Growing Rural Businesses training in progress.

Congratulations!

To the participants of the Fall 2024 training in Cowley & Sumner County.

 

Learn more about the participants from...

 

 

 

Growing Rural Businesses training in progress

Customized for you

The Growing Rural Businesses program, launched in 2012, provides practical, applied information and examples necessary for today's rural communities. The Growing Rural Businesses model is an eight-week certificate program customized for rural businesses. Participants receive a comprehensive practical approach to conducting business along with the resources needed to succeed. Experts from Wichita State University's Center for Entrepreneurship facilitate group discussions that provide insights on how to approach challenges and solve them effectively.

Growing Rural Businesses is provided through a partnership with Network Kansas. Locations are selected in E-Communities throughout the state of Kansas.

 

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Entrepreneurial Mindset for Small Businesses
Assessing your entrepreneurial spirit.

Customer Discovery: The Roadmap to Successful Marketing 
Applying market research/market segmentation.

The Digital Branding Intensive: Unleash Your Promotional Power
Discover the power of digital branding and learn to effectively promote your brand.

Basic Sales Techniques and Practices for Selling
Selling the concept and the keys of making a sale, identifying a potential customer.

Practical Legal Issues
Improving vendor relationships, negotiations, and contracts for positive (win/win) outcomes.

Creating Value for Your Customers
Customer service/consumer behavior, exceeding customer needs before, during and after.

Keeping a Financial Focus
Monitoring critical numbers and financial control systems of your business.

Bringing it All Together: Developing an Effective Niche Strategy
Competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Lots of great information for a minimal investment . The faculty and industry experts find numerous ways to relate the material to your specific industry.
Mark Johnson
Farm Bureau Financial Services, El Dorado
I highly recommend this training because of the scope of information, the quality and knowledge of the presenters and the networking opportunity with other participants. The trainings spur a reaction to think outside the box and look at your business analytically instead of emotionally.
Wanda Waldeck
Grouse Valley Grill, Dexter
This is a  game changing opportunity if you are motivated to apply the thoughts and curriculum that is taught. If you are a business person with experience or are a newer business owner, this class will make you better.
Chad Gilliland
Next to Nature Farm, Leavenworth

Past Training Locations

Over 435 businesses have been served through this program in 20 different counties.

Learn more about the businesses served through the Growing Rural Businesses Program!
Click through the counties listed below.

Allen & Neosho County
Group photo of the participants in the spring 2024 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Chanute and Iola.

Spring 2024

Chanute & Iola

Types of businesses served:
Personal Care Services, Creative, Hospitaility / Tourisim, Brewery, Hardware Retail, Agritourism, Specialty Eatery, Automotive Retail, 

Total number of businesses served: 14

Group photo of the participants in the Fall 2019 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Chanute and Iola.

Fall 2019

Chanute & Iola

Types of businesses served:
Agriculture, Boutique, Bakery, Cosmetics, Electrical, Florist, Grocery, Health/Fitness, Newspaper, Pet Grooming, Pharmacy, Retail

Total number of businesses served: 20

Anderson County
Garnett participants of the Growing Rural Businesses Training sitting istening to a trainer.

Fall 2015

Garnett

Type of businesses served:
Photography, Boutique, Manufacturing, Library, Quilt shop, Flower & Gift shop, Sporting goods, Cleaning services, Auto shop, Gas station  

Total number of businesses served: 30

Barton County
Group photo of the people who participated in the Spring 2022 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Great Bend.

Spring 2022

Great Bend
Types of businesses served:
Restaurants, Insurance, Café, Art Studio, Security, Handyman, Industrial Machinery and Equipment, Boutique, Tree Services, Oil, Landscaping, Antique Furniture, Retail, Shipping
Total number of businesses served: 17
Butler County
Group photo of the participants of the Fall 2017 Growing Rural Businesses Training in El Dorado.

Fall 2017

El Dorado

Types of businesses served:
Pest Control, Banking, Cleaning, Optometry, Processing, Heating & Cooling, Insurance, Pest Control, Medical, Manufacturing & Distributing

Total number of businesses served: 17

Group photo of the participants of the (EEE) Growing Rural Businesses Training Program.

Spring 2012

Augusta

Type of businesses served:
Interior design, venue, insurance agency, bakery, physical therapy, chamber of commerce, café  

Total number of businesses served: 14

Clay County
Participants of the Fall 2022 Growing Rural Business Training.

Fall 2022

Clay Center

Type of businesses served:
Museum, Transportation Services, Manufacturing, Legal Services, Real Estate, Interior Decor, Florist, Animal Feed Retailer, Investment Services, Construction, Veterinary, Weld Shop, Office Supply Retailer, Apartment Lessor, Electrical Contractor, Salon, Cleaner, Antique Store, Education, Gardener

Total number of businesses served: 23

Participants of the Spring 2015 Growing Rural Business Training sitting facing away from the camera listening to the trainer.

Spring 2015

Clay Center

Type of businesses served:
Office supply, Salon, Event planning, Irrigation, Medical Center, Publishing, Veterinary, Boutique, Manufacturing 

Total number of businesses served: 23

Cowley County
Group photo of the participants of the Fall 2017 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Arkansas City.

Fall 2017

Arkansas City

Types of businesses served:
Restaurant, Construction, Automotive, Electrical, Retail, Technology, Website Development, Event Planning, Pet Care, Spa, Sanitation, Business Consulting

Total number of businesses served: 21

Ellis & Rooks County  
A computer with a zoom GRB training pulled up.

Spring 2020

Hays

Types of businesses served:
Car Restoration, Cyber Security, Light Fixture Manufacturer, Seamstress, Florist, Craft Store, Hair Salon, Coffee Shop, Industrial Welder, Keepsake Retail Store, Beauty Shop, Real Estate, Electronics Retailer, Meat Market, Bike Shop, Clothing Retailer

Total number of businesses served: 17

Ford County
Group photo of the participants of the Fall 2021 Growing Rural Businesses Training iin Dodge City

Fall 2021

Dodge City

Types of businesses served: Construction, Heating & Air, Therapy, Marketing, Boutique, Retail, Non-Profit, Insurance, Real Estate, Tattoo, Website Development, Insurance & Taxes, Barber

Total number of businesses served: 20

Group photo of the participants of the Fall 2013 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Dodge City.

Fall 2014

Dodge City

Type of businesses served:
Education Institutions, Interior Design, Food Service, Hospitality, Government Agency, Law Office, Marketing and Advertising Company, Small Business Banker, Home Improvement, Student Start-Up

Total number of businesses served: 18

Kiowa County
Participants of the Fall 2012 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Greensburg seated and chatting.

Fall 2012

Greensburg

Type of businesses served:
Bank, telephone company, legal practice, non-profit organization, coffee house, media services, furniture store, marketing consultant 

Total number of businesses served: 21

Leavenworth County
Group photo of the participants of the Spring 2018 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Leavenworth.

Spring 2018

Leavenworth

Type of businesses served:
County Development, Plant Nursery, Auto Repair, Coffee Café, Landscaping, Insurance

Total number of businesses served: 17

Marion County
Fall 2015 Growing Rural Businesses Training in Marion and Hilsboro..

Fall 2015

Marion and Hillsboro

Type of businesses served:
Bank, Tire service, Photography, Chiropractic, Consulting laboratory

Total number of businesses served: 17

McPherson County
Group photo of theparticipants of the Fall 2016 Growing Rural Businesses Training in McPherson.

Fall 2016

McPherson

Type of businesses served:
Retail Store, Photography Studio, Auto Store & Shop, Bank, Optometrist, Garage Door Installation, Florist, Brewery, Specialty Meats

Total number of businesses served: 13

Montgomery County
A computer with a zoom call pulled up. Next to it is a green mug.

Fall 2020

Independence & Coffeyville

Type of businesses served:
Vet, Legal Services, Marketing, Florist, Education, Boutique, Lumber, Coffee Café, Energy, Business Consulting

Total number of businesses served: 16

Phillips County
Group photo of the participants from the Spring 2016 Growing Rural Business Training

Spring 2016

Phillipsburg

Type of businesses served:
Chiropractic, Insurance, Flower & Gift Shop, Book Store, Consulting, Legal Services

Total number of businesses served: 18

Rawlins County
Group photo of the participants from the Spring 2016 Growing Rural Business Training

Fall 2018

Atwood

Type of businesses served:
Fuel, Pharmacy, Heating & Air, Construction, Press, Vet, Food Service, Retail, Farm, Repair 

Total number of businesses served: 14

Reno County
Group photo of the participants from the Spring 2023 Growing Rural Business Trainingin in Hutchinson

Spring 2023

Hutchinson

Type of businesses served:
Staffing & Recruiting, Clothing Retailer, Restaurant, Furniture Retailer, Butcher, Landscaper, Real Estate Management, Agriculture, Kitchen Supply Retailer, Hardware, Massage Therapy, Hospitality, Telecommunications, Remodeling, Marketing, Entertainment, Senior Care

Total number of businesses served: 18

Saline County
Group photo of the participants from the Fall 2023 Growing Rural Business Trainingin in Saline County

Fall 2023

Salina

Type of businesses served:
Salon /Spa, Retail, Restaurant, Physical Therapy Clinic, Children's Exploration Center, Manufacturing, Textiles, Agriculture, Animal Care Services

Total number of businesses served: 13

Scott County
Group photo of the participants from the Fall 2016 Growing Rural Business Trainingin Scott City

Fall 2016

Scott

Type of businesses served:
Retail, Auto Repair, Chiropractic, Construction, Accounting, Bank, Veterinary Clinic, Beverage, Massage Therapy

Total number of businesses served: 16

Thomas County
Group photo of the participants from the Spring 2019 Growing Rural Business Training in Colby

Spring 2019

Colby

Type of businesses served:
Health & Wellness, Pest Control, Lawn Care, Chiropractic, Retail

Total number of businesses served: 9

Participants from the Fall 2014 Growing Rural Business Training in Colby listening to the trainer

Fall 2014

Colby

Type of businesses served:
Medical Center, accounting firm, artisan consumer products, management company, construction company, agriculture company, restaurant, commercial real estate, convenience store, consulting company

Total number of businesses served: 17

Cowley & Sumner County
Group photo of the participants from the Fall 2024 Growing Rural Business Training in Cowley and Sumner County

Fall 2024

Winfield & Wellington

Type of businesses served:
Furniture and Home Decor, Floral, Manufacturing, Retail, Insurance, Food Service, Hospitality, Clothing and Fashion, Coin and Currency, Local Government, Film

Total number of businesses served: 13