(1) ABOUT THE RESOURCE CENTER

Regardless of the size, entrepreneurs and small businesses are key to a vibrant future for rural Kentucky. Whether you are self-employed, starting a new business, or want to grow your current business, resources are available to assist you at each stage of your growth.

Entrepreneurs’ Resource Centers (ERC), such as this one at the Metcalfe County Library, are being established throughout south-central Kentucky* as an outreach of the Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute (KECI). The goal is to assist citizens in accessing the local, state, and national resources available to help them start and sustain healthy businesses.

As members of the KECI team and residents or their respective counties, the following Entrepreneurial Coaches participate in this effort to provide you the basic assistance and information that you may need in your business endeavor. Please contact them if you have questions concerning this information source, or the KECI "Coaching" concept.

     Adair County: Kaye Bowman, 270-384-0750

     Metcalfe County: Bill Lytle, 270-432-2638

The list of resources that follow are by no means exhaustive, but do include those we have found to be the relevant, comprehensive, easy-to-use sources of information for new entrepreneurs.

*Planned ERC locations at this time include: Adair County, Barren County, Green County, Hart County, Marion County, Metcalfe County, & Washington County.

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(2) WHAT IS KECI ANYWAY?

Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute combines leadership development with entrepreneurial coaching and advocacy. Funded by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, this unique educational initiative trains volunteer leaders from formerly tobacco dependent counties throughout the commonwealth to coach individual entrepreneurs and work with others to stimulate entrepreneurial friendly communities. For more information about the Institute check out the KECI website by clicking here: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CLD/KECI/

What does an Entrepreneurial Coach Do?

Entrepreneurs may not be able to do everything needed to start or expand a business themselves. Just as athletes depend on a coach to help them reach new horizons, an entrepreneurial coach can help you to think and act more creatively for success. The bottom line: a coach can help you save time and money.

Click here to find a coach near you: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CLD/KECI/findcoach.htm

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(3) WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IN ADAIR COUNTY?

In this section, you will find resources available specifically to businesses in your county or in a region in which your county is located.

Columbia, KY, Mayor’s Office: www.cityofcolumbiaky.com/?page=links

Adair County Judge Executive Office: www.adaircounty.ky.gov/links.htm

Columbia/Adair County Chamber of Commerce: www.thinkcolumbiaky.com

Adair County Public Library: www.youseemore.com/adair/readyref.asp

L.E.A.D. Adair County: www.columbia-adaircounty.com/leadmain.html

South Central Kentucky: www.southcentralky.com

Through this site you can research our 10-county region along the Interstate 65 corridor in Kentucky. Our economic development site contains demographics, economic data, workforce information and a state of the art geographic information system which allows detailed analysis of available sites and buildings and other data about this region.

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(4) WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IN METCALFE COUNTY?

The Edmonton/Metcalfe County Industrial Development Authority can be reached at 270-432-3222.

The Metcalfe Chamber of Commerce is an excellent source for County information: http://metcalfechamber.com/

The Metcalfe County Cooperative Extension Office can be found at: http://ces.ca.uky.edu/Metcalfe/

The Judge Executive's telephone number is 270-432-3181.

The Metcalfe County Library's Web site is http://www.youseemore.com/metcalfe/.

Also, Metcalfe County has partnered with three area associations:

The Barren River Area Development District (BRADD): http://www.bradd.org/

The Kentucky Entrepreneurial Accelerator Network (KyEAN): http://www.kyean.org/relaunch/index.php

The South Central Kentucky Center for Business: http://southcentralky.com/

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(5) KENTUCKY LINKS/RESOURCES

Kentucky is working hard to provide entrepreneurs with the resources they need to get started. Resources available to businesses in Kentucky include information, forms, research, grant funding, and even one-on-one assistance. Most of these resources are available at little to no cost.

Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSDC): http://www.ksbdc.org/

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center has been assisting the Commonwealth’s small business community for more than 25 years. With 15 service centers statewide and an experienced and knowledgeable staff, KSBDC provides unparalleled consulting and training services that help existing business owners and potential entrepreneurs succeed. Their services include: one-on-one management consultations, training workshops, market research, loan packaging help, assistance with financial projections and information needed to make informed business decisions.

The KSDC is also a good resource for developing a business plan: http://www.ksbdc.org/new-businesses/business-planning/

Market Maker: http://ky.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/

An interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Kentucky, providing an important link between producers and consumers.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture Kentucky Proud Program: http://www.kyagr.com/kyproud/index.htm

Kentucky Proud is a trademarked initiative developed by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to aid Kentuckians in establishing or expanding their market place. The program is funded by monies set aside by the Kentucky legislature from Kentucky's portion of the Master Tobacco Settlement. Considerable time, effort and financial resources are invested each year to further promote the Kentucky Proud brand. Food producers and retailers can be "Kentucky Proud".

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: http://ces.ca.uky.edu/ces/

Based in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, the UK Cooperative Extension Service reaches millions of Kentucky residents each year with educational programs in agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H and youth development, and community and economic development. They serve as the local "front door" to the campus of the University of Kentucky through local agents working in each of the Commonwealth's 120 county Cooperative Extension offices.

The Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy: http://www.kyagpolicy.com/

The Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP) provides a direct link between the Governor and one of the state's most important industries. The office administers the Governor's Commission on Family Farms, the Kentucky Agricultural Resource Development Authority (KARDA), the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (Phase I), the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Trust Corporation (Phase II), and the Kentucky Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund. Additionally, this office represents Kentucky's interests as national agricultural policy is developed.

Start Up Kentucky: http://www.startupkentucky.com/

Funding source for technology based startup companies.

Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation: http://www.kstc.com/

(KSTC) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the capacity of people, companies and organizations to develop and apply science and technology and compete responsibly in the global marketplace.

Think Kentucky: http://thinkkentucky.com/BIC/

Starting a business (or buying an existing business) requires an understanding of local, state and federal requirements to legally operate the business. The required permits, licenses and registrations can vary depending on the type of business, how the business is structured, where the business is located, etc.

Kentucky Business Guide: http://www.thinkkentucky.com/kyedc/pdfs/bicguide.pdf

Kentucky Entrepreneurial Accelerator Network: http://www.kyean.org/

A partnership of The Center for Rural Development, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, and the University of Kentucky. The Kentucky Entrepreneurial Accelerator Network (KEAN) is an Internet portal providing access to Kentucky’s rich wealth of entrepreneurial resources and technical assistance through the KEAN website.

Click here for the KyEAN Document Library: http://www.kyean.org/relaunch/doclib/index.php

Workforce Kentucky: http://www.workforcekentucky.ky.gov/

This is the Workforce Kentucky web site delivered by the Office of Employment and Training (OET). The site is designed to serve employers, job seekers, students, counselors, educators and training providers. It is the largest source of labor market data in the Commonwealth. Users can explore occupations, labor markets, geographic areas, industry projections, and much more. For more information, please take the tour.

Kentucky State Data Center: http://ksdc.louisville.edu/

This site provides statistics, maps, presentations, and publications about data related to Kentucky employment, education, housing, economy/business, and income/poverty.

Kentucky SOS Trademarks and Service Marks Database: http://apps.sos.ky.gov/business/trademarks/

This is a part of the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website. It can be used to select search criteria and enter keywords that can identify and find a registered mark. It is important to understand the limitations of the database.

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(6) NATIONAL LINKS/RESOURCES

SCORE: http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Center for Rural Entrepreneurship: http://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/

The mission of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (RUPRI) is to help leaders and citizens in rural communities and regions across the U.S. embrace entrepreneurship as a core rural economic development strategy. The Appalachian Regional Commission: http://www.arc.gov/index.jsp

The Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.

The Kauffman Foundation: http://www.kauffman.org/

The Kauffman Foundation is often referred to as one of the largest foundations in the United States—or as the world's largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis: http://bea.doc.gov/

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner. BEA is an agency of the Department of Commerce.

Small Business Resource Guide: http://www.sbrg.irs.gov/

In order to provide the most timely and up-to-date tax information, The Small Business Resource Guide (SBRG), formally a CD-ROM, is now available exclusively on line.

Designed to equip small business owners with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully start and manage a business. The SBRG 2009 Website offers a wide range of tax topics, Web links to business forms, publications, other useful governmental Web sites, and much more.

Small Business Video and Audio Presentations: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97726,00.html

As a part of the Internal Revenue Service website, these short presentations are dedicated to helping your small business. In addition to these video and audio presentations, please visit the Small Business Tax Workshop Video page for instructional lessons. To view the videos, download the Flash Player if you don't already have it.

Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/selfemployed/

Small businesses and the self-employed will also find information and resources in this Self-Employed Tax Center.

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