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NexSys tells Sedgwick County its $100,000 match helped mobilize private capital and spur job growth
Summary
Marybeth Jarvis of NexSys reported that Sedgwick County's $100,000 local investment supported federal and regional Build to Scale grants that produced nearly 700 technical-assistance interactions in one year, 110 in-depth program completions (48 local), and roughly $785,000 mobilized private capital in the most recent year.
Marybeth Jarvis, president and CEO of NexSys, told Sedgwick County commissioners that local support last year helped the nonprofit leverage federal and philanthropic grants to accelerate startup growth across Kansas and the region.
"Sedgwick County invested just about a year ago, dollars 100,000 in the work that we were doing," Jarvis said, describing the county's role as a local match that enabled NexSys to qualify for Build to Scale funding. She said in the 12 months from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024, NexSys recorded 694 technical assistance or coaching interactions and 110 in-depth program participants — 48 of whom were Sedgwick County startups.
Jarvis highlighted outcome metrics the county requested to assess return on investment: across the three-year grant period the program reported more than 300 jobs in Sedgwick County attributable to participating startups and nearly $2 million mobilized in private capital across the region; in the most recent year NexSys said it mobilized $785,000 with a smaller $65,000 share directly in Sedgwick County. Jarvis said 61% of the in-depth program participants were led by minority or female founders.
Commissioners praised the results and said the data helps justify future economic-development investments. "Whenever we invest public dollars in anything, we look for a return on that investment," Commissioner Dennis said, thanking Jarvis for providing the metrics the commission requested. Commissioners asked staff to retain the program metrics for future grant-match conversations.
Jarvis said NexSys has applied for a follow-on federal grant for 2025-27 and expected an award decision by late January; she said additional local public-sector support would be sought only if NexSys won the larger grant and the partnership made sense.
