The Kentucky Small Business Development Center is pleased to announce the launch of the newly enhanced KyBIZinfo.com website, with much of the restructuring resulting from a call for help by the Shaping Our Appalachian Region initiative.

Formed by Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, the SOAR initiative held over 100 listening sessions with residents throughout Eastern Kentucky during the summer of 2014 and collected valuable input from business owners regarding what were deemed the greatest needs. From the numerous conversations with residents, one of the top requests presented to the initiative administrators was to develop and promote a web portal clearinghouse to better market resources currently available to potential entrepreneurs and existing small business owners.

In response to this need, the center, in partnership with the East Kentucky Technical Assistance Providers network, has launched KyBIZinfo.com. The extensive online directory contains detailed profiles and information on Kentucky’s non-profit and government agencies that provide services to assist the region with its continued economic growth. 

“When Gov. Beshear and Congressman Rogers launched the SOAR initiative last year, this is exactly the type of success they envisioned; a unique collaboration and the elevation of an organization that is already doing fantastic work within the region,” said Jared Arnett, executive director for SOAR. “We are encouraged to see the Small Business Development Center responding so quickly to meet one of the needs identified in the final report as submitted to the SOAR Executive Board in September.”

Entrepreneurs who need help starting a new business or growing an existing business can gain access to an array of services by using KyBIZinfo.com’s advanced search functionality. The system allows the user to select the type of assistance they need. It then filters through the available catalog of resources and delivers a customized list of local service providers offering the specific support requested.

The website’sresource partners provide assistance with issues relating to business planning, business training, economic development, financing/loan programs, importing and exporting, management assistance, manufacturing and product development, marketing, small business advocacy, business networking, permits and licenses, procurement assistance, research and technology and many more areas.

“KSBDC is pleased to collaborate with service providers to help make it easier for entrepreneurs to find the resources they want,” said Becky Naugle, KSBDC state director. “We heard over and over that they wanted and needed a one-stop place to find all the help available, and that is what KyBIZinfo provides.”

Access to the website is free for entrepreneur hopefuls and participating resource partner organizations. Currently, KyBIZinfo.com hosts more than 325 service providers with detailed profile information available to Kentucky businesses.

Additional information is available at the KyBIZinfo website, http://kybizinfo.com/ or 877-592-4946.

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center, part of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is a network of 15 offices located throughout the state that helps existing and start-up businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. The center is a partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration. More information on KSBDC services is available online at http://www.ksbdc.org/.