BIG NEWS FOR SMALL BUSINESS |
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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! |
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GO TOPEKA WELCOMES NEW
SVP OF INNOVATION
GO Topeka has hired Stephanie Moran to serve as the organization's new senior vice president of innovation. She comes to GO Topeka after spending four years as president of Nutri-Shield, a Kansas-based agriculture startup. Moran also spent 20 years at Payless headquarters and led many endeavors, including the creation of their international franchising division. Her first day with GO Topeka will be March 28.
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NOMINATE A BUSINESS
TODAY FOR OUR ANNUAL
SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS
Calling all dream chasers, opportunity makers and success creators! It's time to nominate small businesses in Topeka and Shawnee County for the Greater Topeka Partnership's 41st annual Small Business Awards. Visit GoTopeka.com/small-business-awards to see this year's award categories and eligibility requirements. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 4. While on the GO Topeka site, you may also purchase tickets to attend the Small Business Awards luncheon on Tuesday, May 10 at downtown Topeka's Townsite Ballroom.
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DON'T MISS OUR 'COPING WITH INFLATION' WEBINAR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
On April 4 from 8:30-9:15 a.m., GO Topeka's Laurie Pieper, vice president of entrepreneurship and small business, will present a free webinar titled "Coping with Inflation: Strategies for Small Businesses." This webinar is sponsored by the GTP's Small Business Council. To register, click here.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT
'WORKING WITH
REGULATORY AGENCIES'
GO Topeka has been working with innovation partner Plug and Play to offer a series of webinars for the Plug and Play ecosystem and area entrepreneurs. The fourth webinar in the series will take place from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12. Hear from speakers with PSC Biotech about how to work with the FDA and other regulatory agencies for domestic and international sales. For more information, click here. To register, click here.
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SMALL BUSINESS COUNCIL ADOPTS NEW OPERATING GUIDELINES
In March, the GTP Small Business Council adopted new operating guidelines, with changes to how local businesses become a member of the SBC. Moving forward, any bona fide business entity that conducts business in Shawnee County, is a member in good standing with the GTP, and has more than one but fewer than 50 employees may become an SBC member by alerting a GTP representative or signing up through GO Topeka's website. Becoming a member ensures you receive communications about SBC initiatives and activities. More information about how to sign up will be available soon, so be on the lookout for additional details! In the meantime, questions and comments may be directed to GO Topeka's Laurie Pieper by emailing laurie.pieper@topekapartnership.com.
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DON'T MISS THE Q2 DEADLINE
TO APPLY FOR SMALL BUSINESS
INCENTIVES
GO Topeka's Small Business Incentives program is an important tool for helping grow small businesses in Topeka and Shawnee County. The program has been revamped for 2022, with the introduction of new incentive categories and an online application process. Businesses hoping to apply for incentives should review the latest application guidelines and be aware that expenditures require pre-approval. More information is available at GoTopeka.com/small-business-incentive. Businesses that hope to have their applications reviewed in the second quarter of 2022 should apply by May 16 and have all follow-up materials submitted by end of the day on May 18.
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GTP STAFF APPEAR ON KTWU 'WORKING CAPITAL' SHOW
On March 17, Glenda Washington, the GTP's chief equity and opportunity officer, and Laurie Pieper, vice president of entrepreneurship and small business, appeared on the KTWU program "Working Capital" to talk about small business incentives and loans available through GO Topeka. Michael Odupitan, founder and CEO of Omni Circle Group, was also a featured guest on the show. Odupitan, Pieper and Washington are all part of the Topeka Startup Community. To watch the episode, click here.
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LAURIE PIEPER APPOINTED TO
NASBITE INTERNATIONAL
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
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PLUG AND PLAY TOPEKA SPURS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CARGILL, STENCO
Plug and Play Topeka announced in March that a second worthwhile partnership has stemmed from its local accelerator program. Cargill, a corporate partner of Plug and Play Topeka, has entered into a formal partnership with StenCo, a startup that recently went through the program. StenCo specializes in sustainable and biodegradable packaging and hopes to work with Cargill to explore and advance the company's sustainable and biodegradable packaging options. Click here to read local reporting about the partnership.
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GO TOPEKA HOSTS WOMEN'S
FORUM, LAUNCHES ATHENA
PROGRAMMING
On March 16, GO Topeka put on its annual spring Women's Forum at downtown venue The Beacon. The forum, held during Women's History Month, featured presentations by Wendy Doyle, of United WE, who talked about the organization's "The Status of Women in Kansas" report; Reva Wywadis, with Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas, who discussed the issue of affordable child care; and a Forge panel that discussed strategic leadership and women in business. The forum concluded with an engaging presentation by Polo Tate, of Athena International, who helped announce the launch of Athena leadership programming coming this year to Topeka.
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PLUG AND PLAY TOPEKA WELCOMES THIRD BATCH OF STARTUPS
Plug and Play Topeka announced earlier this year that it has selected — in collaboration with the program's corporate partners — 12 startups to participate in the third cohort of its local accelerator program focused on innovation in animal health and agriculture technology. These early-to-mid-stage startups hail from several different states and six different countries, including Chile, Israel, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. They were selected following a virtual pitch competition in February. To learn more about the latest batch of startups, click here.
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GOTopeka.com | 785-234-2644
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