To help support budding business owners, Meritrust Credit Union said it has pledged $225,000 over three years to Wichita State University's Center for Entrepreneurship.

The $894 million credit union in Wichita, Kan., said the funds aims to strengthen an existing relationship with the university.

According to Lou Heldman, interim director of the WSU Center for Entrepreneurship, one of the initiatives Meritrust's donation will fund is the Meritrust Entrepreneurship Forum Series, which will feature panels of business leaders and other speakers who will discuss a number of topics on entrepreneurship.

The forum series is scheduled to start in spring 2014 and will run through fall 2016.

Another initiative is the Meritrust Business Booster Series and will include up to 15 weekly workshops on such topics as franchising tips, branding strategies, website expertise, capitalizing on creative business ideas and analyzing consumer purchase decisions. The series is scheduled to kick off on Oct. 18.

Meritrust said part of the funds will also support other WSU Center for Entrepreneurship's efforts including advancing business creation and economic growth in the region through education, research and community involvement.

“We want to align with the university in areas that reflect our core values and our business mission, which includes helping our business members succeed,” said James Nastars, Meritrust president/CEO, in a statement.

Meritrust said it has been a sponsor of Barton Business Week at the university, which brings together Kansas business representatives and students in the W. Frank Barton School of Business for a week of meetings and events each spring.

“This wonderful gift increases the center's ability to provide training and interaction with successful business people to the students, entrepreneurs and companies driving Kansas economic growth,” Heldman said in the statement.