Business View Magazine - August 2023

172 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 8 And though they may be small, the athletic programs and related championships of these colleges make a huge economic impact upon the communities and regions they serve. According to the NAIA’s Website, the organization represents some 77,000 student athletes, and they form the center of all NAIA experiences. It is responsible for more than $800 million in scholarship monies, and it features 28 national championships in 21 athletic conferences, serving some 250 colleges and small universities. In 1937, the seed of the NAIA began with the tip-off of a men’s basketball tournament in Kansas City that has become the longest- running event in college basketball. This event was organized in part by none other than James Naismith himself, the Canadian coach, phys-ed teacher and chaplain who invented the game of basketball. Out of this tournament grew the NAIA, an association that has been an innovative leader. The NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black institutions into membership and the first to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championships. Corey Westra, the NAIA’s tournament director for Sioux City, Iowa, recently spoke about the organization. “Beyond the economic impact is believing in the NAIA’s character-driven athletics,” said Westra. “Our city has been proud to partner with the NAIA for numerous years, hosting numerous national championships.” He added that you, too, can boost your city’s profile by hosting a NAIA championship. It’s not only an economic shot in the arm, but it also generates much excitement at the local, regional and quite often even national levels. “Hosting a national championship is an outstanding experience,” Westra continued, encouraging more folks from cities and towns across America to get involved, host these young athletes, share their dreams (big goals in more ways than one!) and take part in the