There are approximately 400,000 businesses in Kentucky according to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy—representing a vital sector to the Commonwealth’s economy. However, starting a business can be overwhelming with many lacking the guidance, support and knowledge—sometimes creating a knowledge gap in turning these ideas into a reality. 

Housed in the University of Kentucky Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), the Growing Our Own (GOO) initiative launched to address this gap by offering four workshops. These workshops included sharing how to do business and secure contracts with UK; building easy-to-use resources for current or aspiring small businesses and entrepreneurs; understanding bids, request for proposals (RFPs) and bonding requirements; and introducing business certifications. 

“Growing Our Own is not only equipping small businesses with the tools to succeed—it is also fostering long-term economic resilience and growth across Kentucky,” said Marilyn Clark, EDC’s economic engagement manager and one of GOO project leads. 

Melody Flowers, EDC co-chair and assistant vice president for economic development and real estate at UK and one of the GOO project leads, believes that the workshops are providing a roadmap for small businesses to succeed and building a deeper connection with UK. 

“The University of Kentucky offers so many partnership opportunities and resources for small businesses, but it can be challenging on where to start,” Flowers said. “Growing Our Own is connecting those dots by investing in our talent and workforce development right here in Kentucky.” 

In 2024, the UK Office of Land-grant Engagement announced funding for multiple projects, focusing on community engagement. The goal was to expand collaborative efforts between UK and partners across the Commonwealth while addressing important public needs. GOO was one of the nine projects selected. 

For Melissa Bond, extension director for community arts and economic development at Blueprint Kentucky (formerly CEDIK) and one of the GOO project leaders, this program was an opportunity to expand partnerships in the community, across campus and with the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Cooperative Extension Service. 

“We are closing that loop with small businesses and extension,” Bond said. “Our agents have these relationships in the community and can build those bridges. We are growing the capacity of our extension agents and their knowledge of how small businesses work and what they need from us.” 

Starting in Fall 2024 and continuing through Spring 2025, approximately 100 participants engaged in GOO with many appreciating the opportunity to interact, connect and network.

UK employee and aspiring entrepreneur Eric Jarvis shared how participating in the GOO workshops was helpful and provided a sense of direction for his future small business: The Lexington Pinball Museum, LLC. 

“The workshops were structured, easy to digest and something you can put to use right away,” Jarvis said. “Everyone was asking good questions and getting answers they needed. The workshops gave me a roadmap, reinforcing that there’s opportunity and my business idea is what I should be doing, which was the most encouraging.” 

For GOO participant Byron Stallworth at Kolar Design, the GOO workshops created new relationships for possible future business. 

“It can be hard for small businesses sometimes, but this was an opportunity for us,” Stallworth said. “We believe there are skills that we can offer, so we really appreciated knowing what upcoming projects are happening at the University of Kentucky and how to bid on them.” 

Representing Scruggs Construction, John Scruggs II, a recent graduate of the Construction Business Accelerator (CBA) program, believes that GOO provided some good name recognition for the family-owned concrete construction company. 

“I made some really good connections, which helped open up new doors for us,” Scruggs said. “People know more about who we are and our capabilities, which made this experience very worthwhile.” 

Supported and funded by the UK Office of Land-grant Engagement, the Growing Our Own partners include Commerce Lexington, Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, KY APEX Accelerator, Kentucky Small Business Development Center (SBDC), UK Cooperative Extension Service, UK Economic Development Collaborative and UK Procurement Services and Economic Engagement. 

To learn more about the Growing Our Own workshop series and resources, visit https://edc.uky.edu/growing-our-own-workshop-series and UK Land-grant Engagement visit https://engagement.uky.edu. 

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Writer: Christopher Carney, Christopher.Carney@uky.edu 

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus. 

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