Small business summit connects entrepreneurs with resources for growth   

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Small business owners and employees gathered for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit to share ideas, learn from one another and connect with mentors, advisors and fellow entrepreneurs. 

The event was held at the Fulkerson Center at Missouri Western State University, giving attendees an opportunity to share their experiences and learn about resources that can help their businesses grow. 

Jamilah Ward, an economic development specialist, said she attended the summit to show her support for local entrepreneurs and help connect them with resources. 

“We are bringing our resources from a federal level to a local level bringing them to the entrepreneurs based on the level of businesses they are in,” she said.  

She said events like the summit are important because they expose business owners to opportunities and information they might not otherwise know about.  

Ward said attending events like the summit gives business owners the knowledge and resources they need to bring back to their businesses and help them grow. 

“One of the challenges rising business owners face is access to capital sometimes because they don’t know where to get it from,” she added.  

Ward hopes attendees leave with useful resources from her table that they can apply to their businesses.  

She also wants to learn more about the entrepreneurs, the types of businesses they run and the challenges they face so she can better understand what resources and support they need.