Goldman Sachs today launched the Missouri Cohort of its 10,000 Small Businesses program in Missouri as part of a $100 million investment in local small businesses.
The launch took place at the following locations: State Fair Community College It was held in Sedalia earlier today and featured numerous speakers. Speakers included Goldman Sachs Executive Vice President John F.W. Rogers, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, Goldman Sachs Foundation Chairman Asahi Pompei, Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, They included Dr. Brent Bates, president of State Fair Community College;
Luetkemeyer, vice chairman of the House Small Business Committee, has been an advocate for Missouri's small businesses since his time in Congress. Last August, he announced his support for Congressman Mark Alford's SBA Local Performance Reporting Act, which aims to increase transparency between the Small Business Administration and small business owners.
By partnering with local community colleges, this program aims to educate small business owners on how to improve and expand their businesses. In this program, Goldman Sachs is partnering with State Fair Community College in Sedalia. Aside from the education program itself, Goldman Sachs will use community development financial institutions to help local small businesses access capital.
The program already applies to thousands of small businesses across the country, but Goldman Sachs recently began focusing on small businesses in rural areas. Last fall, they announced they would invest $100 million to implement the 10,000 Small Businesses program in regional states.
The programs in North Dakota and Arkansas began last September. Now, Missouri and South Dakota have joined.
“The small business community across our state is made up of resilient and motivated Missourians,” said Missouri State Comptroller Scott Fitzpatrick. “With 10,000 small businesses providing education and access to a network of growth-minded entrepreneurs, the future of Main Street looks even brighter for the state.”
Goldman Sachs launches business education program in Missouri Missouri is home to more than 500,000 small businesses, employing nearly half of the state's workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to a survey conducted by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), businesses employing 1 to 49 employees account for 96.4% of all businesses in Missouri.
