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.
Business Enhancement Committee Volunteers
Shawn Honea, Chair
IM Design Group
James Willingham
Emporia State University
Rob Scheib
USD 253
Tom Mains
ValuNet FIBER
Lori Andrews
ESB Financial
Bruce Boettcher
BG Consultants
Jana Marstall
USD 253
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
Incubation- the New(er) Eco Devo
A lot of us hear the constant discussion about how the world “should be”, but most of us understand that rhetoric stands in stark comparison to how the world actually “is”. Problems should get solved. Businesses should grow. People should move here. Products and services should be provided. Infrastructure should work perfectly. People should be…
Continue Reading >How Well Do You Know Your Customer?
The National Main Street Conference contained several different learning sessions for attendees. Each year, Emporia Main Street distills the sessions attended by our members and relays the information attained to our general readership. Every business and organization has “customers”. A focus on the people you serve can allow businesses and organizations to grow. Determining the…
Continue Reading >New Retail Trends
During the National Main Street Conference, attendees are often exposed to “future trends” that allow us to better prepare businesses to take advantage of emerging opportunities and to avoid emerging threats. Instead of focusing on ethereal “leadership” or “positivity” sessions, Main Street staff and volunteers are exposed to more nuts and bolts approaches to creating…
Continue Reading >HOW TO: Introducing Entrepreneurship
The Main Street staff works with a lot of entrepreneurs. Our close contact with start up and locally owned ventures stems from the facts that most small businesses look to locate around other small businesses, most economic development initiatives simply focus on “big guys”, and entrepreneurs have a wide range of needs that are unique…
Continue Reading >Entrepreneurship through Disruption
Every few years a new buzzword emerges within entrepreneurship. The current iteration of fashionable language is “disruption”. Disruptive entrepreneurship takes on established industries and economic models and disrupts the status quo by offering products or services in a new way. Uber disrupted the taxi industry. Blue Apron disrupted grocers. Amazon disrupted traditional retailers. Streaming services…
Continue Reading >External Communication
A couple of editions ago, the e-news focused on internal customer communications. Multiple businesses/organizations reached out with positive comments and additional communications questions, one of those being the consumption of external communication. The “we just need to get everyone together”, or “we just need to communicate” within specific business/organizational categories seemed to be a specific…
Continue Reading >