Washburn Small Business Development Center

The Plug and Play expo showcased exceptional innovation once again, and it's truly inspiring to witness the numerous pioneering companies that engage with our community through this platform.

Join us for a hands-on AI workshop designed to help you work smarter, save time, and explore practical tools you can use right away.

Details are on the flyer — register today!

Bravo to all participants of the Community Innovation Pitch Challenge. The ideas presented not only strengthen but also inspire our community. We are excited to see the impact of their visionary leadership in the future.

The ideas coming out of the Washburn University Community Innovation Challenge are incredibly inspiring. We are lucky to have partners like the Topeka Community Foundation investing in Washburn’s entrepreneurs.

Monday’s statewide agritourism event was a strong example of what can happen when organizations work together to provide meaningful support for small businesses. Hosted by the Washburn SBDC, Kansas Agritourism, K-State Extension, Northeast Kansas Enterprise Facilitation, and Glacial Hills RC&D, the event welcomed nearly 50 participants from across the state for a day centered on education, strategy, and practical resources.

The focus was on helping agritourism businesses strengthen their marketing and operational efficiencies through accessible AI tools. Many of these business owners are balancing the daily demand of serving customers through products, services, and experiences created on their farms and agricultural lands. Providing them with practical ways to improve messaging and content creation can make a real difference in their ability to grow and connect with their audiences.

A special thank you goes to Maliha Khan, of Khanect the Dots, who served as the keynote speaker and trainer for th AI marketing content sessions. Her expertise and practical support helped make the topic approachable, relevant, and immediately useful for participants.

This event reflected the value of coordinated partnership among organizations committed to supporting Kansas entrepreneurs. We are proud to be a part of such a strong entrepreneurial service organization ecosystem. Collaboration helps expand access, strengthen support systems, and better equip small businesses to grow and adapt in a changing marketplace.

Thankful for the platform provided to highlight SBDC's efforts to the Kansas Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance, and appreciative of our community lending partner's testimony in support of our work.

Calling all Kansas Argitourism Businesses…This one is for you!
🐝🎃🍏🦬🐟🐓🌲🐖🐎🚜🐂🌾🌻❤️

Registration is OPEN for the 2026 Kansas Agritourism Advantage: Mastering Marketing & Creating Community!

All Kansas Agritourism Businesses who register for this FREE event can expect a day packed with time-saving strategies. This hands-on session includes AI-powered marketing content creation tailored to your brand voice and audience, scheduling tools and workflows that help you plan ahead and post with ease, and simple AI practices that save hours each week—without adding complexity.

Register for this event at https://ksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/28980

Commerce has launched a new round of Supporting Innovative Growth through New Signage (SIGNS) funding aimed at enhancing downtown revitalization by boosting foot traffic, improving business visibility, and driving sales in commercial districts!

Learn more: ➡️ https://bit.ly/4qTU4Zq

Are you interested in Best Practices for Keeping Your LLC in Good Standing? Register today for the upcoming workshop-in person and virtual options are available!

The Regional Director of the KSBDC at Washburn University, Jess Horton, lead a marketing roundtable Friday morning at the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce - such a terrific group of business people around the table! Thank you for inviting us to kick off your ‘Ask the Expert’ series!