Name: Burdette (Pete) Fullerton Title: Executive Director Organization: Platte County Economic Development Council Contact Information: 7505 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway, Suite 210 Kansas City, MO 64153 (816) 891-8770 www.plattecountyedc.com
For more than a decade, Pete Fullerton has helped shape the development that has occurred in Platte County.
As executive director of the Platte County Economic Development Council, Fullerton manages and directs the organization’s economic development efforts. The council provides community economic development marketing and public relations, community planning, business location assistance, small business assistance and workforce development and planning. A Kansas City native, Fullerton is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has an undergraduate degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration.
“Although I fell into economic development work, I use both of my degrees every day,” he said.
Fullerton worked for two-and-half years in the Missouri Department of Economic Development prior to joining the Platte County EDC. He said the EDC’s primary product is information.
“We have, in house, the information to assist business owners and operators in the development and expansion of their business enterprise,” Fullerton said. “If we do not have the information, we can refer the business to where that specialized information or assistance can be found in the Kansas City region.”
The Platte County EDC is a 501(c)3 organization managed by a 21-member private board of directors. The board is comprised of Platte County business and civic leaders, and it collaborates with community economic development organizations throughout the region, including the Kansas City Area Development Council.
“Our operational funding comes from a significant public/private partnership,” said Fullerton. “Our public investment comes in the form of a contract for services from Platte County. Our private investment comes from the local business community through individual investor memberships.”
Since joining the organization, Fullerton said his role has expanded significantly.
“Thirteen years ago, the EDC was primarily concerned with positioning Platte County in the Kansas City marketplace,” he said.
"Today, we have grown to include the development of all areas of business services. It is our hope that we have created an entrepreneurial organization to serve a dynamic, entrepreneurial community.”
Future plans include pursuing a five-year strategic plan aimed at continued expansion of business opportunities in Platte County, and continued growth of the EDC’s services to the Platte County community, he said.
Name: Dorothy Browning Title: Client Services Coordinator Organization: First Step Fund Contact Information: 4747 Troost Ave. Kansas City, MO 64110 (816) 235-6116 www.firststepfund.org
Target businesses and services: Aspiring/Start-ups, education/training.
Helping others to help themselves is the key to services provided by Dorothy Browning, client services coordinator at First Step Fund, a nonprofit agency located at 4747 Troost.
Browning, who joined the agency in January 2003, is responsible for coordinating the entrepreneurial training programs offered by the agency. Target clients are low- to moderate-income individuals in the greater Kansas City area.
“Our goal is to foster economic self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship,” she said. “In addition to coordinating programs, I provide ongoing case management and support to graduates of our programs.”
More than 750 low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs have enrolled in its programs since the organization was founded, and participants have an 82 percent graduation rate.
In addition, ongoing support is currently provided to more than 300 program graduates. The agency also has made 20 loans totaling more than $45,000 to support business start-ups and expansions, has assisted with the start-up and expansions of more than 200 businesses that employ 308 individuals, and has matched 76 protégés and mentors in year-long relationships.
First Step Fund offers two primary programs. The First Step FastTrac is a 10-week course designed to enable clients to complete a feasibility study for their business. Family Child Care Entrepreneur Course is an industry-specific training for family childcare providers. After completing the 54-hour course, students have both a business plan and a parent handbook for their business. Graduates of both FastTrac and Family Child Care classes can join the Fund’s Alumni Group for access to a variety of ongoing services. These services include monthly networking opportunities, shared resources and continued training through guest speakers and presentations.
In addition, graduates of the First Step Fund programs are eligible for financing through a microloan program, case management services, a mentor program and a speaker’s bureau.
Founded in 1993, First Step Fund is guided by a voluntary board of directors. The agency is affiliated with a number of area organizations, including the Association for Economic Opportunity, GO Connection, Historic Northeast Restoration Corporation, Metropolitan Community Colleges, Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor, Community Economic Development Committee (state micro enterprise association), Francis Child Development Institute, Women’s Employment Network and the Downtown Minority Development Corporation.
Browning said the agency’s future plans include “continuing to add services as demand dictates and developing formal collaborations with other community partners.”
