with the New Growth community development corporation team.
Tax tips for micro businesses in Covid-19 times

Tax tips for micro businesses in Covid-19 times

April 5, 2021
Resources here for small businesses preparing taxes this year, including our recorded Tax Tips webinar, guest speaker Timothy Carter’s presentation, and a Small Business Tax Workshop series of videos from the IRS.
RESOURCES: Businesses and American Rescue Plan

RESOURCES: Businesses and American Rescue Plan

March 29, 2021
Learn about new relief for small businesses in the American Rescue Plan Act. Mike McWhorter with the Small Business Kansas City district breaks it down for us. Download information and resources here from our March 31, 2021, webinar.