HILLSBORO, Kan.— Tabor College has been selected for a $90,000 Rural Business Development Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The grant, set for Aug. 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, will provide services to Hillsboro, Marion County, and much of central Kansas for starting and growing businesses.
The former Tabor Welcome Center, located on the corner of D and Washington streets, will serve as the program incubator. Staci Janzen, professor of business administration at Tabor, has been named program director.
The facility, set for a September 2022 launch, has yet to be named.
“Tabor is leaning into entrepreneurship significantly,” President David Janzen said. “Receiving USDA’s RBDG grant provides excellent external validation of our vision for transforming communities and people through innovative thinking and economic development. We are so excited to launch this center. Staci is the right person to lead it given her academic/professional experience and passion for serving our students and communities.”
This project will include guidance on entrepreneurship pipelines from ideation through pitch development and incubation, instruction on program management, and business consulting services for start-ups and regional small businesses. The project also seeks to develop and execute innovation and design-thinking workshops and entrepreneurship speaking series while providing opportunities for entrepreneurial mentorship with Tabor faculty and staff.
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.