Partners

TCEDA provides assistance primarily through its affiliations and partnerships.  A few of these are:

Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission, an 18-county service center for helping process loans and grants, particularly SBA loan guarantee documents and programs.  NWKPDC and its sister organization, Pioneer Country Development, assist TCEDA in selecting programs appropriate for businesses as well as in processing the applications and other documents for loans and grants.

Network Kansas, which administers the Kansas e-Community program and loan funds for helping businesses start and expand employment.  Thomas County has been approved for a $300,000 grant for loans in the area.

US Department of Agriculture Rural Development, which provides guidance on administration of business loan programs as well as funding.  They have, through a series of grants, provided several loan funds for our county businesses.  One of these funds is the TCEDA RBEG loan fund (Rural Business Opportunity Grant) which has been instrumental in assisting new and expanding businesses in the community.

Thomas County, which administers two loan funds from grants made by the USDA:  the Thomas County Revolving Loan fund (processed by TCEDA but funded by the County using this USDA grant) and the Thomas County Micro Loan program, which is designed to target low and moderate income projects.

City of Colby Economic Development Sales Tax fund, which is funded by the city sales tax passed in 4/1/2005 at 1/4 of a penny  and is for the purpose of assisting businesses in creating jobs within the city.  This fund has become a major potential resource for loans to prospective businesses. 

In addition, TCEDA works with the community banks, Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce, the Colby Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Kansas Small Business Development Center, Colby Community College, the county’s school districts and others to work toward fulfilling its mission.

Obviously, with so many programs available, there is no “one size fits all” solution to funding new and expanding business projects.  Interested parties should contact the office and see which programs might be useful.