Guidelines for Applying to Become an eCommunity

1. Program Overview & Purpose

The eCommunity Partnership through NetWork Kansas helps communities build strong entrepreneurial ecosystems by providing access to capital, coaching, and statewide resources. Selected communities establish a locally administered revolving loan fund to support small business growth and economic development.

2. Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include communities, counties, or regions that demonstrate the leadership capacity and commitment needed to support entrepreneurs. Applicants must show readiness to engage business owners, build partnerships, and participate in ongoing programming.

3. Leadership Structure & Requirements

Communities applying to join the eCommunity Partnership must form a Leadership Team of approximately 7–12 members. Teams should represent a mix of public and private sector leaders.   Leadership Teams are expected to meet monthly to plan programming, review progress, market the loan fund, and support local entrepreneurs.   A local Financial Review Board (loan committee) must also be established or identified to evaluate loan applications and ensure responsible stewardship of the loan fund.

4. Loan Fund Details

The eCommunity loan fund provides “gap financing” to help complete funding packages for local entrepreneurs.   Key components include:

•  Matching funds from private or public sources   
•  A maximum loan amount (typically up to $50,000 per business)   
•  Loan terms up to 10 years   
•  Allowable uses such as equipment, inventory, real estate, working capital   
•  Prohibited uses such as refinancing existing debt or owner salaries   

5. Application Process & Review

Communities go through a competitive selection process that includes developing a proposal, demonstrating leadership capacity, and interviewing with Network Kansas staff.   Selected communities then launch their Leadership Team and Financial Review Board.

6. Expectations of High-Performing eCommunities

High-performing or “elite” eCommunities typically:

•  Engage consistently with the statewide eCommunity network   
•  Maintain strong loan fund activity and responsible management   
•  Offer regular entrepreneurship programming and events   
•  Track and report outcomes and metrics   
•  Hold consistent Leadership Team meetings   
•  Build long-term sustainability into their local ecosystem efforts   

7. Criteria Used by Local Financial Review Boards

Loan committees generally evaluate loan applications based on:

•  Financial soundness and readiness   
•  Owner experience and management capability   
•  Business plan strength   
•  Local economic impact   
•  Level of matching capital secured   

8. How to Apply

1.  Assemble your Leadership Team.   
2.  Connect with Network Kansas to request information and begin the application process.   
3.  Develop a proposal that outlines goals, ecosystem plans, and fundraising strategy.   
4.  Submit the application by the required deadline.   

9. Award Agreement

Please review the expectations and responsibilities outlined in the official eCommunity Award Agreement before applying: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/46ndlnpqtd7rkub443j0c/Copy-of-FY2026-eCommunity-Award-Agreement.pdf?rlkey=e48ix9hrn71l3ylk39s7ppyok&st=rmjagfre&dl=0

For K-State Rural Grocery Initiative

Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series: Post-Event Questionnaire

Thank you for your participation in the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series, we kindly ask that you complete a brief questionnaire providing basic information about your local competition, including your winners so we can determine State YEC participation and contact information for classroom stipends to be sent out.

This information is important for helping us better understand the needs of future YEC events and ensures we can continue to offer tailored programs or informational sessions for adults who may be leading these events in the future. 

Additionally, your feedback on how this event benefited the students and community, will allow us to assess the program's impact and make improvements for future participants. All information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for program evaluation purposes. Some questions (like the ag based business question) allow us to show overall trends and share with our ag focused partners.

Once your summary is submitted, we will review and can begin processing the $250 classroom stipend.

Please fill the questions out to the best of your ability and contact Bailee Henry at bhenry@networkkansas.com, or your regional eCommunity advisor for questions.

Program guidelines

All non-loan funds must be requested through this Grant Application unless specified by your regional coach.
 

Network Kansas eCommunities may apply for funds, if needed, for any Entrepreneurship Programming they intend to offer. No funding is guaranteed and all grants will be awarded, as funds allow, based upon quality of grant application and compliance with Network Kansas recommendations and best practice standards.  

Examples of Entrepreneurship Programs include (but are not limited to):

• Ice House Entrepreneurship Mindset Class
• Destination BootCamp (or any Jon Schallert Program)
• Maker Space Boot Camp
• Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Series
• Entrepreneur Business Basics 
• Growing Rural Business*
• Online Restaurant Academy
• Lemonade Day
• Other pilot programs (approved on a case-by-case basis)
   

*All requests MUST have a budget attached

*If you wish to host Growing Rural Business please ensure you have visited with your coach PRIOR to completing this application. There are limited numbers of classes Network Kansas can host a year.  

If you are awarded grant funds, your regional coach will send you an award notice and any additional follow up documents that are needed.  

Grant Applications may be submitted 90 days before or after a program takes place. However, no funds are guaranteed.  

A strong grant application includes financial or in-kind contributions from businesses, the community and local Economic Development. Additionally, it is advised that a program or event align with your eCommunity mission and stated goals.

Program guidelines

Network Kansas Entrepreneur Support Organizations may apply for funds, if needed, for any Entrepreneurship Programming they intend to offer. No funding is guaranteed and all grants will be awarded, as funds allow, based upon quality of grant application and compliance with Network Kansas recommendations and best practice standards.  

The Technical Assistance Grant program is designed to benefit entrepreneurs by providing access to essential funds for legal, accounting, and financial advisory services. Network Kansas recently received funds for Technical Assistance (TA) grants from the US Department of Treasury, through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Due to these being federal funds, there are some additional requirements that Network Kansas must complete in order to grant out the funds, including gathering demographic information from both entrepreneurs and TA providers.

To become a certified Technical Assistance Provider, we kindly request you to complete a one-time form detailing the services or programs your business offers to entrepreneurs

The following form should be filled out by the owner(s) or operator(s) of a program or organization providing services to business owners, around the following technical assistance categories; legal accounting or financial advisory. If you have questions or concerns during the application process, please send an email to grants@networkkansas.com.