MarketPlace is an event totally focused on energizing small businesses and rural communities. The conference features strong, hands-on learning opportunities for potential and existing business owners including on and off farm/ranch, store front or home based, women and Hispanic owned businesses; community leaders; and youth interested in entrepreneurship. Numerous sectors of businesses and organizations regularly attend from Nebraska and other states, and we look for continued success and diversity in attendee participation.

Youth entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of MarketPlace. The 2009 event kicked off with 24 year old CEO and founder of JM Web Designs, Jonathan Patton, as the opening keynote speaker. Patton started his business at 14, and now has over 15 employees and an international clientele. Read his story.

Topics generally included in the program include:

• Marketing - Unique approaches to help entrepreneurs prosper through innovative marketing (examples: branding and packaging products or services, niche marketing, etc.)
• Agriculture – Exceptional opportunities available as an agricultural business (examples: agri tourism, direct marketing of local foods, high value products)
• Financing – Educational tools to increase knowledge (examples: cash is king, financing your business)
• Community Development – Innovative community offerings to enhance unique entrepreneurial approaches (examples: how's and why's of being an entrepreneurial community, public policy, renewing your community, youth retention/attraction, investment clubs)
• Technology – Extraordinary ways to increase business using technology anywhere you live (examples: podcasting, off and online businesses)
• Business Development – Programs that build business competency levels, creating awareness improving business skills (examples: risk management, legal issues, customer service)
• Hispanic – Sessions taught in Spanish to enhance business skills (examples: marketing, nuts & bolts of business start-ups, bookkeeping basics)
• Youth – Introduce entrepreneurial experiences and concepts encouraging career exploration and opportunities
• Women Business Owners – What does it take for you, a WOMAN, to start your own business? What challenges will YOU face in taking control of your destiny and opening your own business?

Watch video clips about MarketPlace.