Local entrepreneurs and start ups benefit from local resources

Just because someone runs a small business doesn’t mean their contribution to the local economy is small as well. “Most of the net permanent jobs, 60 percent in fact, come from small businesses,” said Greg Tucker, the state director of the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers. He said small businesses are defined as companies with 100 employees or less. Small businesses are also usually more established in the community. Entrepreneurs are usually starting a new venture. Steve Wyatt with the University of Missouri Office of Economic Development said Wednesday the economic impact of a local start up or small business might not always be immediately obvious. Veteran’s United was actually a business that began in Columbia. “They are a major employer here in Columbia,” said Wyatt. “When they first started people were probably not aware of what they were accomplishing and yet they’ve a tremendous success and a tremendous impact on our community.” There are several specific resources available to entrepreneurs in Columbia and the wider mid-Missouri community through REDI and other organizations.
One event combines many resources and brings them together under one roof. Mid-Missouri’s Innovation Week began last Friday and continues through this Friday and it provides workshops and events for entrepreneurs and start up companies to perfect and present their ideas and even foster the In the past few years, more and more resources have been popping up for these new and small businesses. There’s services like ours, the Small Business Technology Development Centers, there’s the Mizzou Venture Mentoring Service, there are lots of organizations that work hard to connect, we call it the local ecosystem, to bring all these resources together so that we can pool our resources to better help these small businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Tucker. Tucker said small businesses often have to compete with online sales that don’t really have that homegrown feel to them and don’t care about the local community as much. That sales tax spent online is then lost to the local economy. So when mid-Missourians see the benefit to small business, Wyatt said they can help foster their growth because when that business is strong in mid-Missouri it will help them benefit from a strong, local economy. “Tap into some of the local start up businesses and maybe give them a chance to be able to provide you with goods and services,” he said.