The Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development is holding a small business workshop this Wednesday as they make more of an effort to reach communities outside of Galesburg.
KCAP’s Director of Client Engagement, Kyle Kelley says this meeting is geared toward people that have had an idea for a small business but don’t know how to get their idea off the ground.
Kelley says that typically these sort of workshops have been hosted in Galesburg.
“We’ve seen a lot of interest from the outside community with folks looking start a business and they just to be able to tap into the same resources that we provide here,” Kelly says. “So sticking true to our name, the Knox County Area, we’re going to go all the way out and try help some of those folks get their businesses started in the more rural areas.”
He says meeting and speaking with these individuals before they do something rash is one of the reasons they should attend this workshop.
More of these KCAP small business workshops are planned for Knox County outside Galesburg, with one coming up in Altona.
Kelley says that you don’t need to have all the details of your business worked out before Wednesday
“This event is focused directly for… kind of the ‘30,000 foot view.’ This is going to encompass the folks that maybe have had the idea before – starting a business. And they just don’t know how the sausage is made, and that’s [what this is for.] ”
He adds that often when starting a small business people will underestimate the financing it takes to get the venture off the ground.
Kelley added that one of the most complicated things for a new business to deal with is potentially issues with zoning.
He says meeting and speaking with these individuals before they do something rash is one of the reasons they should attend this workshop.
Also set to be a part of the workshop will be Jim Boyd with the Small Business Development Center at Western Illinois University.
Kelley says Boyd will put on the content piece of the workshop and overall is a great partnership for KCAP and small businesses throughout West-Central Illinois.
The workshop will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Anderson State Bank in Oneida.
