Previous Emerging Collaborations Grantees The Central Standards RFP provides matching funds to encourage and accelerate collaborations between two or more entrepreneurship support organizations working together to support Heartland entrepreneurs in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas. Share: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter The projects in the 2021 Central Standards Request for Proposals (RFPs) (now known as Emerging Collaborations) aimed to advance at least one or more of the strategic priorities of the Kauffman Foundation: inclusive prosperity in the Heartland, rural revitalization, and transitioning to an entrepreneurship- and innovation-led economy. 2021 Grantees (Round 2, Fall) Bio Nebraska Partner: UNeTech Support for the launch of Opportunity Corps, an I-Corps inspired program designed to support women in STEM as they explore the viability of launching tech ventures. Center on Rural Innovation Partners: Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc., Emporia Chamber of Commerce Support to establish a cohort of four rural Heartland communities for the purpose of providing customized ecosystem strategies and education programs for entrepreneurs and community leaders. Emerging Builders Partner: Verge Solutions Support for expansion of the entrepreneurship education program at Emerging Builders, an organization providing education to individuals pursuing a career or launching a business in the trades in the Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas region. Invest Nebraska Partners: Northeast Community College, Northeast Growing Together Initiative Extend Invest Nebraska’s Operational Assistance Program for entrepreneurs, collaborate with Northeast Community College to focus on agriculture related startups, and stimulate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Norfolk, Nebraska region. Iowa Center for Economic Success Partners: Muscatine Community College, Greater Des Moines Partnership Support for the statewide expansion of Iowa Center for Economic Success to the Muscatine and surrounding areas. The Iowa Center’s mission is to empower Iowans with the potential to succeed as they pursue opportunities for financial success. It is our belief that to be successful in small business one needs support in education, capital, and networking. We provide a wide array of services to support local entrepreneurs including 1:1 counseling sessions, education, networking opportunities, access to capital, and many other services. Missouri University of Science & Technology Partners: Lincoln University, Washington University in St. Louis Support for the launch of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center to develop and coordinate technology focused entrepreneurship education programs at Missouri University of Science & Technology, Lincoln University, and Washington University. Muscatine Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Partners: Return to Better Institute, Institute for Work and the Economy Support for the launch of the Return to Better framework for entrepreneurial ecosystem building, using a tangible set of tools & resources created to seed, build, and grow entrepreneurs and small businesses from all walks of life in Muscatine, Iowa. This balanced approach to nurturing entrepreneurs through multiple phases of their growth connects capital, education, and resources for measurable social and economic impact across the entire community. NXTUS Partner: Greater Wichita Partnership, Network Kansas Support for the expansion of the NXSTAGE Competition at NXTUS which is designed to support startups in sectors that are aligned with the economic strengths of Kansas. Startups will be supported in developing relationships and pilot projects with mature business customers throughout the region. NewBoCo Partners: Kiva US, Jane Boyd Community House, GlobalGood Fund Support for the launch of the Iowa Kiva Hub to enhance capital access for low- to moderate-income Iowans across the state. 2021 Grantees (Round 1, Summer) Celebrate EDU Partner: ESU-13 Support for the establishment of entrepreneurship education programs, in partnership with local ESU-13, to support entrepreneurs with disabilities in Western Nebraska. Employee Ownership Expansion Network Partner: Missouri Center for Employee Ownership Support for the launch of the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership to provide education to current business owners and prospective entrepreneurs on employee ownership structures and concepts. Missouri Main Street Connection, Inc. Partner: St. Louis Development Corp Support developing and launching the UrbanMain entrepreneurship support program to provide education for entrepreneurs operating in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods in St. Louis, MO. Nebraska Community Foundation Partner: Valley County Community Foundation Fund Support to establish a cohort of twenty rural Nebraska communities for the purpose of providing customized entrepreneurship education programs and facilitated peer-based entrepreneurship support best practices. The Prospect Urban Eatery (Community Capital Fund) Partner: Catalyst Kitchens Support to launch The Prospect Urban Eatery, a kitchen incubator providing entrepreneurship education and prototyping support to low-income food industry entrepreneurs in Kansas City, MO, which is operated by The Prospect KC, a groundbreaking organization working to increase the rates of minority employment and successful businesses, as well as improve social equality. The Prospect KC is fiscally sponsored by Community Capital Fund (CCF), a Kansas City, MO, nonprofit service organization that since 2012 has supported innovative community development initiatives. University of Iowa Partner: MIT Venture Mentoring Services Support for the establishment of a statewide entrepreneurial mentorship program delivered through the five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers in the state of Iowa. The Iowa mentor program will utilize the MIT Venture Mentoring Services model that has been implemented in over 100 organizations. WEPOWER STL Partner: Kiva Support for the establishment of a Kiva Hub in St. Louis, MO, to provide micro-lending capital access options to entrepreneurs from communities in the region that have been systemically left behind.