October, 2006
NetWork Kansas is a free service of the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship (KCE), an agency of the Kansas Department of Commerce. KCE was created as part of the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004, and NetWork Kansas is the "trade name" chosen by KCE.
KCE connects small business owners with resources and expertise all over the state. The counselors at NetWork Kansas can direct entrepreneurs to more than 270 agencies, known as "NetWork Kansas Partners". The Partners are ready and willing to help small Kansas businesses.
NetWork Kansas Partners can access state funding through "StartUp Kansas", another function of KCE. Small businesses cannot access those funds directly. The funds can be accessed only through the NetWork Kansas Partners.
Visit www.NetWorkKansas.com or call toll-free 1-877-521-8600.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) represents all types of small businesses. It is a national organization with 600,000 members, and is listed annually in "Fortune" magazine as the third strongest lobby in Washington behind AARP and NRA. Members set their own dues at $200 to $2400 per year.
The NFIB has approximately 5,000 members in Kansas. The office of the NFIB/Kansas State Director, Derrick Sontag, who is also the head Kansas lobbyist, is located in Topeka. The NFIB concentrates on national and state issues, and avoids local issues. Nonetheless, it has several local councils in Kansas which advise on state and national issues. NFIB members automatically belong to the national, state, and local organizations.
For additional information, visit www.nfib.com.
The Wichita Independent Business Association (WIBA) represents all types of independently-owned businesses, most of which are small but include a few very large ones, too.
WIBA is highly successful, having just celebrated its 75th anniversary. It has about 1350 members, 1200 of which are in Sedgwick County. Cliff Sones is President. Sones and Natalie Bright are its lobbyists.
WIBA offers comprehensive health insurance plans for member firms with fewer than 50 employees. Dues are $175 per year for firms with 1-5 employees, $245 per year for firms with 6-50 employees, or $295 for 51 employees or more. There is a one-time $25 enrollment fee for new members.
For additional information, visit www.wiba.org.
The Topeka Independent Business Association (TIBA) was formed in 2006 and held its first membership meeting on September 29, 2006. It is a "clone" of the Wichita Independent Business Association. Ken Daniel of Midway Wholesale is its board Chairman. Through an affiliation with a licensed general agent and a licensed health insurance agent, TIBA members can access the small business health plans of about a dozen insurance companies licensed in Kansas.
For additional information, visit www.topekaiba.org or call 785-783-2897.
The Kansas Independent Business Council (KIBC) is a statewide umbrella organization. At present its members are WIBA and TIBA, but it is expected that other local groups will be formed in other Kansas counties in the near future. Businesses in counties other than Sedgwick and Shawnee can access WIBA's health insurance plans through KIBC, which was formerly KOPE.
For more information on KIBC (formerly KOPE), visit www.wiba.org.
KsSmallBiz.com is not an association. It is an online website and weekly e-newsletter dedicated to Kansas small business issues. It contains articles and editorials on taxes, relevant legislation, insurance, competition, and other issues of interest to small business owners and managers. Subscriptions to KsSmallBiz.com are free. |
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Kansas Small Business Organizations
