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K-State to Support 11 Entrepreneurial Projects Across Kansas

K-State selects 11 collaborative projects for the K-State 105 Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative. Photo courtesy of Kansas State University.

Posted January 6, 2024

Through a new K-State 105 initiative, Kansas State University will collaborate on 11 entrepreneurship and small business development projects in Kansas communities.

K-State 105 is a program that supports economic growth in all 105 counties in Kansas.

K-State has selected 11 projects for the first cohort of the K-State 105 Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative, which supports collaborative community-based projects focused on entrepreneurship and small business development, according to a Monday release.

The 11 projects include:

  • Neosho Valley Event Center incubator kitchen – Chanute, Neosho County.
  • Life Skills Academy and Makerspace springboard – Coffeyville, Montgomery County.
  • Entrepreneurs Intersection Fabrication Lab Expansion – Emporia, Lyon County.
  • IGNITE Innovation Center – Great Bend, Barton County.
  • Bluejay community retail renovation – Hillsboro, Marion County.
  • Edwards County Fair Building commercial kitchen renovation – Kinsley, Edwards County.
  • The Community Hub – Leoti, Wichita County.
  • Launching the Topeka startup community – Topeka, Shawnee County.
  • Caldwell Workspace commercial kitchen – Wellington, Sumner County.
  • Side Gig Studio – Wetmore, Nemaha County.
  • A La Carte commercial kitchen incubator – Wichita, Sedgwick County.

“In a way, we’re co-creating blueprints that can guide future work for economic growth in Kansas. We’re so excited to work alongside these 11 project collaborators in our first cohort,” K-State 105 director, Jessica Gnad, said in the release.

The initiative is a partnership between the university and Network Kansas, an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The K-State 105 Entrepreneurial Blueprint Initiative is one of several K-State 105 projects across Kansas. In April, K-State 105 announces a partnership with The University of Kansas Health System to bring more healthcare to over 70 rural communities in Kansas.