Commonwealth Website for Entrepreneurs
Gets National Recognition

5/1/03

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development's Website www.thinkkentucky.com was recently rated as a “Top Ten Economic Development Website” from Area Development Magazine.

FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky entrepreneurs have a major new Internet resource to help them plan, launch and expand businesses. The Entrepreneur Resource Navigator (ERN) has been added to the website of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED). “The ERN is an interactive tool that allows business people to plug in their home county and the Navigator will locate the closest service provider where they can get face-to-face help for their small business needs,” said J.R. Wilhite, Commissioner of the Department for Community Development with KCED.

In addition to identifying the nearest available resources, the ERN also provides information and links to help provided by State and Federal governments. Available resources include counseling and training, micro-loan programs, small business development centers, university-based business programs, area development districts and funding sources. “We’ve seen a continuing increase in the demand for information related to small business,” said Wilhite. “Business owners are hungry for information and they are increasingly turning to the Internet.”

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses in Kentucky employed 740,203 workers or just over half the total private sector workforce (1999). The Entrepreneur Resource Navigator is available at http://www.thinkkentucky.com/smbd/ern.asp

The ERN is a project of KCED’s Small and Minority Business Division (SMBD). The primary mission of the SMBD is to provide information and make appropriate referrals to potential and existing entrepreneurs.

 

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