The Chamber And KIC Team Up
By Mike McKenna
We are certainly blessed here in the Wood River Valley.
Sure, we’re blessed with natural beauty and one of the best backyard playgrounds on the planet. But we’re also blessed with an amazing community that’s full of talented, successful and benevolent people.
Tapping into this talent pool and helping connect our business community is what the Ketchum Innovation Center (KIC) is all about.
“We try to harness the power of experts in our community and help them connect with entrepreneurs and local business owners,” Christy Anna Gerber, executive director of KIC, said.
Christy Anna explained that although KIC started as an incubator for entrepreneurs in 2014, the nonprofit has evolved into a more educational and connection-based organization.
“KIC has expanded our mission to be a multiplier of connections for people and to offer businesses more educational opportunities to support a more stable economic community,” Christy Anna said.
To help fulfill their mission, KIC offers a variety of programs as well as work and meeting space options at their facility on West 6th Street in Ketchum.
One of KIC’s most popular programs is their Momentum Meetings, where world-class consultation is offered in a one-on-one setting. Their Young Innovators program focuses on locals in their 20s and 30s and provides a hub for the up-and-coming young business owners and freelancers. KIC also offers a Women’s Network Group and regular business-focused free workshops covering everything from finance to marketing to professional development.
“We help businesses and people with the whole life cycle of business, from startup, to growth and management, to closing or selling the business,” Christy Anna explained. “We want to help raise the business acumen for individuals.”
KIC has also become a resource for businesses in need of services like places to work or meet in Ketchum or those in need of skills like graphic design. KIC Community Members share their freelance skills and connect with business owners in need or who share like-minded ideas.
The newly formed Sun Valley Records company is a perfect example. Elizabeth Hendrix is a KIC Community Member. After she was introduced to Don Zimmer, recently, they decided to team up to create Sun Valley Records, which is a collaborative music platform celebrating local music communities and artists.
“It’s really exciting when something like Sun Valley Records happens and it’s happened several times,” Christy Anna said. “A lot of freelancers connect and find opportunities through KIC.”
The Chamber of Hailey and the Wood River Valley is proud to help support and market all of the opportunities KIC is providing. That’s why we couldn’t agree more with the KIC philosophy. As Christy Anna put it, “We believe a high tide raises all ships.”
For more information about the Ketchum Innovation Center, please go to KetchumInnovationCenter.org or call (208 ) 928-7825.
Mike McKenna is the executive director of The Chamber – Hailey & The Wood River Valley. He can be reached at Mike@ValleyChamber.org or by calling (208) 788-3484.