Report Confirms Study Flawed
The National Academy of Sciences has released a report finding that a draft study prepared for implementing a preferential federal contracting program for women-owned businesses is flawed and should be revised. The U.S. Small Business Administration commissioned the analysis of the draft to make sure that the study’s methodology would withstand judicial scrutiny under current court precedent.

The panel of university professors concluded that the disparity ratio estimates from the preliminary study (completed in late 2002) were not adequate to identify industries in which women-owned small businesses are underrepresented in federal prime contracting. The report also concluded that the study’s estimates not be used to designate industries in which to use preferential contracting programs and recommended that the SBA use more recent data and fully documented methods. To see the full report, visit www.nap.edu/books/0309096111/html.

Brown-Dixon Appointed to Small Business Subcommittee
Patricia Brown-Dixon, U.S. General Services Administration enterprise development officer, has been appointed chairperson of the Kansas City Federal Executive Board’s Minority Small Business Subcommittee.

Her task will be to bolster small business participation in federal government contracting programs. Brown-Dixon organizes monthly small business networking breakfast meetings to provide small and minority business owners with the opportunity to network and learn about doing business with the federal government. As chairperson of the subcommittee, she plans to encourage federal agency participation in the breakfasts as much as she has encouraged entrepreneur participation. More than 100 small business owners attend the breakfast meetings, which take place the first Tuesday of each month at the Clarion Hotel at 7:15 a.m.

Missouri Posts Record Exports
Export sales for Missouri rose by a record 24 percent, or $1.763 billion in 2004 compared to the year-end total of 2003, placing the state seventh overall among U.S. states last year, according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Missouri exports totaled nearly $9 billion in 2004, compared to $7.234 billion in 2003. The increase in exports was fueled by high growth rates in minerals and ores, agricultural products, textiles and fabrics, transportation equipment and chemicals. Canada purchases the most Missouri goods, followed by Mexico, Japan, China and the United Kingdom. Export data was compiled from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research.

ATHENAPowerlink Names Latest Participants
Three women business owners have been admitted into the seventh class of the ATHENAPowerLink program: Denise Canon, Travel Concepts; Patricia Stewart, Rockhill Pet Clinic; and Sarah Humphrey, C.S. Humphrey & Co. Through the program, the women will receive a year of pro bono advice and coaching from some of Kansas City’s business experts.

Since the fall of 2000, 15 women and 14 businesses have completed or currently are participating in the program. The Kansas Women’s Business Center, the Missouri Women’s Business Center and the University of Missouri-Kansas City are the program’s sponsors. To qualify for the program, the women completed an extensive application, were interviewed by the Athena governing body, and agreed to a site visit of their businesses.

GO Connection Creates Peer Mentoring Group for Men
Expanding on the success of the Missouri Women’s Business Center’s peer mentoring groups, GO Connection has created its first men’s peer mentoring group for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Beginning in May, the group will meet the first Wednesday of each month. Businesses should have been established for a couple of years to achieve maximum benefit. Each month, business owners will explore their business issues, opportunities and questions under the direction of Alan Corbet, GO Connection executive director. Members will share their expertise, and additional subject-matter experts will join the group as needed to lend expertise on specific topics.

For more information, call (816) 235-6146.

First Step Fund Receives Two Grants
First Step Fund, a non-profit agency that provides business training and support to low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs in the Kansas City area, has been awarded two national grants. HP selected the First Step Fund as one of nine national recipients of its HP Micro Enterprise Acceleration Program (MEAP) grant award. Through the program, the organization will receive a one-time grant award of $100,000 to $150,000 in equipment, cash, services and support. The objective is to expose clients to the value that technology can bring businesses.

First Step Fund also was selected as one of eight partners nationwide for the 2005 Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program (MBP). The program is designed to help low- to moderate-income women microentrepreneurs by providing cash awards that will have a measurable impact on their business development. Supported by a grant from the Citigroup Foundation, the program will distribute up to 72 equity awards to women microentrepreneurs through local partners across the country.

KC Direct Marketing Association Honors Agencies

Meers Marketing Communications won Best of Show, as well as a first-place gold Ambit at the Kansas City Direct Marketing Association’s annual awards dinner, held March 2 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Both awards recognized a magazine ad insert for Array, an agricultural chemical. The client was Rosen’s Inc. ad division in Liberty. Six other agencies took home a total of 15 gold Ambits: J. Schmid & Associates Inc. won six, Bernstein-Rein Advertising took three and Digital Evergreen and Weyforth-Haas Marketing took home two each. CHRW and Kuhn & Wittenborn Advertising each won a gold Ambit.

Other major awards: Nicholson Kovac won the Most Bang for the Buck award for a Sprint direct mail campaign. Digital Evergreen won the Most Innovative Solution award for the “Blue Bunny Talent Show Webisode.” Bob Merrigan, owner of Merrigan & Company, won the Direct Marketer of the Year award.

Olathe Chamber Promotes Two Staffers
The Olathe Chamber of Commerce has promoted two staff members. Tim McKee has been promoted to executive vice president of economic development. He will provide oversight for the Economic Development Department as well as the Convention and Visitors Bureau and sport marketing efforts. Steve Elstrom now is the vice president of technology. He has been with the chamber for four years as information systems administrator.

Agritourism Initiative Moves Forward
The Kansas Agritourism Advisory Council is moving ahead with its initiative to generate more tourism revenue for the state and to help Kansas farmers and ranchers boost their income and preserve enterprises by tapping into the emerging market for agritourism. The initiative calls for the establishment of an agritourism Web site and an electronic newsletter. Several workshops also will be held throughout the state this spring, and a consultant will be available to meet one-on-one with agritourism operators or groups of operators. The new Web site is www.kansasagritourism.org.

Surplus Exchange Back Online
Six weeks after a West Bottoms fire destroyed most of its inventory, the environmental non-profit agency Surplus Exchange is back online. The agency continues to operate out of its Electronic Recycling Center at 1400 W. 12th St. The tech shop is up and running on the second floor, and they continue to rebuild computers for businesses, nonprofits, low-income students and the general public. The furniture inventory continues to increase as well. Since the fire, they have recycled more than 115,000 pounds of electronics.

Central Exchange Hosts Regional Conference
The Central Exchange is hosting the third annual Women’s Lyceum, which will bring together women of diverse backgrounds to learn from nationally recognized authorities on leadership and development. The event is May 3 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Pat Russo, chairman and CEO of Lucent Technologies, Amy Woods Brinkley, Bank of American global risk executive and Bonnie St. John, paralympic silver medalist will deliver keynote speeches. Call (816) 471- 7560 for more information.