Goldman Sachs launches business education program in Missouri
Goldman Sachs recently launched the Missouri cohort of their 10,000 Small Businesses Program in an effort to invest 100 million dollars in rural small businesses. The launch event took place at the State Fair Community College in Sedalia and featured a lineup of prominent speakers including the Executive Vice President of Goldman Sachs John F. W. Rogers, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation Asahi Pompey, Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, and President of State Fair Community College Dr. Brent Bates.
Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, who is the vice chair of the House Committee on Small Business, has been a vocal advocate for small businesses in Missouri. He has shown support for initiatives like the SBA Rural Performance Report Act that aims to enhance transparency between the Small Business Administration and small business owners.
The 10,000 Small Businesses Program aims to educate small business owners on how to grow and improve their businesses by collaborating with local community colleges. In Missouri, Goldman Sachs has partnered with State Fair Community College in Sedalia. Additionally, the program will utilize community development financial institutions to provide rural small businesses with access to capital.
Goldman Sachs has already impacted thousands of small businesses nationwide and is now focusing on rural areas. They have committed to investing 100 million dollars to expand the program to rural states, with launches in North Dakota and Arkansas last fall, and now in Missouri and South Dakota.
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick expressed optimism about the program, stating, “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 our state.”
According to the United States Small Business Administration, Missouri is home to over 500,000 small businesses that employ nearly half of the state’s workforce. Small businesses with 1 to 49 employees make up the majority of businesses in Missouri, totaling 96.4% according to a study by the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center (MERIC).
