By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Since he was 14 years old, Josh Dechant has been interested in growing entrepreneurship in Hays.

Today, the Fort Hays State University graduate is the “Entrepreneur in Residence” within the FHSU College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

“It’s a volunteer position which comes with an office,” explained Dechant.

“Business growth in Hays is stagnant. There are lots of creative people out there with good ideas who don’t know how to get started. There are also a lot of people in Hays who can offer guidance and investment dollars to entrepreneurs. We need to get them connected,” Dechant said.

After attending a roundtable meeting in Wichita last month where Dechant was approached by many want-to-be business owners asking him to develop customized web sites and computer apps for their companies, Dechant decided a similar event needs to happen in Hays.

The inaugural meeting of JoinUp Hays is tonight, Oct. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at K’s Diner, 3402 Vine. There is no charge to participate.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who want to bring more businesses to Hays. We need the ‘idea people,’ everyone from students to the stay-at-home moms, along with developers and designers. Several influential established business people — “big thinkers” — plan to be there to offer advice and assistance,” he said.

Dechant is so enthused about the project he’s already developed a mobile JoinUp Hays computer app to connect the participants.

“Anyone with unique perspectives and skill sets who would like to participate is welcome to attend. It’ll be a great networking event.”

For more information about JoinUp Hays, call Dechant at (785)-650-9736.