SBA Launches Largest Expansion of Women’s Business Centers in 30 Years

SBA Launches Largest Expansion of Women’s Business Centers in 30 Years

by | Dec 31, 2020 | GROW Blog

SBA Launches Largest Expansion of Women’s Business Centers in 30 Years

 – by MyChesCo

20 Women’s Business Centers to Open Across America Supporting Women-Owned Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced grant funding and the historic launch of 20 new Women’s Business Centers (WBC) across America to serve rural, urban and underserved communities alike.  The opening of the 20 new WBCs is the largest single expansion of WBCs across America in its 30-year tenure, and these centers will be pivotal to the success of women-owned businesses as they continue to recover during this time.  The WBCs will be hosted in rural and underserved markets and widen the footprint and partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“Over the past several months, we have seen Women’s Business Centers provide aid to our nation’s innovative and determined entrepreneurs, allowing countless small business owners to pivot with confidence to stay afloat during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.  “Expanding the WBC program is part of this Administration’s longstanding commitment to the success of female entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses.  Adding these new Women’s Business Centers to the already existing network of centers across America will boost timely resources to our nation’s female economic drivers, providing them with local training and counseling.”

SBA’s WBCs are a national network of 136 centers that offer one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance, and mentoring to women entrepreneurs on numerous business development topics, including business startup, financial management, marketing, and procurement.

“Opening the doors to the new Women’s Business Centers is crucial to the vitality of women-owned small business owners.  This network expansion will provide female entrepreneurs with the resources they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses,” said Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development Allen Gutierrez.  “We look forward to the continued success of the WBC program as it contributes to the overall health of our economy and creates jobs in their local communities.”

In addition to opening these 20 new WBCs, SBA will launch Ascent, a free digital e-learning platform geared to help women entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses.

To learn more about SBA’s programs and services for women entrepreneurs, visit online at www.sba.gov/women, and to find other WBC locations and SBA resources, visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance.

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Kenkel Shares Tips on Advertising With Social Media Influencers

Kenkel Shares Tips on Advertising With Social Media Influencers

by | Feb 20, 2020 | GROW Blog

Kenkel Shares Tips on Advertising With Social Media Influencers

GROW Nebraska member and popular social media influencer Michaela Kenkel of Elkhorn will share tips for winning customers by partnering with brand ambassadors at the April 15 MarkeTech conference in Kearney.

Kenkel operates the successful food blog called “An Affair From the Heart” that reaches millions of eyes each month, including 7 million monthly views on Pinterest and about 6 million monthly views on Google. Her enterprise, which started more than a decade ago, now has more than 180,000 followers on Facebook, more than 3,000 on Instagram, 40,000 on Pinterest, and more than 8,000 subscribers to her weekly recipe email.

She serves those followers with trust, sincerity, love and kindness and they respond with “likes” and “shares.”

“I take a lot of pride in developing relationships with my audience,” Kenkel said. “I engage with my readers a lot, and I feel like I’m tuned in to what they like and what they don’t like.”

Besides creating her unique recipes, Kenkel works as a brand ambassador to business owners and food entrepreneurs, such as Frank’s Kraut, Dorothy Lynch and Spice Isle, to create new recipes using their products. She then shares those recipes with her audiences to create momentum and generate sales for those companies.

Kenkel will present “Satisfy an Appetite For Your Brand: How to Win Customers and Influence Brand Appeal in the Age of Social Media” at one of the break-out sessions at MarkeTech, where she will share her advice on working with brand ambassadors.

Kenkel said her presentation will appeal to marketers, business owners, entrepreneurs and aspiring brand ambassadors and influencers.

For those who aren’t aware of this relatively new marketing tool, Kenkel said a brand ambassador “is a person who is hired by an organization or company to represent their brand in a positive light.”

By doing so, it increases brand awareness and sales among a specific audience.

“A brand ambassador works as both an ‘influencer’ and a ‘sales representative’,” Kenkel said. “A brand ambassador’s role is to introduce a brand and communicate its virtues organically through its existing audience and social channels and also provide opportunities for sales or similar conversions.” 

After the presentation, Kenkel said attendees will have a better understanding of social media and how to leverage the power of influencers and bloggers in advertising.

“Participants will learn how to find suitable influencers and brand ambassadors, establish and track goals for a successful relationship, plan for content and set deadlines, and monitor progress through statistical analysis,” she said. 

She also will show business owners how to create a successful social media strategy by working with legitimate brand ambassadors and influencers. Kenkel will focus on social media channels that she uses, including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.  

“They will learn what works and how to avoid common pitfalls,” Kenkel said.

Other takeaways from her presentation include:

  • The difference between being “influenced” and being “convinced.”
  • How to measure “likes,” “shares” and other online stats to evaluate performance.
  • Why a brand ambassador is so much more effective than any type of advertiser promotional resource.

In addition, Kenkel will share tips with aspiring brand ambassadors and influencers, who will learn how to work with companies and how to grow their audiences to make themselves more attractive as an advertising asset. 

Early bird registration for the conference ends on March 20. The price is $99 for a half-day and $199 for the entire day for non-GROW members and $59 for GROW Nebraska members. The registration fee includes breakfast and lunch and full conference registration, including two breakout sessions, the keynote speaker, chances to network, conference swag and the VIP After Party at McCue’s Nebraska Taproom in Kearney. To register, visit marketechconference.com/registration

GROW Nebraska® Foundation is a statewide non-profit training and marketing organization. Serving over 400 Nebraska small businesses, the organization provides marketing opportunities, education, and training to launch and connect Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace. GROW Nebraska’s educational programs receive federal and state funding, along with generous support from foundations and individual donors.

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Learn About New Entrepreneur Initiative at Special MarkeTech Session

Learn About New Entrepreneur Initiative at Special MarkeTech Session

by | Feb 14, 2020 | GROW Blog

Learn About New Entrepreneur Initiative at Special MarkeTech Session

Anyone considering starting a new business in Nebraska should attend the “What Do You Need to Be Successful?” breakout session at the 2020 MarkeTech Conference in Kearney.

In this session, two long-time Nebraska Extension leaders will explain a new statewide resource for entrepreneurs.

Connie Hancock, consultant with Nebraska Extension, and Don Macke, Community Vitality Initiative Program Leader, will share information about the newly formed Nebraska Entrepreneurship Initiative.

The initiative is a partnership between the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and Nebraska Extension. It is a statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports and builds businesses and communities for the long-term economic growth of Nebraska.

Hancock said the initiative has two strategies:

  1. Develop a Statewide Network to create, implement and sustain a statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem infrastructure that allows for ready and easy access to business development resources.
  2. Create an Entrepreneurial Communities program to increase the capacity of local communities to focus entrepreneurial assets and resources that support entrepreneurial starts and growth.

The initiative began in 2018 and was piloted in 2019.

One of the tools of the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Initiative is Nebraska SourceLink®, a one-stop place for entrepreneurs, small business owners, communities and service providers to go for help starting and growing a business in Nebraska.

“This entrepreneurial environment mixes technology, community engagement and impact measurement that connects Nebraska entrepreneurs by linking a vast network of nonprofit resource organizations to one another and to established, emerging and start-up small businesses,” Hancock said.

Nebraska SourceLink® includes an interactive map to find the nearest experts based on need, a people-powered call center, current blog postings and a calendar for regional and state events.

The new entrepreneurial infrastructure helps: 

  • Spark entrepreneurship and innovation, 
  • Connect entrepreneurs to the right resource at the right time, 
  • Identify gaps and build collaborations to fill them, 
  • Measure the impact of our entrepreneurial system and tell the story of Nebraska entrepreneurship and innovation.

SoucreLink® includes a Resource Navigator, which allows entrepreneurs and small business owners to search the network for resources that fit their industry, business stage and challenge. Back-end administration allows for fast updates and complex reports to help inform entrepreneur usage by zip code, industry, business stage, assistance requested and much more.

Hancock said entrepreneurs, anyone thinking about starting a business, new business owners and community leaders are encouraged to attend this MarkeTech presentation to learn more.

“We hope that the participants will become aware of the rich entrepreneurial resources available to them and how easy it is to find the appropriate resource to help them be successful,” Hancock said.  “We also want them to realize the importance of community support and having an entrepreneurial ecosystem to help them be successful.”

Early bird registration for the conference ends on March 20. The price is $99 for a half day and $199 for the entire day for non-GROW members and $59 for GROW Nebraska members. The registration fee includes breakfast and lunch and full conference registration including three breakout sessions, the keynote speaker, conference swag and the VIP After Party at McCue’s Nebraska Taproom in Kearney. To register, visit marketechconference.com/registration.

GROW Nebraska® Foundation is a statewide non-profit training and marketing organization. Serving over 400 Nebraska small businesses, the organization provides marketing opportunities, education, and training to launch and connect Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace. GROW Nebraska’s educational programs receive federal and state funding, along with generous support from foundations and individual donors.

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Former Professional Musician Promises Entertaining Marketing Presentation

Former Professional Musician Promises Entertaining Marketing Presentation

by | Feb 12, 2020 | GROW Blog

Former Professional Musician Promises Entertaining Marketing Presentation

Scottsbluff business owner Don Osborn spent more than 30 years on stages as a professional musician and songwriter, and now instead of singing on stage, he’s sharing his expertise in marketing.

His upcoming presentation, “Marketing for People Who Hate Marketing,” at a breakout session of the April 15 MarkeTech Conference in Kearney promises to be entertaining, interactive and highly educational.

Osborn spent most of his musical career in Canada. Five years ago, he moved back to his hometown of Scottsbluff, where he owns DBO Digital Marketing. He works primarily as a marketing consultant for B2B companies.

“For anyone who feels overwhelmed by marketing, let alone creating a marketing department, this presentation is for you,” Osborn said. “We will look at the four steps you can take to build or update your marketing plan using both the latest digital tools and traditional methods.”

As a solo entrepreneur for most of his life, Osborn become his own professional marketing manager. His digital marketing training began about 12 years ago and now includes web design, SEO and social media advertising.

He has presented his “one-day marketing makeover workshop” at Western Nebraska Community College, along with workshops on social media, video creation and songwriting. He also has taught numerous business, marketing and public speaking classes at the Art Institute of Vancouver, B.C.

Osborn will share a big-picture view that makes marketing less overwhelming for business owners and marketers.

“They get caught up in the minutiae of the latest and greatest FB techniques,” Osborn said. “We get bombarded with all the little moving parts. Most people are just too busy running their businesses to worry about that, yet they know it’s important.”

His presentation will introduce systems to attendees making marketing more manageable.

“My presentation is designed to break down the whole process into bite-sized pieces and show them a process they can go through so they can organize what they need to do,” Osborn said. “It gives them a blueprint for how to tackle it.”

The hour-long presentation will be divided into four parts:

  • Marketing Toolbox Inventory
  • Inventory Upgrades
  • 30,000-Foot Marketing Plan
  • Implementation Plan

“They will walk away with a checklist that they can use to review their entire marketing toolbox so they can get a sense of what they have and don’t have and can prioritize,” Osborn said.

Don’s presentation will appeal to business owners, marketing managers and even those who are well versed in digital marketing.

“Each company is a little different,” Osborn said. “With this presentation, they can see what all the basic elements are and pick and choose the right tools for them.”

Early bird registration for the MarkeTech conference ends on March 20. The price is $99 for a half day and $199 for the entire day for non-GROW members and $59 for GROW Nebraska members. The registration fee includes breakfast and lunch and full conference registration including three breakout sessions, the keynote speaker, conference swag and the VIP After Party at McCue’s Nebraska Taproom in Kearney. To register, visit marketechconference.com/registration.

GROW Nebraska® Foundation is a statewide non-profit training and marketing organization. Serving over 400 Nebraska small businesses, the organization provides marketing opportunities, education, and training to launch and connect Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace. GROW Nebraska’s educational programs receive federal and state funding, along with generous support from foundations and individual donors.

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A Gourmet Hot Chocolate From Nebraska is Taking the Nation by Storm

A Gourmet Hot Chocolate From Nebraska is Taking the Nation by Storm

by | Jan 14, 2020 | GROW Blog

A Gourmet Hot Chocolate From Nebraska is Taking the Nation by Storm

When Jasmin McGinnis worked at Barista’s Daily Grind in college, she discovered the “best hot chocolate in the world” was served at that Kearney coffee shop. She and the other baristas enjoyed the drink year round.

Jasmin purchased that coffee shop (with two locations in Kearney) in 2014. Two years later, she worked to enhance the recipe and rebrand the hot chocolate as Cup of Coa™. She is now traveling the country promoting her product at trade shows and is already selling it wholesale to coffee shops, boutiques, gift stores and grocery stores in 10 states.

Jasmin’s gourmet milk chocolate powder is unique because it’s made with less than 1 percent artificial ingredients and flavors. Although it’s made by mixing it with water, it’s creamier than milk-based hot chocolates. The powder won’t settle to the bottom, and it can be mixed into a hot or cold drink with the same base.

“When you taste it, it creates an experience, and you will remember that experience,” Jasmin said.

Cup of Coa can also be turned into a chocolate sauce. Purpose Roasters, a chocolatier/coffee shop in Washington, creates specialty bon-bons using Cup of Coa as a main ingredient.

The retail Cup of Coa product is packaged in 10-ounce tins designed by Jasmine. In addition to being popular at coffee shops, the creative tins are grabbing customers’ attention in grocery stores and boutiques.

“What’s shocking me right now is the retail line,” Jasmin said. “People want it in their homes, and they are coming back over and over again.”

Jasmin said she didn’t set out to become a promoter of hot chocolate, but this product has fired up a passion in her.

“Probably 80 percent of my success can be attributed to this being the right time,” she said. “The other part is pure passion. I think people are usually more successful if they are passionate. I didn’t know I was going to be passionate about this, but I really do think it’s the best hot chocolate anyone’s ever had.”

Buy Cup of Coa here!

GROW Nebraska® Foundation is a statewide non-profit training and marketing organization. Serving over 400 Nebraska small businesses, the organization provides marketing opportunities, education, and training to launch and connect Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace. GROW Nebraska’s educational programs receive federal and state funding, along with generous support from foundations and individual donors.

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