Rooks County E-Community Loan Program

A partnership project of

 ecomm-badgenetworkkansasnwkpdc

 

 

 

For the entire area of the county of Rooks, including the towns of: Damar, Palco, Stockton, Plainville, Woodston, and Zurich.

Background & Eligible Projects

The Rooks County E-Communities program was created through a Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship Tax Credit Program in 2015. It is a project instituted through the Rooks County Economic Development (RCED) office and administrated through the Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission to encourage and develop entrepreneurial activity within Rooks County.

Eligible projects include startup businesses, business transfers of ownership, or existing business expansions.

Low interest loans and community development grants will be offered through the fund. Loans with a low interest rate are the most common funding tool.

How the E-Community Fund Works

Assume the applicant needs a total of $60,000.  The applicant has $10,000 of their own capital, requiring the applicant to borrow $50,000.    Of the $50,000, the E-Community can provide no more than 60% (with a maximum of $45,000 to any applicant).   The E-community cannot provide funding without a funding partner or combination of funding partners such as a financial institution or community funding source (i.e. local banks, Northwest Kansas Development and Planning Commission.)   Members of the E-Community team can help entrepreneurs and small business owners locate and work with those Network Kansas partners to assist in providing the matching amount.

Application Details

Applicants are required to complete the attached application in full. Applicants are also encouraged to consider including the following documents for the E-Communities Financial Committee in order to have a more thorough understanding of the business project:

  • A complete business plan with one year cash flow
  • Financial reports and/or a bank financial application
  • Resumes and references for owners in the business
  • Employment and investment projections
  • Matching fund avenue possibilities and/or commitments for matching funds

Applicants requiring assistance completing the application or in supplying recommended attachments are encouraged to contact the Rooks County Economic Development office.

Rooks County Economic Development
Roger Hrabe, Director
115 N. Walnut
Stockton, KS  67669
Phone: (785) 425-6881
Fax: (785) 425-6881
roger@rookscounty.net
www.rookscounty.net

Application Review & Interview

Applications will be reviewed and scored by the Rooks County E-Communities Financial Committee. A formal interview will be arranged with the applicant during a regular meeting. Applicants should expect specific questions pertaining to the following criteria:

  • Applicant’s need for funding and planned uses of funds
  • Projected sales and employment
  • Matching funds from Network Kansas Partners
  • Additional funding from personal investment as well as public and private sources
  • Local support of the project through cooperation of organizations and community leaders
  • Involvement of Network Kansas resource partners in the project
  • Description of how the funds will add resources, add jobs, increase tax revenue, and/or the community benefits of the project.

Review Criteria & Process

The Rooks County E-Communities Financial Committee is charged with making decisions in regards to the applications and funding. The E-Communities Financial Committee will review on-time and complete applications. Once applicant receives preliminary approval from the local Rooks County E-Communities Financial Committee, the project paperwork will be given to NetWork Kansas for their approval.

Applicants who have been denied funding will be provided a list of comments and recommendations that can be addressed. Revised applications may be submitted to the review board after 30 days from the initial presentation of the application.

Northwest Kansas Development and Planning Commission (NWKPDC) will provide administrative support to the Rooks County E-Communities Fund Program and will supply Network Kansas a list of approved businesses, loan and/or grant amounts, as well as the application and criteria used in the approval process.

Initial information about the business will also be provided. Per requirement by the E-Communities program, information regarding all businesses that access E-Communities Fund will be tracked using the Network Kansas Business Trakker software database. Rooks County Economic Development will provide technical assistance for NWKPDC. Semi-annual follow-up can be expected by a Network Kansas Counselor.

Let’s get started:

E-Community Loan Application
Projected Income Statement 3 years
Preparing a Business Plan

E-Community Team Rubric