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

Please keep in mind that this application will be viewed by those evaluating your submission; those participating in your meeting/pitch and by the Sandbox board for voting purposes. Once your application is received, it will be reviewed for completeness and you will be contacted with information regarding next steps. Submission Tip: Thoroughly reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions prior to submission may improve your outcome.

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.

To learn more about this program or to download a funding application, check out our website.

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.

To submit your Application

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

For More information:

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

Technology and innovation companies applying for an SBIR/STTR grant, can get help completing their application with help from the Missouri SBDC!

The Missouri SBDC is awarding 20 grants to Missouri technology companies to specifically help these companies hire grant-writing assistance to get their applications over the finish line. The grants are in the amount of $2,500.

Those interested in applying must be based in Missouri, a current Missouri SBDC client or willing to become a client, and be applying for a Federal SBIR/STTR grant.

Interested innovators are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The grants are awarded on an ongoing basis and reviewed individually for fit.

Link:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kvWu-N97dt70QBSaFdmLUCaUdBkBUeADFCr-g0EM0Xs/viewform?ts=61eb1f85&edit_requested=true

To learn more and register for the competition - 

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

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

To learn more, please visit https://greaterstlinc.com/our-work/strategic-initiatives/inclusive-business-solutions/diverse-business-accelerator?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GSL+Newsletter+07-27-22&utm_content=%e2%96%baGET+THE+DETAILS

Hy-Vee has committed $50,000 to advancing local minority- and women-owned businesses across greater Kansas City and surrounding states.

If you represent a minority- or woman-owned business, submit a free application to participate in a pitch competition during Hy-Vee’s OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. Selected businesses will be invited to present their products or services to a panel of judges for the chance to win up to $30,000! Additional cash investments will be awarded and select finalists may be invited to participate in a roundtable meeting with Hy-Vee following the summit.

Not interested in pitching? No problem! The summit offers minority- and woman-owned business owners the chance to participate in a full-day of networking and professional development at no cost. Attendees will enjoy an expo that offers resources for small businesses, learning opportunities through presentations and panel discussions, the chance to be inspired by others and more.

Questions? Please email Opportunity@hy-vee.com.

Registration: https://www.hy-veeopportunitysummit.com/submit

The Department of Economic Development (DED) has posted the final guidelines for its Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. The program is funded via the State of Missouri’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This $265 million program will help communities and providers across the state invest in broadband infrastructure to bring access to unserved and underserved areas through competitive grants.

The Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program's guidelines were posted in late May and DED accepted public comment from May 31 through June 15. The final guidelines are now available here.

To apply click here

Funds would be used to train and upskill under and unemployed workers, expand customized recruitment assistance to employers, and help Missouri training partners invest in modern equipment and training for their instructors.

The Department of Economic Development (DED) requested public feedback on a proposed Workforce Training Grant Program, funded via the State of Missouri’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This $30 million Program is intended to provide training for individuals and companies that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Final guidelines for the Workforce Training Grant Program are now live and the application is anticipated to open by the end of August. To review the final guidelines, click here.

The $100 million program encourages strategic investment to revitalize communities and spur economic recovery and growth throughout Missouri. The Department of Economic Development (DED) is currently reviewing public comments and revising guidelines accordingly. Review the draft guidelines.

T.H.R.I.V.E. stands for Train. Hope. Rise. Innovate. Venture. Elevate - an executive-level training series designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses across the United States.

Eligibility and Requirements :

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined is an executive-level training series intended to give ambitious small business leaders a challenging opportunity to accelerate their growth through targeted training led by motivating leaders in small business development. T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined revolutionizes the rich history of executive-level training for small businesses poised for growth.

The Office of Entrepreneurial Development is committed to transforming our learning ecosystem to be timelier, more relevant, and to meet small businesses where they are right now. We embody this approach with T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined.
 
Do I qualify to participate ?
This training is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined 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 three years
• Have at least one employee, other than self

What are the key program highlights ?

• Mentoring
• In-person coaching for C-level executives
• Self-paced instruction with demonstrated business sustainability
• A hybrid model that includes virtual and classroom sessions
• Micro-sessions customized for small businesses’ unique needs
• Experienced subject matter experts
• Removing the one- size fits all model in exchange for engagement, problem-solving, and peer-to-peer interaction within the cohorts

Interested in participating? Visit T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined’s website for more information.

On September 1, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced the call for nominations  for the 2023 National Small Business Week (NSBW) Awards. The NSBW Awards recognize SBA-assisted small businesses’ inspirational achievements and contributions to their communities and our nation’s economy. 

All nominations should be submitted electronically by 3 p.m. ET on December 8, 2022. The awards will be presented during the NSBW Awards ceremony in the first week of May 2023. 

For over 50 years, the SBA has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. 

To nominate a small business owner in your area or download related forms, criteria, and guidelines, visit sba.gov/nsbw. Nominations for the following categories will be accepted:  

Small Business Person of the Year: A business/owner from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam will be selected for the State Winner award. The state award winners will compete for the title of National Small Business Person of the Year, SBA’s signature award.

Additional awards include:

• Small Business Exporter of the Year
• Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery:
  • Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery
  • Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery - Mitigation
  • Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Public Official
  • Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Volunteer
• Federal Procurement Awards:
  • Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
  • Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence (for large prime contractors who use small businesses as suppliers and contractors)
  • 8(a) Graduate of the Year
• Awards to SBA Resource Partners:
  • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Center Award
  • Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award
  • Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Year
• Small Business Investment Company of the Year

For local area contact and other related information, visit online at https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/sba-district-offices.

The NFL, in partnership with the Kansas City Sports Commission, recently launched its Business Connect program, which seeks local and diverse businesses to utilize for the 2023 NFL Draft.

“As Kansas City prepares for the biggest event in its history, we’re grateful to the NFL for championing our local businesses and showcasing a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusivity among its vendors,” says Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC. “We know our Draft Experience will be uniquely Kansas City due, in part, to these outstanding organizations.”

The Business Connect program is looking to identify up to 100 local, diverse businesses with premiere, large event experience and the capacity to work alongside NFL vendors to produce Draft events. Interested suppliers can find details on specific event production business lines required by the Business Connect program on the Greater Kansas City Sports Commissions website here. Event-ready suppliers can apply to Business Connect through October 7, 2022.

To qualify for 2023 NFL Draft Business Connect, each business must:

• Be 51% owned by a minority, woman, veteran, or LGBTQ+ individual and be certified
• Have a physical office and been in operation in Kansas City, MO since April 2019
• Provide a product or service requested by Business Connect
• Be the direct source of the goods and services you propose to sell
• Be in good standing and eligible to do business in Kansas City and the state of Missouri

“The Business Connect program is an integral part of the NFL’s efforts to empower local diverse businesses in Draft markets,” says B.J. Waymer, NFL Business Connect Lead. “The program’s ability to amplify the talents and services of minority, women, LGBTQ+ and veteran-owned businesses, while creating contract and development opportunities that help grow local business communities, is critical and powerful. It is a core part our legacy to Draft host cities.”

For more information about the 2023 NFL Draft, please visit http://marketing.sportkc.org/e/752153/2023nfldraft/6hv72v/280844845?h=OkBQXHEYAGzvEjILS3CeaF407nVpxPK3ySIwCCJxUQg.

Any and every early stage AgTech startup is invited to apply for this year’s challenge.

Brandon Day of The Yield Lab Institute diligently works to : 

• Drive increased use and value for soybean meal in animal agriculture, aquaculture, pet foods and soyfoods for human consumption
• Further the commercial viability of existing uses and segments in both food and feed spaces, overcoming the technical challenges of increasing the use of soybean meal
• Advance the transportability and storage viability of soybean meal

AWARD :

• $170,000 in cash prizes courtesy of the United Soybean Board
• $5,000 in in-kind technical services and credits per finalist courtesy of Amazon Web Services

For more information and application details - Click here