New Loan Programs Launch in Manhattan Region to Propel Small Business Growth

MANHATTAN, KS – In a collaborative effort aimed at nurturing local entrepreneurship, $350,000 in new capital is now at the fingertips of area entrepreneurs for the upcoming year. This financial boost comes through the launch of two entrepreneurial funding programs—the Elevate Micro-Loan Program and the NetWork Kansas Empower Fund. A consortium of key entrepreneurial ecosystem partners, including the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, Spark, Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, K-State Innovation Partners, the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, and NetWork Kansas, have joined forces to make this initiative a reality.

To complement these new initiatives, the Manhattan region also benefits from existing NetWork Kansas E-Community and GrowKS loan programs, ensuring a comprehensive suite of resources for local businesses. Interested entrepreneurs can find detailed information and check eligibility on the Spark website at funding.sparkmhk.com, where an online Inquiry Form is available to start the process.

Ia's Kitchen brings authentic Puerto Rican cuisine and culture to Junction City, central Kansas area

During #HispanicHeritageMonth, we will feature the inspiring journeys, diverse backgrounds, and exceptional achievements of Hispanic entrepreneurs in the Flint Hills region who have left an indelible mark on their industries and communities. Join us as we explore the stories of resilience, creativity, and success that make up the spirit of Hispanic entrepreneurship. In this interview, we meet Yahaira Lorenzo-Jaime, a Hispanic entrepreneur and co-owner of Ia’s Kitchen in Junction City, along with her husband, Luis Cubero. These features are written in both English and Spanish.

Ayuda Para Hispanohablantes aims to empowering Spanish speakers and bridge cultures through service

During #HispanicHeritageMonth, we feature the inspiring journeys, diverse backgrounds, and exceptional achievements of Hispanic entrepreneurs in the Flint Hills region who have left an indelible mark on their industries and communities. Join us as we explore the stories of resilience, creativity, and success that make up the spirit of Hispanic entrepreneurship. These features are written in both English and Spanish. This interview is with Yendi Gonzalez, a Hispanic entrepreneur who is forming a business around the translation service she has provided for years. “Ayuda Para Hispanohablantes” (Help for Spanish-speakers) offers services such as translating and interpreting from Spanish to English and vice versa, and everything that a non-English’s speaker would need,” Yendi says. Read her Hispanic entrepreneur story here.

Serial Entrepreneurs Build on 100 years of Manhattan History with Innovative, Sustainable Company

For serial entrepreneur, Enrique Garibay, every problem he encounters is a potential business opportunity. He is the first to credit his entrepreneurial drive to his father, who immigrated in the United States during the Mexican Revolution of the early 1900s. “Our family has been in the Manhattan area for over 100 years,” Enrique says. His father pursued any opportunity presented to him. When he later became a welder, he experienced the barriers of racism when the other men in the shop threatened to quit if he was allowed to work with them as an employee. His boss nearly fired him, but Enrique’s father didn’t want to miss the opportunity and volunteered to work at night. The skill of welding later became the family business in which Enrique was raised.

Hispanic BusinessMadi QuinnOctober 28, 2022Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic-owned business

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