Statistics about Lexington KY’s Economy & Standard of Living:
Lexington is …
- #27 Best Places for Business and Careers – Forbes 2013
- #17 America’s Top 25 High-Tech Hotspots – Atlantic City 2013. Lexington is a location for high-tech information jobs. Lexington had a growth of 14.2 % increase in high tech information jobs from 2007-2012.
- #4 Best Cities in terms of Business Costs – KMPG Competitive Alternatives 2012. Internationally, Lexington is fourth most economical city to do business in as of 2011.
- #1 Mid-size Community – The Fourth Economy Community Index ranked Lexington the top
Mid-sized community because it is ideally positioned to attract modern investment and manage economic growth. The index measured investment, talent, sustainability, place, and diversity.
Kentucky named Most Improved Environment for Small Business:
A survey released June 2014 from Thumbtack.com and the Kauffman Foundation found that Kentucky was the state with the most improved environment for small businesses. (Kentucky Charms Small Business Owners – CNN Money)
How did it earn the accolade of “most improved”? “The state has launched a number of initiatives to foster small business growth, including an Office of Entrepreneurship, which opened in July 2013. In November 2013, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear established the Kentucky Angel Investors Network to connect small businesses seeking funding with potential investors throughout the state. And in April of this year, he launched the Kentucky Innovation Network, which has 13 offices around the state to help startups develop business plans, find grants and network with other entrepreneurs.”
Free Resources of Small Business Owners in Lexington KY (Fayette County):
The Bluegrass SBDC provides one-on-one consultations at no cost to existing and potential entrepreneurs in Central Kentucky. The Bluegrass SBDC also meets the educational needs of the local small business community by offering a variety of low cost training programs taught by industry experts and qualified SBDC Consultants.
- Sean Moore, Training Coodinator
- sean.moore@uky.edu
- (859) 257-7666
- http://ksbdc.org/lexington/
Score of Lexington: The Lexington Kentucky Chapter is comprised of more than twenty volunteers who provide guidance and counseling to entrepreneurs in the greater Lexington/Fayette County area. They are a part of a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the nation’s small business.
- (859) 231-9902
- http://lexington.score.org/
Kentucky Innovation of Lexington: They have been around since 2001 creating a network of business leaders and mentors that encourage relationships, grow companies new and existing, and create jobs. Each of their 12 offices are staffed by experienced and educated business leaders to help companies through business Assessment, Business development and ultimately Capitalization (the ABCs of business development).
- Christine Wildes, Program Manager (cwildes@kstc.com)
- 200 W. Vine Street, Ste. 420; Lexington, KY 40507
- (859) 246-3229
- www.kyinnovation.com
The Office of Entrepreneurship of Kentucky: In July 2013, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development created the Office of Entrepreneurship to enhance the state’s existing efforts to help businesses at every step of the growth cycle. The goals of the office are to develop an entrepreneurial climate for new talent in Kentucky; provide guidance and support to startup operations statewide; assist existing small businesses with growth opportunities; and create a pipeline of business activity that can be streamlined with the traditional growth opportunities the Cabinet already offers to encourage job creation and new investment in the Commonwealth.
Lexington Venture Club: Founded in 2002, the Lexington Venture Club is proud to be a catalyst by which entrepreneurs, service providers, and investors can work together to develop a strong economy in Lexington. The Lexington Venture Club also promotes 5 Across, an informal gathering of entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers from Lexington, KY. For more information or to apply to pitch, visit www.5across.org!
Commerce Lexington Economic Development: Our seasoned team is well-versed in assisting companies looking to locate to Lexington for the first time, nurturing start-up enterprises (working with several funding resources in the process), as well as assisting established businesses of all sizes.
StartupMyWebsite.com: Nicole Mueller, of Startup Production, has been providing a free resource for small business owners since late 2012 through her blog at www.startupmywebsite.com. With articles on Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, the challenges and rewards of Entrepreneurship, Marketing Ideas & Innovations, she provides quality, original content on subjects that are current and pertinent to small business owners. Her company, Startup Production, in business since 1997, has been providing Web Design, Graphic Design and Internet marketing in Richmond, KY; Lexington KY, and surrounding counties, as well as for clients from NY to CA.
- www.startupmywebsite.com
- (859) 624-1981
- Email: nicole@startupproduction.com
Paid Groups or Programs for Small Business Owners in Lexington
Commerce Lexington, The Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce: From representation at all levels of government to informative small business targeted programs to great marketing opportunities in various publications to educational and professional development opportunities, and even great networking events, Commerce Lexington seeks to provide members with the tools they need to make their business a success.
- Kelly Hinton, Account Executive
- (859) 226-1603
- http://www.commercelexington.com/
Business Owners Advisory Board: One of Commerce Lexington’s most effective business assistance efforts, these groups allow member business owners to share similar challenges, strategies, and best practices in a confidential, non-competitive environment. There is NO CHARGE to participate in this program, which is open only to Commerce Lexington members. Groups meet on a monthly basis for 2-3 hours per meeting, and each group sets its own meeting dates, times, and location. Enrollment events occur twice per year.
BNI of Lexington KY: The mission of BNI is to help members increase their business through a structured, positive, and professional “word-of-mouth” program that enables them to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals. There are ten chapters in Lexington, KY.
Business Lunch Networking is a real life experience Lexington, Kentucky networking lunch group where everyone has an opportunity to promote their business. Plus, we discuss business practices, marketing and solutions to real life business situations. They meet the second Friday of every month, from Noon until 1:15pm at Gattitown.
** Networking Groups for Women: **
Women Leading Kentucky: Women Leading Kentucky is not a membership organization. It is a network. This statewide network of outstanding business professionals will help you to grow and prosper, personally and professionally. Once you participate in one of our events, you are already involved with Women Leading Kentucky. And we are glad to have you join us!
- Sonia Boniface, Assistant Director
- http://womenleadingky.com/
Professional Women’s Forum is a diverse group of people dedicated to the advancement of women at work. We encourage strong mutual support networks among members; mentoring opportunities for women to share strengths, talents, and experience; fulfillment of our members’ leadership potential; career and personal development, and recognition of women’s achievements and of organizations that foster the advancement of women at work.
- Dottie Hatton, Administrator
- 859-233-1171
- http://professionalwomensforum.com/
NAWBO Lexington: The Lexington chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners, supports women who just starting a business or have been a woman business owner for many years. Their mission states, they hope to Strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promote economic development; Create innovative and effective changes in the business culture; Build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and Transform public policy and influence opinion makers.
Ladies Leads Group was founded by Amanda Gilley Trisler in 2011 in Lexington, Kentucky. Her goal was to create a networking group with a comfortable atmosphere with business professionals that were dedicated to supporting each other, their businesses, and the community. They meet twice a month from 1:30 to 3:00pm.
Small Business Support Consultants in Lexington KY
Startup Production provides Web & Graphic Design, and Internet Marketing for small business owners. Startup Production in business since 1999, providing web & graphic design for small to medium sized businesses. Our portfolio speaks for itself … Quality work, custom sites, varied designs, exceptional functionality at an affordable price. They also provide Branding & Internet Marketing Consulting that provides strategies to expand & engage your target audience so you get your site seen and market your brand.
- www.startupproduction,com
- (859) 624-1981
Joanne Hilliard, Life Coach and Enneagram Consultant: Joanne utilizes State of Mind Training using The Three Principles to assist individuals, businesses and organizations towards an understanding of how and why the state of mind of individuals within a company is an important and key factor in success and dramatically affects their ability to better perform with more productivity, creativity and enthusiasm, as well as a positive impact on your home life, your work life, and your relationships.
- http://joannehilliard.com/
- 118 Constitution Street , Suite 130, Lexington, KY 40507
- 859.255.0003
*Here are some interesting statewide programs that may or may not apply to your small business: http://www.thinkkentucky.com/smallbusiness/busstart.aspx
