Funding Your Projects

New Business Incubator Grant

You took a risk when you decided to start your own business, and we understand that. In order to support you and other entrepreneurs looking to do this in Seward County, we are offering new businesses an Incubation Grant. If awarded the grant, the new business will receive payments up to $1,000 a month for three months to go towards rent or mortgage payments.


While this funding will help relieve some of the financial stress as you open a new business, we also want to provide business owners with more than just a check. This program serves as our local business incubator, too. As you establish your physical business in Seward County, we will help you grow it through small-business education and networking. Each quarter, we'll have strategy sessions with you and our support team. We have the resources in Seward County to support your business needs, and we are excited to help you on this journey. 

Apply Now!

Network Kansas Entrepreneurial-Community Partnership 

NetWork Kansas is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas that connects aspiring, emerging, and established businesses to a wide network of business-building resource organizations across the state.

A NetWork Kansas E-Community has made a commitment to cultivating an entrepreneurial environment by identifying and developing resources to help local entrepreneurs start or grow businesses. Selected communities partner with NetWork Kansas to establish a locally-administered loan fund to assist entrepreneurs with capital, to increase connectivity to resources available to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses, to initiate activities to generate entrepreneurial development, and to participate in a statewide partnership with other E-Communities.

The Seward County Development Corporation hosts our local E-Community Board with members from Equity Bank, USD480, Seward County Community College, and the Small Business Development Center. 

If you’re a business looking for gap financing or additional financing options, contact us, and we can discuss your options.

Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC)
Local E-Communities are also eligible to participate in the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge--a competition for middle and high school aged students who develop their own business ideas and present those models to a panel of judges. Winners of the competition are entered in a state-wide competition that occurs in March of each year. 

Learn More E-Community Loan Application

EMPOWER Loan Fund

The Seward County Development Corporation is proud to partner with Network Kansas and its EMPOWER Loan Fund. NetWork Kansas introduced the Empower Fund to assist minority for-profit businesses and non-profit entities looking to obtain funding for business projects. This no-match program, a subset of the Kansas Community Investment Fund (KCIF), was created to further the mission of increasing access to funding in socially-disadvantaged populations. For the purposes of this loan program, “minority-owned” is defined as any organization that is at least 51% owned by a non-white person, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latino, and People of Color.


  • $15,000 Loan Maximum
  • 48 Month Term
  • 4% Interest Rate

Grant Proposal Writing

Our team at the Seward County Development Corporation are certified grant proposal writers who would love to help you and your organization compete for regional, state, and national Request for Proposals (RFPs). Whether you have an idea and need guidance, an RFP and need a full proposal, or a written draft that just needs revision, we can assist you. 
Schedule a Call
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