Small Business & Entrepreneurs (SBE) Council

The Small Business & Entrepreneurs (SBE) Council is a growing network of local business owners across five counties in Southeast Kansas. Representing diverse communities—including rural, low-income, women, and minority-owned businesses—the SBE Council is a space for entrepreneurs to find connection, share lived experience, and shape solutions that work for rural economies.

Local Businesses, Local Solutions
Rural communities need local businesses to survive. And local businesses need local solutions to grow. That’s where the SBE Council comes in.

Together, we work to:

• Find and support overlooked entrepreneurs
• Elevate the voices of business owners in decision-making spaces
• Create peer-driven strategies that address real barriers—like lack of broadband, capital, and mentorship
• Build networks of support that reach beyond any one county or industry

Storytelling That Sparks Change
In partnership with Brett Dalton of Balloon Media, we’re telling the stories of Southeast Kansas entrepreneurs who are reigniting our local economy. Through writing, photography, and digital media, we’re showcasing the grit, talent, and tenacity behind rural business success.

Follow our storytelling series here:

About Rural Community Partners
Rural Community Partners (RCP) is a grassroots hub that brings an entrepreneurial lens to health equity and community development. Our mission is to build resilient systems, increase access to opportunity, and empower under-resourced communities to create healthier, thriving people and places.

Why It Matters
Southeast Kansas entrepreneurs face unique challenges:

• Limited access to capital
• Gaps in broadband and digital infrastructure
• Isolation from peer networks and experienced mentors
• Vulnerability to economic shocks and policy shifts

The SBE Council is about turning those challenges into opportunities by lifting up rural voices, investing in local leadership, and driving change from the ground up.

Get Involved
Are you a small business owner in Southeast Kansas? A champion for local entrepreneurship?
We’d love to connect.