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Emporia Main Street
E-Newsletter |
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Snowmagedon is here! But, we also have a lot of good news for the community... New businesses are starting to pop up, the Start Your Own Business Class begins this week and the weather will eventually warm, right? |
Click HERE for the Dinner and Taste Ticket
Click HERE for the general Taste Ticket |
The Taste is April 12th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Civic Auditorium. This classic event features Kansas Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries, local restaurants, live music and a lot of fun! We also have a Taste AND Dinner option. Dinner starts at 5:00 p.m., and dinner attendees gain early access to The Taste. We sold out of tickets the last three years, so remember to get your tickets EARLY!!! Click the links above to reserve your dinner ticket or your general ticket (we will hold on-line tickets at the door). Don't wait! Get your tickets TODAY!!!
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Main Street Merchandise
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You can order the items listed below at a variety of local merchants, at the Emporia Main Street office or on-line at www.emporiamainstreet.com
Emporia-Opoly Game Boards are in and moving QUICKLY! This Emporia version of the classic Monopoly board game features local businesses, historic sights and special Emporia Tokens. This is the perfect gift for current or past Emporians. Because there is a limited quantity, we suggest you get yours soon..
Emporia Main Street Gift Certificates are always the perfect size! Give the gift of shopping local this year with the gift of Emporia Main Street gift certificates, good at our member merchants throughout Emporia.
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Learn more about local amenities, organizations, businesses, events and more with the E-Town Mobile App! The ETown App is a joint project among Emporia State University, Flint Hills Technical College, USD 253, The Emporia Gazette, the City of Emporia, the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Emporia Main Street.
For IPhone Users, click here:
For Android Users, click here:
For the NEW iPad Version, click here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/e-town-app-emporia-kansas/id712001984?mt=8
New additions AND a Web version COMING SOON!
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Start Your Own Business
Instructors: Rob Gilligan and Lisa Brumbaugh
Cost: $288 for 2 credit hours
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, February 4-March 13, 6:00-9:00 PM
Are you ready to turn your passion into a business? Do you have a product or service you want to share with the community? The START YOUR OWN BUSINESS course will provide you with the necessary business skills to start AND grow your business.
At FHTC, we believe in a three-level approach to making you a successful business owner: master a skill, get the education you need to successfully operate a
business, and expand your business through the use of the many tools and resources available in our region.
For this course, we have partnered with Emporia Main Street and the ESU Small Business Development Center to offer a comprehensive training program for potential and current small business owners who bring talent and opportunity to our business community. Our goal is to show you the resources and knowledge to make you successful. Your training and support only begins with this course. Graduates of SYOB will be eligible to apply for several financial opportunities to make starting a business more affordable and successful.
Class starts February 4! For more information, please contact Jessica Hopkins. Open enrollment begins October 28; click here: https://my.fhtc.edu/ICS/Admissions/Apply_For_Admission.jnz to access an Admissions Application.
Online Moodle 2.5 Boot Camp
Instructor: Kim Dhority
Session 2: Schedule: Modules open March 24-May 26. (Must be registered by March 15).
Cost: $25; graduate credit is available through Baker University at an additional cost.
Do you want to offer online classes? Do you want to be able to give handouts or presentations to your students anywhere? Join Kim Dhority for an informative and helpful "boot camp", and learn how to use the open-source learning management system called Moodle. Through seven interactive and informative online modules, the class will cover course set-up, maintenance, resources, activities, advanced features, and more! This course is ideal for college instructors and administrators, and is available for graduate credit through Baker University for an additional fee. Please contact 620-341-1392 for additional details.
Eating in Season
Instructor: Tracey Graham
Cost: $5
Schedule: Session 1: Tuesday, January 21, 6:00-8:00 PM
Session 2: Tuesday, February 18, 6:00-8:00 PM
We all know that locally-grown foods (from your garden, your friends' and neighbors' gardens, the Farmers Market, etc.) are the very best. Even in the depths of winter, there are many lovely foods available locally. Tips for creative ways of consuming high-quantity foods while they're at their peak is the focus of this class. Explore how to take advantage of the abundance that is available at different times of the year, and sample some recipes whipped up from what's available right now. Sponsored in part by the Emil Babinger Charitable Trust.
Enroll today! Visit http://flinthills.augusoft.net or call 620-341-1392.
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Sunflower Invitational
Sunflower Gymnastics is hosting the 2014 Trampoline and Tumbling Sunflower Winter Invitational at White Auditorium on Saturday, February 15. This is their 12th event since 2007.
The event is bringing 310 athletes from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado to compete at what has become the largest Trampoline and Tumbling meet in a 5 state area.
There are also opportunities to purchase sponsorship ads in the program for $50 a spot. The ads are a horizontal measuring 4.75" x 1.9" (28p9x11p1).
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Property Availability Guide
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For property owners with property available for rent or sale, this is a free service to collect information and post it on the Emporia Main Street Web Site. With other market information available, we hope this site makes it easier for potential businesses and property developers to find spaces they need.
CLICK HERE to enter information about your available property and view previously submitted information.
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Business Investment Guide |
Do you know a business that should locate in Emporia? Maybe you know an entrpreneur looking for resources or a business owner looking to expand? The Business Investment Guide is community information designed to help you point your contacts in the right direction!
CLICK HERE for the INVESTMENT GUIDE |
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Net Neutrality
How something you have probably never heard of could adversely impact your small business or organization
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Technology is the great equalizer for many businesses. Because tech is based on creative ideas, and it's popularity is supported by the masses, there is something strangely entrepreneurial and democratic ingrained in the DNA of today's internet based technology. The internet accelerated the democratization of tech. Small businesses can sell items to anyone with a credit card (or other on-line payment options) all over the globe. Tech based entrepreneurs can take a niche market that might have a hard time finding sufficient support in their local customer base and extend their reach globally. Although search engine optimization and on-line advertising helps businesses attain the search engine "first page" status, on-line businesses and organizations were always on a fairly level playing field, but some are trying to change that.
Think about the web sites you visit. You obviously want fresh content, good information and an attractive layout that is functional across both desktop and mobile platforms. As consumers access your site, they also want a page that is accessible, with information that loads quickly and consistently. The speed in which people can access the web is currently dictated by three variables: 1. The speed at which the consumer's internet device accesses the internet. 2. The speed at which the server containing the web information accesses the internet. and 3. The speed of the pipeline between those two users. This level playing field among users and web sites is referred to in technological circles as "Net Neutrality". It doesn't matter who or where you are, or what web site you own, if you are in a free country without excessive government controls you essentially have access to the same internet. Recent campaigns are seeking to change that neutral balance in very specific ways.
Large pipeline management companies (national or international telephone companies, for example) can use a process called Deep Packet Inspection to alter content available to end users, change the speed at which content becomes available or block content all together. In the past, this type of behavior violated the concept of Net Neutrality, but recent court rulings have changed the interpretation of rules preventing a neutral internet. The Federal Communication Commission's classification of the internet as "information" rather than "telecommunication" created a gray area for government oversight and accountability.
From a business perspective, high bandwidth "peer to peer" software may be blocked, slowed or  have additional charges added in the future. Peer to peer software includes some entertainment specific items like certain games, but file sharing, instant messaging, streaming media, online currency exchanges and even some voice over IP applications could result in additional future user fees in the future. Removing "bandwidth hogs" from the system could, in theory, prevent bottle necks and increase average speeds for individuals not utilizing peer to peer software.
Many on-line businesses start small and grow organically over time. Changes from a Net Neutral system to a Tiered system may create a tiered internet. Web operators, application managers and device managers that want to become part of the "fast" internet may have extra fees associated with their content. Businesses that choose a lower tier could have consumers connect to their web presence at slower speeds. Slower speeds would alter website accessibility and place small businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
Conduit or "pipeline" tiered legislative discussions aren't new, but the change in focus from the individual perspective to business advocacy is a relatively recent development. Even in the state of Kansas, bills have been presented that would impact a communities access to broadband service. Click HERE for Senate Bill 304.
For more information on Net Neutrality, please click the following links:
As advocates for small businesses, we must be conscious about barriers to market entry for smaller  businesses. The more difficult and more expensive it is for a small business to enter a market, the more difficult it is to make a profit and grow. Some barriers to entry include large established businesses that saturate a market, expensive equipment, extensive licensing requirements and other overhead costs. The commercial internet has always been a tool that facilitates innovation, but small businesses may have trouble competing with larger companies in a non-neutral environment. Additional fees for small businesses used to competing on the basis of ingenuity could stifle Mom and Pop web choices in the future.
Obviously, recent changes in Net Neutrality haven't resulted in wholesale changes to the internet, but this is a potential issue that businesses may have to deal with in the future. If your business communicates to customers through the web, or you utilize web based services that a tiered internet could impact, we encourage you to educate yourself on the issue of Net Neutrality.
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Did you know???
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Last week we submitted paperwork for several summer events, put together documentation for funding two separate business projects, obtained A LOT of new  market information, held a special project meeting, met with two potential business expansions, started event media contacts, participated in an ESU strategic planning session, saw a long awaited project partially open, and we were able to procure some new business participants in several upcoming events. Spring is coming (we promise). But we use this colder weather to build resources, conduct planning and get ready for an exceptionally busy upcoming year. All that work leads to
some good questions from all of you!
1. "How do you form an effective marketing message?"- From a conversation that popped up at a strategic planning meeting I attended. People spend a lot of money nationally trying to figure out the answer to that question. Marketing professionals are as indispensable as professions like accountants and attorneys for many businesses because they force you to put yourself in the mind of your target consumer. That's not an easy thing to do. When holding an event with a target market of young families, it was (until recently) difficult for me to think about marketing through their eyes. When approaching donors that are way out of my income bracket, it requires some extra thought and time. When we work with college students, I'll often run things by college age people I know. Why go through those steps? Because it frankly doesn't matter if I think a message will resonate with a group or not (if I'm not representative of that group). It matters what the target market thinks. So, when creating your marketing message, I encourage you to clearly identify who the message is for, and then attempt to put yourself in their shoes.
2. "Where can we hold a business party/gathering?" From an e-mail to the office. It warms my heart when I actually get feedback from newsletters! Immediately after last week's promotions based newsletter that talked about places home based businesses could hold parties, we got the following message from Studio 11: "We have formerly rented our back "classroom" or "art lab" space for home based business parties. I don't think a lot of people know that the option is available though. We have also recently renovated the space to make it even more lovely. So we would be happy to be on your list of places to host those kind of events." I also happen to know that they host private art parties for your group, so give them a call if you need some space.
Get your party dresses at "Classy Consignments"
Do you know someone who needs prom and party dress fashion styles without the fashion costs?
Girl Scout Troop 34047 will sell your gently-used and new formal dresses and accessories at the price you set. The Classy Consignments Sale is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1 and 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 2 at the Amend Girl Scout Center, 1200 Burlingame Rd., Emporia.
Dresses and accessories may be consigned or donated. Consigner fee of $15 per dress (accessories included) and $3 per pair of shoes is paid at time they are dropped off. Each dress will be tagged during drop off with the size, price and locations the dress was worn. Sales are cash and check only.
Proceeds go to Girl Scout Troop 34047 for their 2015 Europe trip.
Questions? Call Susan Faler, 620-794-2026.
3. "Is my building grandfathered into the Americans with Disabilities Act?" From a structural discussion with a member. This was more of a conversation that was passed along to me than a question, but I thought the information was pertinent enough to be included in this format. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law, and it is codified in Emporia. Although their is flexibility within the law, people (and buildings) generally aren't exempted from honoring a persons civil rights. If a person feels their civil rights are violated, they can file suit for the violation of their civil rights. If you make efforts to accommodate individuals with disabilities, you can have a defense for legal action. A great resource for ADA accommodations and suggestions is Ray Petty of the Great Plains ADA Center. But, let me make this absolutely clear: civil rights extend everywhere, so you can't really be "grandfathered out" of following them.
4. "What type of guidance should a board provide?" From a local citizen. Often times people will associate decision making with organizational staff as opposed to a board of directors. As an individual that has been on both sides of that equation (both a board member and a staff person with a board), I prefer an environment where staff implements a direction set by a board. That scenario sounds simple, but it isn't. Staff often wants to move fast, they have their own opinions (we are only human) and longstanding staff members may have more organizational continuity than board members. The needs or wants of a staff should be part of a discussion, but it's a boards job to bring a more holistic view to decision making. For example, one of the things I really enjoy about the Main Street board is that we have many different types of people that bring different perspectives to community opportunities. Different ages, income levels, job experiences, networks and values mean that we sometimes generate disagreements. Those disagreements, when handled in a civil and respectful manner, typically result in better decision making. Frankly, an organization devoid of disagreement probably isn't pushing hard enough. So, a board, through discussion (and sometimes through direct assistance) offers direction that staff implements. Determining how projects fit within the larger scope of work, interact with the community and intersect with future opportunities/threats can provide a necessary perspective that staff often lacks because they are too close to a situation. Staff doesn't always have to agree with their board, but both sides (staff and board) should understand that they have two distinct roles in an important process. In a smaller community like Emporia, the process can be more difficult because friendships develop between staff and board members/volunteers, and we need to ensure that staff isn't simply surrounded by individuals that reflect the staff wishes. Conversely, board members need to find ways to support the mission of the organization through support of the staff. This delicate balancing act can be difficult, but if both sides understand and appreciate their roles, a healthier, more productive and more fulfilling relationship should evolve.
5. "Are there USDA funds available to help?" From a couple of area businesses. A federal hold up in the Farm Bill has prevented an established budget over the past several months. Because the USDA was running under a "continuing resolution" many programs, including those that help local businesses and infrastructure development, were essentially frozen. After talking to a USDA representative last week, they feel confident enough in budgeting to move forward with a few programs. The two most relevant for the majority of our members are the REAP energy efficiency tax credit grant program and the Business and Industry Loan program. According to the USDA, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) does the following: "The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses in rural America to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems; make energy efficiency improvements to non-residential buildings and facilities; use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption; and participate in energy audits, renewable energy development assistance, and feasibility studies." To find out more about REAP, CLICK HERE. The Business and Industry Loan Program does the following: "The purpose of the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program is to improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities. This purpose is achieved by bolstering the existing private credit structure through the guarantee of quality loans which will provide lasting community benefits. It is not intended that the guarantee authority will be used for marginal or substandard loans or for relief of lenders having such loans." To find out more about the B & I program, CLICK HERE. Emporia Main Street is constantly searching for resources that can help area businesses start-up, expand and succeed. If you need assistance, contact the Emporia Main Street office. We can't solve every issue, but we'll give it our best.
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President's Circle
Emporia Realty Group
www.emporiarealtygroup.com
608 Commercial
620-412-9850
IM Design Group
www.imdesigngroup.com
17 W. 5th
620-343-3909
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541 Sherman
www.kiss103.1.net
620-343-6144
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Emporia Main Street Calendar of Events
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February 4th
Start Your Own Business Class Opening Class.
6:30 p.m. at the Flint Hills Technical College Downtown Campus.
February 5
Emporia Main Street Board of Directors Meeting
8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.
February 12
Emporia Main Street Promotions Team meeting.
8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.
Design Team Meeting
noon in the Emporia Main Street office.
February 15
Sunflower Winter Invitational Gymnastics Meet
at the Civic Auditorium
February 19
Emporia Main Street Board of Directors Meeting
8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.
February 26
Business Enhancement Team Meeting
8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.
Home Based Business Meeting
12:30 p.m. in the Emporia Main Street office.
March 13
Quarter Mania.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Granada Theatre.
March 15
St. Patrick's Day Parade
1:00 p.m. in downtown Emporia.
March 22
Monkey Island Disc Golf Classic by Dynamic Discs
Peter Pan Park
April 12th
The Taste
Dinner at 5:00 p.m., and the General Taste runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium
May 2-4
The Glass Blown Open. This Dynamic Discs tournament will take place throughout the Emporia area.
May 10th
The Flatland Cruisers Car Show
May 18-20
National Main Street Conference in Detroit Michigan.
May 31
The Dirty Kanza
riders leave at 6:00 a.m. from the 800 Block of Commercial Street.
June 21
Business Stroll
August 23
Trilogy Disc Golf Open
September 13
The Great American Market
Do you have an upcoming event for your business or organization?
Let Emporia Main Street know and we may include it on our upcoming calendars!
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General Level Members
AKA Marketing
Amish Woodworks
Applebees
Ash LLC
Atherton & Huth
Bank of America
Bath Expressions
Ben Moore Studio
Bennett Dental Group
BG Consultants
BLI Rentals
Bluestem Farm and Ranch
Brown's Shoe Fit
Bruff's Bar and Grill
C & J Woodworks
Candlewood Suites
Capitol Federal
Cassell Insurance
Chester Press
Clark Carpet and Tile, Inc.
Coffelt Sign Co.
Complete Works
Country Mart/Price Chopper
Dan's Hands Massage
Davis Paints
Disciple Shoppe
Dorsey Eye Care
Douglas Chiropractic
Dr. Kerri Thompson, DDS
Dynamic Discs
Eastwood Lake Apartments
Ek Real Estate
Emporia Construction and Remodeling
Emporia Radio Stations: KVOE, 104.9 & 101.7
Emporia State Federal Credit Union
E-Town Solutions
ESU Memorial Union
Evergreen Design-Build
Flint Hills Eye Care
Flint Hills Mall
Association
Flint Hills Music
Floyd's Automotive
Forget Me Not Productions
Four Seasons Apartments
George Groh and Sons
Gerald Schumann Electric
Granada Coffee Company
Graves Drug Store
Haag Management
Hair Krafters
Heart Center Studio
Helbert & Allemang
High Gear
Java Cat Coffeehouse
Junque Drawer Emporium
Kansas Radio 96.1 The Wave
King Liquor
L & L Pets
Lyon County State Bank
Lyon County Title
Mark II Lumber
McDonalds
McKinzie Pest Control
Midas Touch Tans
Mike Alpers Agency
Mr. Sisters Sweets
Modern Air Conditioning, Inc.
Mulready's Pub
Navrats Office Supply
Papa John's Pizza
Pizza Hut
Pizza Ranch
Plum Bazaar
Poehler Mercantile
Pool and Associates
Prairie Sage Apartments
Pro-Cuts
Rand Simmons Law Office
Redline Trucking
Reflxns Salon
Rhinestone Cowgirl Salon
Sauder Custom Fabrication
Schellers Lawn and Landscape
Scott's Lawn and Landscaping
Second Love Gifts
Stanley Jewelry
Studio 11
Subway
Sunflower Gymnastics
Sutherlands Lumber Co.
Sweet Granada
Textbook Corner
Thompson Auto Repair
Toso Appraisal
Total Technology
Town Crier Bookstore
Triad Leasing
Uncommon Threads
Value-Net LLC
Waters True Value Hardware
Westar Energy
Williams Automotive
Wright CPA Group PA
Wright's Furniture
Xan-A-Do Salon
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Non Profit Level Members
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Cradle to Career Cneter
Emporia Eastside Community Group
EHS- FBLA
Emporia Arts Council
Emporia Chamber of Commerce
Emporia Farmers Market
Emporia Friends of the Zoo
Emporia Presbyterian Church
Emporia Friends of the Library
ESU- Alumni Association
ESU- Small Business Development Center
ESU- Memorial Union
ESU- Theatre Dept.
Flint Hills Community Health Center
Granada Theatre Alliance
National Teachers Hall of Fame
Saint Francis Community Services
Salvation Army
SOS
TFI Family Services
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Home Based Business Members
Avon- Amanda Hopkins
Gold Canyon Candles- Stephanie Morgan
Green Door Recycling
Interdependent Web, LLC
Longaberger Independent Consultant -Judy Dieker
Mary Kay- Lori Engle
Nicole Bradshaw Designs
Origami Owl- Angela Dowell
Paula's Creations
Pampered Chef- Chelsea Gerleman
Purse Lady- Nancy Crawford
Scentsy/ Grace Adele- Kelly Long
Tastefully Simple- Vanessa Apodaca
Thirty One Gifts- Linsey Hopkins
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Individual Supporters
Amy and Rick Becker
Amy Evans
Brad Harzman
Dale & Carolyn Davis
Don Hill
Erin and Casey Woods
Joyce Zhou
Julie Johnson
Kayle Oney
Kelly Wade
Lynn Knechtel
Mark and Amy McAnarney
Michael and Karen Shonrock
Valerie and Matt Zimmerman
Roger Heineken
Smitty Smith
Sue Blechl
Tim & Mary Helmer
Tyler & Melanie Curtis
Yvonne Pool
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