When Elaina Paige Thomas returned to Kansas City after touring as a dancer with Beyoncé, she saw untapped talent in her community but noticed many artists lacked the connections to showcase their abilities.
She turned to the Prospect Business Association (PBA), a nonprofit business support organization, for guidance. PBA helped her transform her observation into The Next Paige, a thriving talent agency now representing celebrities, including former Chiefs players Dwayne Bowe and Tamba Hali.
Our goal is to provide services to a historically under-resourced area and neighborhood,
simone curls, Executive Director, pba
It’s the kind of success story that’s become common at PBA, though you might not have heard about them.
PBA began in 2014 as a grassroots initiative of ten businesses focused on addressing blight along Prospect Ave. Since then, it has evolved into a full-service entrepreneurial support organization with six full-time staff members and three consultants.
“People often call us the best-kept secret,” says PBA Executive Director Simone Curls. “They’re like, ‘We didn’t know you existed! What do you do?'”
What they do has transformed the landscape for Black businesses in Kansas City. In just the past two years (2021-2023), PBA has served more than 1,500 businesses with combined revenues of approximately $16 million. In that same timeframe, the organization has helped those businesses secure more than $5 million in debt and equity capital.
While their heart remains on Prospect Avenue, where they work to correct decades of disinvestment and systemic barriers, PBA’s doors are open to entrepreneurs from across the metro.
“Our goal is to provide services to a historically under-resourced area and neighborhood,” says Curls. “But we understand that strengthening the entire Kansas City business community lifts everyone up.”
When COVID-19 hit, many Black-owned businesses were struggling to access federal support. PBA stepped up.
They never closed their doors; instead, they created a micro-business center to help entrepreneurs navigate complex government and online systems.
Their efforts secured over $1.4 million in PPP funding for local businesses – at a time when reports showed few Black-owned businesses across all of Kansas City had received PPP support.
“We’re here to advocate, but let’s not underestimate the power of small local businesses,” Curls says. “We must all come together with intentionality to bring up the urban core; we all rise or we all fall.”
That philosophy drives their comprehensive approach, taking entrepreneurs from initial concepts to successful businesses. Maurice Gay, PBA’s director of operations, recently described helping a would-be entrepreneur with nothing but a recipe and dream of selling her potato salad in grocery stores.
“The whole formation of PBA is that we take a business idea and make it into reality,” says Gay. “We formulate it from their idea, create a business plan, help them get incorporated, and proceed through the steps. We have a road map that we walk our clients through, allowing them to take it from whatever point they’re currently at and keep proceeding down the road to success.”
The process begins with an initial inquiry and welcome packet. PBA then pairs entrepreneurs with business development specialists who provide one-on-one coaching tailored to the individual’s needs and goals. PBA services both for-profit and nonprofit businesses in just about every sector, from entertainment to construction.
The majority of PBA’s resources are free and supported by grant funding. Their services span from monthly coaching sessions to workshops on everything from accounting and legal issues to artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
For those just getting started, PBA’s “Incorporate You” program partners with KC BizCare Office to guide entrepreneurs through every step of becoming a formal business entity.
Their “Eco-Expert Boutique” provides specialized one-on-one assistance on environmental issues, while the “Technology Today” program partners with Grow with Google to help businesses build digital skills.
For emerging businesses, PBA has partnered with the Economic Development Corporation of KC to create a micro-loan program that doesn’t require credit checks or collateral; removing traditional barriers that have historically locked out Black entrepreneurs from accessing capital.
For those interested in starting or growing a business, PBA can be reached at their offices on Linwood Boulevard. While they may be Kansas City’s “best-kept secret” now, their impact on the community is becoming impossible to overlook.
PBA can be found online at PBAKC.org.
2420 E. Linwood Ave., KCMO
(816) 666-9722
Upcoming PBA Free Workshop:
Small Business Legal Workshop
Led by: Attorney Alfred Jordan
Topics: Legal basics, business structure selection (LLC vs. sole proprietorship), legal compliance
Tue., Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m.
PBA offices at 2420 E. Linwood Ave., KCMO
Cost: Free