We hope you enjoy this monthly GO Topeka newsletter geared toward small businesses, entrepreneurs and startups. We'll provide all the local business-related news you need to know about upcoming events, opportunities and much more! To offer feedback or suggestions, contact GO Topeka's Erin Young at Erin.Young@TopekaPartnership.com.
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Small Business Survey
Please take a few minutes to fill out our small business survey. This will help shape programming and resources to better serve our small business community.
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Deadline Approaching for Latest Round of Small Business Incentive Applications
The Small Business Council is a leadership group of area entrepreneurs dedicated to work with the support of GO Topeka to promote small business in Shawnee County and equip those businesses for success. GO Topeka empowers small business by relying on local business leaders to influence and shape the conversation about how best to support existing businesses, and assist those who wish to learn how they can grow.
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Greater Topeka Partnership Health Insurance Plan "Chamber Blue" - 2023 Open Enrollment Period
Members of the Greater Topeka Partnership have the opportunity to unlock the power of top-notch, affordable health insurance for small businesses. The Partnership is again teaming up with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas to offer area businesses access to health insurance savings typically associated with large-group medical coverage.
Dubbed Chamber Blue of Kansas, this opportunity is an association health plan that allows employers to join forces to purchase insurance. The 2023 enrollment period opens this fall, and businesses interested in enrolling in the plan must complete an accompanying interest survey by Aug. 18 in order to enroll during the Nov. 1-15 window. A larger pool of people and businesses enrolled in the plan may result in more plan options at potentially lower costs.
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Small Business Council
The Small Business Council is a leadership group of area entrepreneurs dedicated to work with the support of GO Topeka to promote small business in Shawnee County and equip those businesses for success. GO Topeka empowers small business by relying on local business leaders to influence and shape the conversation about how best to support existing businesses, and assist those who wish to learn how they can grow.
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How To Start A Business Workshop by SBDC
How To Start A business introduces entrepreneurs to the basic steps of starting a small business. You will learn about local resources, how to research your ideas and markets, legal and registration requirements, business plan resources, and opportunities for financing. In addition to the presentation, Washburn SBDC will distribute checklists and resource links.
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TopCity Interns
Topeka's TopCity Interns program hosted several events for participating interns throughout the summer that focused on exploring different parts of Topeka, providing career resources to help interns transition to the workforce full time, and offered discussions on leadership. This year, 400 interns represented 40 different Topeka/Shawnee County employers.
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Propeller
Topeka's TopCity Interns program hosted several events for participating interns throughout the summer that focused on exploring different parts of Topeka, providing career resources to help interns transition to the workforce full time, and offered discussions on leadership. This year, 400 interns represented 40 different Topeka/Shawnee County employers.
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Nationally Renowned Speakers to Keynote 2023 DEI Summit
Dr. Shirley Davis and Miguel Joey Aviles (pictured here) have been tapped to serve as keynote speakers for the GTP’s 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit coming up on Aug. 31 at Prairie Band Casino.
Join us for a transformative day focused on the theme “Changing Mindsets, Shifting Cultures.” This summit promises to be a catalyst for positive change, bringing together visionary speakers, engaging breakout sessions, thought-provoking panel discussions, and an interactive townhall at the end.
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NXT Stage Enterprise Engagement Series
A targeted program to activate a rich knowledge network and forge relationships between Kansas companies and established enterprises. This program aims to demystify the partnering process, to build customer pathways and accelerate innovation and startup growth.
This curated group of Enterprise Partners will share how their teams think about engaging with vendors and collaborators at various stages, from understanding buying motivations to what's going on behind the scenes. They'll also share recommended best practices for engagement and the cohort members will leave with their own Enterprise Playbook.
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Topeka Area Sports Commission Holding Inaugural 'TASC Cares' Fundraiser
The Topeka Area Sports Commission (TASC) is launching a new initiative, TASC Cares, which is dedicated to fulfilling the commission's goal of building a healthier community by removing barriers to athletic participation. Through TASC Cares, the commission will provide micro-grants to local youths in need of assistance, enabling them to experience the numerous benefits of sports engagement. Micro-grants, available through an application process coming online soon, can be used for registration fees, equipment purchases, and other essential expenses related to athletic competition. The inaugural fundraiser for TASC Cares will take the form of an exciting mini-golf tournament at Topeka's Sports Center, 6545 S.W. 10th Ave., on Aug. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. We're encouraging businesses to take part! Tickets to participate can be purchased at the link below. Each ticket secures registration for a team of four, ensuring participants can enjoy the event as a group while supporting a worthy cause!
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SBDC's Nadia Arbelo Honored For Her Work With Small Businesses
On June 1, Nadia Arbelo, with the Washburn Small Business Development Center, became interim regional director for the Washburn SBDC, which offices out of the Greater Topeka Partnership. Arbelo's appointment followed the retirement of previous director Karl Klein. A week after being named interim regional director, Arbelo was nominated as the Kansas SBDC State Star. It's an award presented at the annual America's SBDC Conference, which will be held this year in Nashville. The SBDC State Star award honors employees who exhibit exemplary performance, make significant contributions to their state or regional SBDC programs, and show a strong commitment to small business. Arbelo received the most nominee votes from colleagues across Kansas, which consists of six SBDC centers and about 45 employees. Arbelo will accept the honor in Nashville this September. Then, in February, she will have the opportunity to travel with Kansas SBDC's state president and associate state director/ CFO to Washington, D.C. as Kansas' State Star, representing the commitment shown to small businesses and to meet with Congressional members and others on Capitol Hill.
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Century Business Develops the Topeka Zoo Travel Guide App
Introducing the Topeka Zoo Travel Guide App, the ultimate wayfinding app designed to enhance your Topeka zoo experience. Navigating through the winding pathways and countless exhibits of a zoo can be a daunting task, but with the Topeka Zoo Travel Guide App you'll be informed on the fly during your visit. This innovative app combines GPS location technology with a user-friendly interface to provide you with seamless navigation and exciting features to make your zoo visit both educational and enjoyable.
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New Topeka Information Center Opens to the Public
After delays brought on by the pandemic, Visit Topeka’s new Tourist Information Center is finally complete and ready to welcome visitors! The center is located on the first floor of the downtown U.S. Bank building that houses The partnership's offices.
When coming in for a meeting, please make sure to stop in the Visitor Center to check in before heading up the elevator.
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"Small Business isn't for the faint of heart. It's for the brave, the patient, & the persistent. It's for the overcomer."
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