Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Douglas County supports local entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives. We are committed to cultivating an equitable entrepreneurial environment in which anyone can reach their full potential by working with entrepreneur support organizations across Douglas County.
E-Community Program
The NetWork Kansas Entrepreneurship Community (E-Community) program is geared towards identifying and developing resources to assist local entrepreneurs in starting or growing a business.
Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
This annual competition consists of students preparing a written business plan or executive summary, a “trade show” booth, and an elevator pitch or presentation.
Culinary Commons
Culinary Commons is a community incubator kitchen that offers a clean, quiet atmosphere to create delicious recipes to launch your food business or innovate to perfect your dream product.
Thank you to entrepreneur support organizations across Douglas County!
Lawrence Resource Finder
In 2023, the National League of Cities (NLC) chose the city of Lawrence as one of the cities to join their latest City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) cohort, a program that is designed to drive regional entrepreneurship and innovation. Through this program, the city hoped to strengthen their support of local small businesses.
Lawrence committed to cataloging local resources available to entrepreneurs. Thanks to the funding through the CIE program, a new print resource document – the SourceFinder – and a mapping entrepreneurship asset report have been developed. This report will be used to expand support of small business owners and entrepreneurs in the City of Lawrence. The goal is to educate local entrepreneurs and provide them with better access to resources.
Kansas Ice House Entrepreneurship Program
Unlock your entrepreneurial potential with the Kansas Ice House Entrepreneurship Program, an engaging 8-week certificate program designed to cultivate the mindset and skills needed for success.
Inspired by the life story of Pulitzer Prize nominee Clifton Taulbert, this transformative program—developed by the Kauffman Foundation—immerses participants in the core principles of entrepreneurship. Through interactive learning, real-world case studies, and hands-on activities, you’ll develop critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and other essential skills to turn ideas into action.
Program Details
Location: Lawrence Public Library
Schedule: Wednesdays, June 4 – July 23, 2025, 3:00–5:00 PM
Time Commitment: Expect to spend 2 hours outside of class each week for reading and classwork
Who Can Join: Open to individuals 14 years and older
Cost: Free to attend, but participants must purchase the required book
Requirements: Must commit to attending at least 6 out of 8 sessions (Max participants: 20)
Instructor: Carrie Poe, MBA, Business Advisor with the KU SBDC and a certified Ice House Facilitator
Don’t miss this opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and bring your ideas to life! Registration will be available on the Lawrence Public Library website soon!