Salina Area Chamber of Commerce
Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, in partnership with the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and NetWork Kansas, is pleased to announce the entrepreneurial certificate program “Growing Rural Business” being offered in Saline County starting September 7, 2023.
This 8-week training is custom-made to meet the needs of existing rural business owners who are ready to grow. Weekly sessions will be held Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm with a light dinner being served. The training will take place at the Visit Salina Annex, 120 W Ash St, Salina.
Taught by faculty and staff from Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship who are experts in running businesses, this program provides hands-on, practical solutions and techniques to grow and modernize business ventures while living in a rural setting. Insights and learning tools include small group exercises, case studies, and interactive discussions with peers, facilitators, and industry experts.
This popular training is offered less than a handful of times per year on a competitive basis. More than 396 businesses across a variety of industries have benefited from this instruction. A grant to the Saline County E-Community from NetWork Kansas will provide part of the funding for the training. Participants will have a small registration fee.
“Economic development isn’t always just about recruiting big companies or creating hundreds of jobs at a time,” Renee Duxler, president and CEO at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce said, “The backbone of this community is small business and we’re proud to offer entrepreneurial resources that are able to support and cultivate new and expanding small business.”
All sessions are held from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Thursdays between September 7 and November 2 with a program fee of $250 per person. A $50 Early Bird Registration Discount is available for those registering by August 25. Additionally, those attending six of the eight sessions will receive a $50 rebate upon conclusion. For more information contact Jaclyn Crow at (785) 827-9310 x127, or email jcrow@salinakansas.org
More information and registration links for the Growing Rural Businesses Entrepreneurial Certificate Program can be found at www.wichita.edu/grb.
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“Growing Rural Businesses” Sessions
Entrepreneurial Mindset for Small Businesses • September 7
Customer Discovery: The Roadmap to a Successful Marketing Plan • September 14
The Digital Branding Intensive: Unleash Your Promotional Power • September 21
Basic Sales Techniques and Practices for Selling • September 28
Creating Value for Your Customers • October 5
Practical Legal Issues • October 12
Keeping a Financial Focus • October 19 or October 26
Bringing it All Together: Developing an Effective Niche Strategy • November 2