Emporia Main Street's BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT programs are implemented by a committee of volunteers along with Main Street staff. The primary goals of our business enhancement initiatives are to:
- support, educate, and provide resources for ALL entrepreneurs and businesses throughout Emporia
- grow a sustainable core business district downtown
Our business enhancement programs provide a wide variety of tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators that strengthen Emporia's local economy.
Business Enhancement Programs
Start Your Own Business Class
If you're ready to take your business from concept to reality, the Start Your Own Business class is one of the best tools at your disposal.
Available Property Listings
We can help you find a property that's a great match for your business concept. If you own a property, contact us for a free listing!
Incubator Space
Next door to the Emporia Main Street office, this 1,100 square foot rent-free space is available to start-up businesses for a set period and includes business mentoring.
Business Consulting
Individual advice tailored to your business.
Grants, Loans & Tax Credits
Emporia Main Street provides access to wealth of financial incentives to start or expand a business, including our own low-interest loan program, matching fund opportunities, and assistance with local, state and federal financial programs.
Business Investment Guide
Created for entrepreneurs and developers, our Business Investment Guide outlines why Emporia is a great place to do business, and includes a list of available resources to get started.
Want to support budding entrepreneurs, or become an entrepreneur yourself?
Emporia Main Street is here to help your business grow. Your support also promotes overall economic development and re-investment in downtown and the community as a whole.
Interested in Joining the business enhancement committee?
The Business Enhancement Committee perfect for those who are passionate about business, fueling job growth in Emporia, and helping entrepreneurs launch or expand. Click the button below if you'd like to join!
Business Education
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Trend capturing to support traffic and sales.
We are getting ready to enter the holiday home stretch. Emporia quickly transitions from Veterans Day to the Christmas Season, and the decor, mind set, and retail/service focus needs to shift to accommodate the season. The biggest push for retail sales is close to Thanksgiving (and then on to Christmas). Three separate activities happen in…
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Projecting Positivity: Creating a positive and productive work environment takes some culture effort.
The sun is setting a little sooner each day. The weather is getting cooler and the 4th quarter brings some additional stress for both business owners and staff. That type of stress can quickly snowball into negativity, and that negativity can express itself in all kinds of ways that make customers avoid your business. Yes,…
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Rural Population Trends: Drivers for population and economics within rural communities
I don’t think it’s a secret that there are differences in community types throughout the nation. Huge cities, metropolitan areas, rural cities, small towns, and country living all have their plusses and minuses. Much of what drives population is a desire to live a certain lifestyle and a connection with the place you live. However,…
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4th Qt Activities – Finish the Year Strong!
The last three months of the calendar are upon us, and this is the time where businesses need to focus on traffic, exposure, and sales to finish the year strong. Using recent market analysis data, we are spotting shifts in the market landscape that businesses need to account for. The outreach shifts, when coupled with…
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Business Diversity: Kansas Commerce Registry Programs Open Opportunities to Women, Minority, & Veteran Owned Businesses
In competitive marketplaces, entrepreneurs need to look for an edge. Standing out in a field of similar businesses can be difficult, but there are programs that can help women, minority, and veteran owned businesses attract interested parties. The Kansas Department of Commerce has a certification process and a directory that can help potential customers identify…
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Show of Hands Year 2 – A successful entrepreneurial pitch activity is back!
Three years ago, Emporia Main Street had an opportunity to participate in a study by the Brookings Institute. The study focused on the practices of three Main Street programs in the rural communities of Laramie, Wyoming; Wheeling, West Virginia; and Emporia, Kansas. While researchers were busy studying us, each community got the chance to study…
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