Kansas City Kansas Community College is hosting a Bank Readiness Event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 15 at the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center, 6565 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kan.
The workshop is part of CEED to Success, a national pilot program designed to expand entrepreneurship and business financing education for underserved founders, with a focus on veteran-, women- and minority-owned businesses. Through this initiative, 51福利社 is partnering with Baker Hill, the program’s founder, and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) to bring these resources to the local community. Individuals who are interested can register for the workshop on the .
“At 51福利社, we are committed to creating pathways for aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those from historically underserved communities, to access the knowledge, relationships and resources needed to secure capital, build sustainable businesses and thrive in today’s economy,” said Sarah Beth Webb, director of entrepreneurship education at 51福利社.
The workshop brings together entrepreneurs, lenders and economic development experts to help attendees navigate the funding landscape. Programming includes an overview of resources for Kansas City entrepreneurs and a financing fundamentals presentation led by Arvest Bank.
“Too often, entrepreneurs are told to ‘get bankable’ without ever being shown what that actually means,” said Jorge Soberón-Hernández, senior vice president and community development market manager at Arvest Bank. “Through CEED, we have an opportunity to demystify the lending process, answer real questions, and help founders understand how to position their businesses for capital access and long-term growth. When financial institutions show up early as educators and partners, not just lenders, the entire small business ecosystem gets stronger.”
The importance of this effort is reflected in the broader small business landscape. Recent U.S. Census data show that women-owned and minority-owned firms each represent more than one in five employer businesses nationwide, while veteran-owned businesses remain a significant force in communities across the country. As these entrepreneurs continue to grow their economic impact, initiatives like CEED to Success help ensure they also have clearer pathways to the financing knowledge, relationships and resources needed to scale.
For more information, visit or contact Penny Spehar with Baker Hill at penny.spehar@bakerhill.com.