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
Why is Earth Day Important for Main Street Supporters?
Earth Day is today, and I thought it was important to share some very interesting information compiled by the National Main Street Center and other entities concerning the environmental impact of the Main Street approach. Concentrating on small efforts, like individual recycling programs, remain important, but we sometimes neglect to look at the larger environmental…
Continue Reading >Building Aesthetics & Their Importance For Your Business
Spring is here and people are strolling through the community. As creatures of habit, it is common for business people to become accustomed to their surroundings. So, although customers notice aesthetic differences, the same elements may go completely unnoticed by building owners or employees of a business. It doesn’t really matter if the building was…
Continue Reading >Playing to Our Small Town Strengths
Looking ahead to jam packed May full of tremendous events we find ourselves asking two questions: 1. What the heck were we thinking? And, 2. How can we make sure all of our visitors have a wonderful experience in Emporia? Big events always look daunting before they happen, but the second question is always an…
Continue Reading >Improving your Cash Flow
About 99.99% of all businesses we work with would like to improve their cash flow position. There are several ways to do that, and we cover various strategies that can help improve profitability for local businesses on regular basis within these newsletters. But, it is always helpful to review some basic strategies. Without a strategy,…
Continue Reading >Stimulating Senses Can Lead to Sales
At Emporia Main Street we often talk about creating an inviting atmosphere. In those discussions or articles, the discussion generally revolves around visual aesthetics. How we interact with the world we see as we perceive quality, safety and excitement goes a long way towards encouraging buying decisions among the consuming public. However, our hunter-gatherer minds…
Continue Reading >New Market Info Gives Glimpse Into Emporia’s Needs
Every consumer has wants and needs. Every business has wants and needs. Therein lies the challenge in development: balancing what the community wants with what businesses can realistically provide. Sometimes consumers wants are really needs and sometimes the things consumers need aren’t as appealing as what they want. One of the ways to achieve the…
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