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Country Club Bank (Honorable Mention), Kansas City, MO

Entry Year: 2017
Entry Category: Community & Economic Development
Asset Size: Small
Program Name: Bloch Venture Hub

Program Summary:

The Bloch Venture Hub, powered by the resources of Country Club Bank and the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s (UMKC) Henry W. Bloch School of Management, is a community resource for entrepreneurial ventures at multiple pre-launch stages. Conceived by Country Club Bank in 2015, the entrepreneurial development center opened its doors to a first wave of local E-Scholars in March 2017.

The space was the former home of Country Club Bank's commercial and SBA lending division, which moved into their new corporate headquarters in 2013. Rather than commercially lease the space, Country Club Bank approached the UMKC Bloch School and offered multi-year use of the building to develop their E-Scholars program. This program, open to both student and community applicants, served both early and near-launch ventures. Country Club Bank’s initiative successfully accommodated a third level of that E-Scholars program to house the more launch-ready startups and offer best-of-class resources in combining the supportive services of the university with the financial expertise of the multi-faceted bank.

The 9,000 square-foot facility features a unique three-story layout that provides entrepreneurs with a place to access resources, including financial mentoring, and help them at whatever development stage is appropriate to launch their venture while refining their concept for best success and growth.