1. Business Summary

Grow Leavenworth County (GLC) operates as a Network Kansas–affiliated e-community board focused on strengthening entrepreneurship, supporting small business formation, and deploying gap financing tools across Leavenworth County. Recent board appointments have restored quorum and momentum, positioning GLC to move beyond maintenance activities and toward proactive economic development, youth engagement, and early-stage business incubation.

2. Needs & Pain Points

• Low visibility and unclear public understanding of GLC’s purpose and offerings.
• Inconsistent pipeline of new entrepreneurs engaging with GLC programs.
• Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) registrations lagging close to event date.
• Logo lacks explanatory context and does not clearly communicate mission.
• No structured pathway for idea-stage entrepreneurs prior to business launch.
• Limited coordination between lenders, service providers, and peer mentors.

3. Improvement Blueprint

GLC will shift from reactive program delivery to a staged ecosystem model that captures entrepreneurs earlier, provides progressive education and peer support, and connects participants to lenders, technical assistance, and incubation opportunities. Branding, event structure, and outreach will be aligned to reinforce clarity and continuity.

4. Actionable Roadmap

Immediate Fixes (0–7 Days)

• Confirm full board roster alignment with mayoral appointment requirements.
• Re-circulate YEC invitations to prior participants and educators.
• Finalize reimbursement process for YEC awards.

Short-Term (1–4 Weeks)

• Approve interim use of existing logo while tagline options are developed.
• Secure venue and date for Spring Entrepreneur Networking Event.
• Coordinate YEC judges, mentors, and event staffing.

Medium-Term (1–3 Months)

• Execute Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge and submit Network Kansas reporting.
• Launch Entrepreneur Networking & Idea Exchange Event (April target).
• Collect participant feedback to guide follow-up programming.

Long-Term (3–12 Months)

• Establish a three-part entrepreneur education and incubation series.
• Formalize partnerships with lenders, CPAs, attorneys, and marketing providers.
• Explore rotating county-wide locations to expand geographic reach.

Operational Enhancements

• Create a simple intake rubric for idea-stage entrepreneurs.
• Track participants from first contact through financing or launch.

Marketing & Visibility

• Add a clear tagline explaining GLC’s role in business growth.
• Deploy targeted digital outreach to individuals researching business creation.

Financial & Partner Alignment

• Clarify gap financing versus community loan pathways.
• Align sponsor contributions to multi-event programming.

5. ThriveKS Action Plan

ThriveKS will serve as the execution and structure partner, translating board discussions into timelines, accountability, and inter-meeting progress. ThriveKS will coordinate event planning, documentation, outreach workflows, and follow-up systems.

6. Grants & Programs

• Network Kansas Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge funding.
• Local sponsorships supporting event costs and awards.
• Potential future program grants for incubation and education initiatives.

7. How ThriveKS Supports Grow Leavenworth County

ThriveKS provides operational scaffolding, marketing execution, documentation systems, and continuity between meetings. This allows GLC board members to focus on governance, relationships, and strategic direction while execution remains consistent.

8. Follow-Up Plan

• January: Finalize logo direction and YEC readiness.
• February: Execute YEC and initiate entrepreneur event promotion.
• April: Host networking event and capture participant data.

9. Questions for Next Meeting

• Which logo/tagline best communicates GLC’s mission?
• Which partners should anchor the incubation series?
• How should success be measured beyond attendance?

10. How We Can Help Grow Leavenworth County

By providing structure, execution discipline, and continuity, ThriveKS enables Grow Leavenworth County to move from discussion to durable outcomes—supporting youth, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the county with clarity and follow-through.