Blog

Joanne Smith completed the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program in Montgomery County during the Fall of 2016. Here she talks about the impact that this program has had on her and how it has helped her work toward launching her business, FAB Creative Services.

Bridget Stanton competed in both the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 YEC Series in Riley County. She placed first in her local event for two years in a row. In April 2017, she won third place at the YEC State Championship. In April 2018, she won second place at the KEC State Championship.

Sherman County hosted their sixth annual YEC Series event. Jessica Bonner, City of Goodland Administrative Assistant, and Suzanne McClure, City of Goodland Economic Development Director, organized this event.

Morton County is a new E-Community with a smaller population but had 19 students involved in its first YEC Series event in December. Becki Richardson, EPICTOUCH Economic Development Director, shares how the event was organized.

Chad Bullock completed Destination BootCamp® in in Longmont, CO in April 2018. Here he talks about the impact that this program has had on the growth of his business, Premier Farm and Home.

Ivy Gatton competed in the 2017-2018 YEC Series and won first place in her local competition with her business, Oh Rats! She went on to compete in the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge State Championship in April 2018. Here she talks about how this program has influenced her as an entrepreneur.

By working alongside our E-Community partners, we had uncovered some important facets of entrepreneurship ecosystem building that “worked” and knew we had some important tools that make a difference in our partner communities, like access to loan funds, local decision making on loans, the coaching and expertise of our staff, and financial and other support for entrepreneurship programs. We also knew that it was time to make some changes for the sustainability of the program – and this applies to NetWork Kansas as well as our partners.

Lacy O'Neal completed the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program in Thomas County during the Spring of 2018. Here she talks about the impact that this program has had on her and how it has helped her launch her flower shop, Purdy Petals.

NetWork Kansas’ Entrepreneurship (E-) Community Partnership announces the 2018-2019 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) Series.

Nick Flores is a senior at Wichita High School East. He competed in the 2017-2018 YEC Series and won first place in his local competition with his business, Kestrel Aerial LLC. In April 2018, he took first place in at the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge State Championship. Here, he talks about how this program has influenced him as an entrepreneur.