Let The Small Business Administration Hear Your Voice
The words “small business” cover so many entrepreneurs that have called Eureka home for their business throughout the years. Almost on a daily basis, whether it is some of my co-workers or residents from around the city, someone will mention a business that once existed in or near Eureka. I am sometimes stopped in my tracks listening to the stories shared with me about some of those businesses that are no longer operating. One of the biggest challenges I face working as your City Administrator is not just helping to keep the doors open for the unique businesses throughout the city, but also trying to attract people to start a business and risk, in some cases, their life savings in a dream of being a business owner.
A few months ago, I met an individual whose job is to help small businesses reach their dreams and potential. After some convincing, I was able to invite this individual to the City of Eureka to present a program. I told him I had the perfect venue for him to present at; a venue that makes Eureka unique: the Eureka Downs. He was excited to see the Downs and said he wanted to present these various programs through his organization, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). He will be able to answer any questions about the various programs the SBA has to offer.
Over the past few weeks, city staff and I developed a flyer for this event and started a new section of the city’s website entitled Grants and Opportunities. Information on the SBA is linked to this page on the city’s website. I took this as an opportunity to visit some of the businesses around the city and introduce myself while passing out some of the flyers. I want to personally invite anyone who wants to start a business or learn about how they can improve their existing business, to attend this event on Thursday, July 11. We will open the doors of the Eureka Downs at 5 p.m., with a catered event by a Eureka small business, who will be serving dinner at 6 p.m. The speaker, Wayne Bell, of the Wichita SBA office, will begin his program at 6:30 p.m. This is not just limited to Eureka business owners or entrepreneurs, but anyone in Greenwood County as I feel helping to grow Eureka is a regional effort, not just a single avenue of approach from the city.
I realize that some of the opportunities that may be presented at this event may not be applicable for every business in the city or county, but it is my hope that I can at least impact a few of those small businesses in attendance. Maybe it will be your business that can be impacted by this event. I look forward to seeing you that night, and if it’s not too hot, say hello and maybe I will have the opportunity to provide a tour of the Eureka Downs that evening. So, help me continue to hear your voices and share with me your Visions On Improving the City of Eureka.
