What's Inside:
- Latest Covid-19 Resource Updates
- Kiosk Center Launch
- Client Shout Out
- Upcoming Training Events
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Key 2021 Covid Financial Support Programs |
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Loan and grant program highlights include:
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Employee Retention Tax Credits - Up to $28k per employee. Employers can claim up to 70% of total compensation expense per employee (up to $7k per employee per quarter in 2021).
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SBA Debt Relief Program -New SBA Loans now through September 2021 get their first 3 months of payments FREE (capped at $9,000 per month per borrower) made on your behalf. Existing SBA Loans may get additional months of FREE payments as well, based on additional criteria.
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Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) - The U.S. Small Business Administration is increasing the maximum amount small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow through its COVID-19 EIDL program. Starting the week of April 6, 2021, the SBA raised the loan limit for the COVID-19 EIDL program from 6-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $500,000.
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The Kansas SBDC Launches Support Kiosks |
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The Kansas SBDC has launched small business kiosks to help centers better reach rural clients.
Currently situated in Fort Scott (Bourbon County), Chanute (Neosho County), and Iola (Allen County), the mission behind these kiosks is to inform clients of technological and rural initiatives and assist rural entrepreneurs in gaining access to small business assistance.
The Kansas SBDC plans to expand availability and accessibility to these kiosks throughout the state, including a floating kiosk at the Pittsburg State University campus to encourage student curiosity and entrepreneurship.
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Future plans include bringing more kiosks through economic development hosts and universities throughout Kansas to better provide support and assistance to our rural clients.
In addition to these kiosks, the Kansas SBDC has a 7-day-a-week virtual assistance center, offering additional support during and after business hours.
The Virtual Call Center is open Monday through Friday, 9am – 7pm; Saturday, 10am – 2pm, and Sunday, 5pm – 7pm. English speakers may call (800) 949-7661.
For our Spanish-speaking clients, they may contact the virtual center at (800) 707-0580, Monday through Friday, 3pm – 7pm; Saturday, 10am – 2pm; and Sunday, 5pm – 7pm.
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Kansas SBDC Client Shout Out
Exporting | Progressive Products, Inc.
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For over 40 years, Progressive Products, Inc., in Pittsburg, Kansas, has been helping businesses throughout the United States and internationally to streamline and maintain their conveyor systems.
Todd Allison, president of Progressive Products, Inc. (PPI), contacted the Kansas SBDC seeking assistance with general sales strategies to help reinvigorate the business.
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“We needed to reorganize our sales team, change the focus of sales efforts, and establish appropriate metrics and accountability,” Allison said.
PPI had been witnessing a decline in sales on the pneumatic conveying side of their business. Power plants had given PPI a huge boost in sales in trying to meet a 2015-2016 compliance date, but after that wave, sales began declining, and Allison knew PPI needed to redirect its efforts.
Kansas SBDC advisor Randy Robinson worked with Allison on analyzing the marketplace and finding simple and consistent changes to improve sales. Robinson also helped to analyze the appropriate metrics and accountability, which helped to reorganize the sales team.
“I think reorganizing our sales team territories has been most helpful,” Allison said. “It allows us to spend more time finding new clients and working on our international reach.”
“[The SBDC] has been really helpful and brought new focus to the sales team,” said Allison. “Randy has been working with us fairly consistently over the last year, and his advice has improved our efforts to increase our gross sales, establish ourselves with more new clients, and reduce internal processing errors.”
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Upcoming Webinars and Virtual Events |
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Upcoming Paid Webinars
Cost: $45
Cost: $49
Cost: $75
Cost: $75
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Upcoming In-Person Seminars
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Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration |
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Kansas Small Business Development Center
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Questions? Don't hesitate to contact our 7 day-a-week assistance line at (800) 949-7661
For Spanish, call (800) 707-0580
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