KCSourceLink wins national award

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration has given KCSourceLink the 2007 Excellence in Economic Development Award.

The award recognizes Kansas City-based KCSourceLink's commitment to sound, research-based, market-driven economic development in helping the local economy expand, the agency said in a release Monday.

A spokesman for the agency said that KCSourceLink's award was one of seven given nationally.

KCSourceLink was founded in June 2003. It connects small businesses and entrepreneurs in the 18-county bistate Kansas City area to more than 140 nonprofit resource organizations.

"This award goes to KCSourceLink's network partners," Maria Meyers, network builder for KCSourceLink, said in a separate release. "These organizations work hard to grow business in the Kansas City region every day. KCSourceLink enhances regional competitiveness through regional partnering and collaborations."

Between June 2003 and May 2007, more than 2,600 aspiring and existing business owners have accessed the KCSourceLink network via telephone or e-mail, and 5,400 client referrals have been made to network resource organizations. An average of 5,000 visitors a month access the KCSourceLink Web site .

KCSourceLink is a program of the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Small Business Administration and the Bloch School founded the program.