Central Missouri Community Action’s Women’s Business Center has received a $65,000 grant from the city of Columbia to continue helping local entrepreneurs become successful small business owners.
“We are a small business administration program,” said Jayme Prenger, director of Missouri Women’s Business Center. “And so we get a grant from the federal government for that, and we have to a one-to-one match, so these funds (through the city) are able to do that.”
The funds are allocated from the Community Development Block Grant funds and will enable CMCA to bring more resources to specific communities within the city limits.
“We focus on minority and low- to moderate-income (individuals),” Prenger said.
The program provides entrepreneurs and business owners with classes such as “Getting Your Business Started” and “Business Plan 101” to provide education on what it takes to make a successful business.
One of these businesses is Raw Roots Turmeric, founded by Ranjana Hans. Her dream of having her product in store came true when The Shops at Sharp End, a retail incubator in downtown Columbia, started carrying her products.
“I was thinking, it would be nice to have a shop in (the) downtown area, where we can have a regular customer (or) anytime customer,” Hans said. “And then, the Sharp End opportunity came … they said they have this concept (where they’ll) put this in (a) downtown location — all of the small businesses together under one roof.”
The Shops at Sharp End is also a collaborative effort with other local organizations.
“That program is a collaboration between Central Missouri Community Action, the downtown district and REDI,” Prenger said.
Hans said with the help of CMCA, she has been able to turn her passion into her profession.
“We had a passion, we (knew) these herbs work great in our body,” Hans said. “But, it was a matter of how to grow, where to grow and do we have enough space.”
The funds will continue to help local small businesses like Raw Roots Turmeric, and Pregner said the services are trying to help entrepreneurs find their footing.
“For many entrepreneurs, this is a first-time adventure for them,” Prenger said. “They’ve never done anything like this before, and so they are really trying hard to just figure out all of the pieces.”
