Interchange is a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance made possible with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Interchange is designed to strengthen communities and individual artists within our region by supporting artist-led projects focused on social impact.

Interchange grants will be awarded to 16 artists with an active, socially engaged creative practice in the Mid-America Arts Alliance region through:

• $20,000 in direct project support
• Professional development retreats with Interchange grantees
• Mentoring
  
  Follow the link to learn more: interchangeartistgrant.art/apply

Digital Sandbox KC: Where Innovators Come to Play (Ongoing)

Digital Sandbox KC brings together people, ideas and resources to build thriving companies. The program provides much needed early-stage funding to rising stars. The region's longtime leaders including private companies, government agencies and universities have united to help this new wave of entrepreneurs. It's an unprecedented metro-wide effort to help make KC America's most entrepreneurial city.

RESULTS SO FAR:
93 proof-of-concept projects funded for area startups
35 new KC-based companies created
53 companies have secured follow-on investment
$38.2 million in follow-on funding
More than 480 new jobs created, with more than $12 million in payroll

Digital Sandbox KC broadly seeks new innovation in information technology.  The Sandbox provides innovators with proof-of-concept resources to support early-stage commercialization processes. The Sandbox may cover expenses for project consultants, market research, legal support, equipment and other market validation, prototyping and beta testing needs.

The Digital Sandbox KC process requires:
- Completion of the Digital Sandbox KC Online Application
- A Meeting/Pitch Evaluation
- A Board Vote

With the financial support of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Downtown Shareholders is pleased to announce the launch of the third round of Pop-Up! Downtown KCK, a retail development initiative to enliven Downtown Kansas City, Kansas. Pop-Up! Downtown KCK matches select entrepreneurs with high-visibility, well-sited spaces at free or reduced rent, and provides an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to test a retail concept or determine whether Downtown KCK is a viable long-term location for their business.

The Emerging Leaders Initiative is an intensive executive-level series intended to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses in America’s underserved cities.  Developed by SBA and drawing on the experiences of advisors and business leaders in urban communities across the country, this comprehensive curriculum provides the tools to catapult your company to the next level and help it emerge as a force in your community.

Do I qualify to participate?

This training is for established business owners and is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. The Emerging Leaders Initiative advanced training series is open to small business owners and executives that:

• Have annual revenues of at least $250,000
• Have been in business for at least 3 years
• Have at least one employee, other than self

What are the key program highlights? 

• Customized training for “C” (CEO, COO, etc.) level executives with demonstrated business sustainability of at least 3 years in business and annual revenue of at least $250K 
• Participant recruitment begins in February through SBA’s local district offices and classes typically begin in April
• A three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets to help the participant emerge as self-sustaining businesses that creates jobs and build communities
• Includes 100 + hours of professional specialized training and peer-to-peer counseling delivered over the course of seven months
• Specialized areas of training include:
  • Growth Strategies Plans
  • Financing and Access to Capital
  • Government Contracting
  • CEO Mentoring

What types of businesses participate in the program?

There are currently no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate. Some examples of participating businesses include:  manufacturers, retail/wholesalers, contractors, professional services and food service.

In what ways does the training help my business?

The training is specifically designed to stimulate and support the expansion of your business. The curriculum provides strategies to help you access new avenues of capital. It offers practical tools to pursue new paths for business development. It surrounds you with a network of government resources and local business leaders prepared to invest time and energy in your business.

What are the overall benefits of participation? 

The end result of the executive education prepares and encourages small businesses to move to the next level on their growth trajectory and to help them emerge as self-sustaining businesses that create jobs and build communities.  At the conclusion of the training, entrepreneurs produce a three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets that will help them access the necessary support and resources to move forward.  

Is participation in the Emerging Leaders Initiative free?

The only cost is your time and commitment to complete the curriculum over the course of seven months. All other costs are covered by SBA and our local partners. 

Learn more and apply here!

SLUStart I-Corps is a program managed by the Research Innovation Group in Saint Louis University's Office of the Vice President for Research. It is designed to help academic researchers, community inventors and innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region extend their focus beyond academia, the laboratory, and the workshop so that they create successful products and services that deliver real value.

By participating in SLUStart I-Corps you can get help pursuing your innovation or new venture concept and possibly qualify for up to $50,000 in non-dilutive financial support.

SLUStart I-Corps helps participants ensure that their research and innovations will have greater economic and societal benefit. It integrates the original SLUStart program and the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps Site program at Saint Louis University. As such, SLUStart I-Corps projects that qualify as NSF I-Corps Site projects have full access to the NSF I-Corps ecosystem.

SLUStart I-Corps aims to:

• Train participants in the lean startup methodology (i.e., customer development process) popularized by Steve Blank.
• Increase the quality and impact of research conducted at Saint Louis University.
• Advance the commercialization of SLU intellectual properties.
• Increase the effectiveness of inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the St. Louis, Missouri region.
• Increase the participation of underrepresented groups, such as women and African-Americans, in entrepreneurship and the technology industry.

SLUStart I-Corps holds cohorts on a rolling basis throughout the year.  It also partners with local community-based organizations to reach target populations and deliver the SLUStart I-Corps curriculum.  SLUStart I-Corps partners include:

• Arch Grants
• Inventors Association of St. Louis
• IT Entrepreneurs Network (ITEN)
• Veterans Business Resource Center

If you have questions about SLUStart I-Corps, contact Malcolm Townes in the Research Innovation Group at malcolm.townes@slu.edu. To participate in the program, submit your application.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/SaintLouisUniversityResearchInnovationGroup/SLUStartICorpsApplication

https://www.slu.edu/research/faculty-resources/research-innovation-group/slustart-icorps.php?utm_campaign=St.%20Louis&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter

The FY23 Food Insecure Urban Agriculture Matching Grant Program is funded through the Missouri Department of Agriculture. This grant is for reimbursement of expenses associated with addressing food insecurity in urban areas. Projects should support farmers’ markets, apiary programs and other economic development initiatives, and they should increase food production and availability. This is a competitive grant program and funds may be used to:

Reduce food insecurity in urbanized areas

Increase food production and availability to local residents within an urbanized area

Develop production infrastructure and direct distribution venues, and reconstruct product facilities

Demonstrate growth of local economic communities

Increase local economic impact

Enhance already established areas within a community and provide assistance to the community

To determine if your project falls within one of these urbanized areas, please visit http://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=29 to find the list of Missouri Urban Clusters.

For more information about the application process, please visit https://agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/food-insecure.php?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

 https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/inno/stories/news/2022/07/19/hack-midwest-hosting-coding-competition.html

1. Develop new or improved programs that will reduce the creation of solid waste; or
2. Create new markets or improve existing markets for recovered materials; or
3. Improve the handling of items banned by Missouri law from landfills.

Applicants must operate within Region H:
Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, or Osage County

For more information about the grant and application process, please visit - https://www.mmswmd.org/grants/

Directly aligned with the STL 2030 Jobs Plan priority to create a world-class ecosystem for small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Diverse Business Accelerator is for ethnically, racially, and gender-diverse business owners looking to advance their enterprise’s capacity to grow. In the span of three months, program participants will learn how to develop actionable business expansion goals, market, and communicate their services, make meaningful business connections, and identify the capital and resources required to support growth.

Qualifications :

• Annual revenue of $500k or more

• A business growth plan that demonstrates the business’s capacity to scale (increase revenue, hire employees) within 2 to 5 years
• 51% minority ownership
• Headquartered in the 15-county, bi-state St. Louis MSA

The Urban Agriculture Matching Grant Program, funded through the Missouri Department of Agriculture, awards grants for reimbursement of expenses associated with urban agriculture. The Urban Agriculture grant encompasses projects that may include introducing a new crop or product to an area, or expanding the use of or adding value to agricultural products. This is a competitive grant program and funds may be used to:

• Develop small agribusinesses in urbanized areas
• Develop production infrastructure, direct distribution venues and workforce development
• Provide training and develop skills for agricultural business sustainability

General Information and Submission Guidelines :

Available funds are for the current 2023 fiscal year. Failure to complete documentation by May 1, 2023, will result in the forfeiture of funds.

Applicants must meet ALL following requirements to be eligible for a grant award:

Eligible projects must reside within one of the following urban areas, as designated by the Missouri Census Data Center:

To determine if your project falls within one of these urbanized areas please visit http://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=29 to find the list of Missouri Urban Clusters.

Awardees must attend an overview training provided by MDA staff.

Reimbursements will only be made for expenditures accrued during the grant period and for detailed receipts submitted with a $0 balance statement included.

For more information, please visit - 

https://agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/urban.php?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

• Rolling Applications Accepted
• Welcome Network Event - August 26
• Program Starts – Week of September 6
• Program Ends – Week of October 24
• Cohort Graduation - November 10
• Public Showcase Event - December 6

Powered by a purpose to ignite Kansas City’s entrepreneurial spirit, LaunchKC searches nationwide for innovative, diverse early-stage startups looking to take their business to the next level. Each year, we invest $500,000 into startups, offering founders a chance to secure $50,000 in funding, and gain access to a host of support services – in exchange for headquartering their business in Kansas City, Missouri for at least one year.

Ideal Applicants :

More info and apply here