By Sarah Thomack
St. Joseph Post

(This event was rescheduled due to weather. It will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28th at the Nodaway County Administration Building.)

An opportunity for makers and entrepreneurs to learn how to take their hobby to the next level is coming up in Maryville.

Maryville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lily White said they are putting together a seminar called, “From Maker to Made.”

White said the event came about because the Chamber noticed at area craft shows and through other events how many local people are makers.

“They’re making incredible things… selling earrings, makeup bags and homemade woodcraft projects, as far as whole furniture sets and they are incredibly talented, but they’re all doing it in their spare time and it’s a passion that they have,” White said. “So we are going to try to find a way to not only help teach them, but learn from them what they need from our community to better assist them, so some of them might actually be able to make this into their career.”

White said they are working with Nodaway County Economic Development, Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation, the Regional Council of Governments and more to present the inaugural seminar next week.

“What we’re going to do at that one is going to be a little bit broad, but we’re going to start talking about wholesaling to different boutiques and different small businesses and then also scaling to sell online, so we can really teach these individuals that already have this awesome skill set, to get their product out further and market themselves,” White said. “We’re hoping that it spins off into larger seminars and more ways for us to help them.”

The “From Maker to Made” event takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19th at the Nodaway County Administration Building. For more information, go to maryvillechamber.com.