Message from the Director
American Express has always cared deeply about thriving communities and believes that small businesses are the core of every thriving neighborhood. That's why in 2010 they created Small Business Saturday on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to Shop small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. In effort to support local communities they allow organizations around the country to serve as Neighborhood Champions to support the local small businesses with events and activities on Small Business Saturday.

The Small Business Center at Nash Community College continues to be a Neighborhood Champion and we want to assist you with preparing for Small Business Saturday. If you are interested in one-on-one business counseling in preparation for Small Business Saturday, please do not hesitate to reach out to us! We will also be delivering Small Business Saturday promotional material on November 22nd. If you would like to receive free signage, bags, and more at your place of business, please contact Meghan Douglas to be added to the drop off list no later than November 19th.

As always, please remember to continue to STAY SAFE and be cautious in all your activities! If you are planning to do in person counseling sessions please note that you will be required to wear a mask once in the building.

Wishing you small business success!
Tierra Norwood
Director, SBC at Nash Community College
252-451-8233
November is National Entrepreneurship Month
As we celebrate Entrepreneurs this month, let's also take a moment to congratulate them for taking a chance on themselves. It is not easy to be an entrepreneur. It takes drive, passion, long days and even longer nights. Salute to those who invested in their dreams and are working hard to grow their ideas into profitable, successful businesses! The Small Business supports the efforts of business development with free one-on-one business counseling, as well as free seminar and workshop opportunities.
Small Business Center Director receives award
The Small Business Center Network awarded Tierra Norwood as Rookie of the Year! This award recognizes new directors who have been in the position for two years or less for their outstanding performance on the job and for significant growth in their center.

Lunch and Learn Kick Off!
The Small Business Center at NCC and the Rocky Mount Area Chamber invite you to join us on November 17th at 12 noon for the return of our Lunch and Learn series!
The focus will be " Knowing your worth" how to strategically price your product or service. This session will be led by presenter Michael Barbera of Clicksuasion Labs.
Lunch will be provided and seating is limited!
Small Business Resource Fair
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to attend the Small Business Resource Fair hosted by the Small Business Center at NCC and Station Square. This event will feature local organizations that serve entrepreneurs seeking to start a business as well as business owners seeking to grow their business and expand their network of resources. This event is FREE to attend.

December 1, 2021
12 pm - 3 pm
Station Square

If your organization supports the growth and development of small businesses please feel free to register to be a vendor at our fair by CLICKING HERE
Ice House returns January 2022!
November 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the 
Ice House Entrepreneurship Programs.

The Small Business Center at Nash Community College announces our continued partnership with the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI) to provide the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program to ignite the entrepreneurial mindset and cultivate an entrepreneurial culture.  

Ice House redefines entrepreneurship as more than an academic discipline, reaching far beyond the concept of traditional business creation and small business management. Entrepreneurship is a mindset; a framework for thinking and acting that can empower anyone to succeed. It is a mindset that can empower ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary. 

If you are interested in attending the 2022 Ice House program, please complete the application HERE


We are seeking partners and speakers for
Ice House. If you are interested please email [email protected]

To stay in the know with what's happening at the Small Business Center
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Upcoming Training
November Schedule
All Entrepreneurship Bootcamp classes will be at the Rocky Mount Mills


Nov 2
Tue 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Topic: Start-up Assistance


Nov 4
Thu 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Topic: Marketing and Sales


Nov 9
Tue 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Topic: Start-up Assistance


Nov 9
Tue 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Topic: Marketing and Sales


Nov 17
Wed 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Topic: Business Basics

Nov 18
Thu 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Topic: Marketing and Sales
Minority Economic Development Committee
​The Minority Economic Development Committee provides economic empowerment and leverage resources to serve the minority business community.  We are here to  create alliances with strategic partners that provide access for minority businesses to have financial sustainability and to build foundational structures, while advocating for economic pathways to promote ​a better quality of life.

Learn more on the MEDC website HERE
There is Still Time!
Businesses and entrepreneurs who were affected by the pandemic are encouraged to apply for assistance through the clinic. We will discuss any aspect of the client’s business that they are currently experiencing issues with, whether that be addressing financial matters, restoring operation under the “new norm” or organizing your business’ plan for recovery. This clinic will provide the resources needed to evaluate the health of the small business, connect the business with available resources and help to make progress through long-term recovery. Potential clients of the Small Business Wellness Clinic must request an appointment in order to receive a phone-based, on-site, in office or video-call consultation.
 
The clinic will operate on a schedule that will allow for a minimum of three appointments per client. The appointments will be categorized as:
·        Initial Appointment WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS CENTER
The initial one-hour appointment will discuss the business, and business issues they are currently experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A treatment plan will be created based on the information discussed in the initial appointment.
·        Referral to Specialist WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
In accordance with the treatment plan, the business will be referred to a specialist to address specific needs. All third parties involved in the Small Business Wellness Clinic will provide one-hour sessions at no cost to the client. These third parties will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
·        Follow-up Appointment WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS CENTER
The follow-up appointment will discuss issues addressed on the treatment plan and review the business’ recovery plan.
 
Eligibility Requirements:
(must meet at least one of the following)

  • Must be planning to start a business within the next 12 months
  • Must be planning to hire an employee within the next 12 months
  • Must be at risk of losing employees or unable to maintain the business
AND
  • Must be able to explain how the pandemic has affected your business or ideas to start a business


Accepting Appointments NOW! This clinic is available to current and new clients of the Small Business Center at Nash Community College.
Clinic ends December 1, 2021!
Current Clients request an appointment by calling
Meghan Douglas at 252-451-8344
Prospective Clients Request Counseling here!

To download the flyer below CLICK HERE
Small Business Owner Holiday Checklist
Carolina Community Impact & Kiva are providing funding opportunities for entrepreneurs!
Local Organization Launches Loan Fund to Benefit Underserved Entrepreneurs in Central and Eastern North Carolina

(RALEIGH, NC) Carolina Community Impact (CCI) is launching a new loan fund to provide capital to underserved business owners in a 16-county region in and around the Triangle. In addition to funding business owners who lack access to traditional bank loans for a variety of reasons,
Raleigh-based CCI will provide educational and support services critical to entrepreneurial success. CCI’s loan fund initiative includes resources from Kiva, a crowd-funded loan platform based in San Francisco, and
the MetLife Foundation. The 16-counties for this lending initiative are Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Lee,
Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilson.
“We expect many of the entrepreneurs that get their initial funding with CCI will go on to ‘graduate’ to use other lending sources that further expand their business operations down the road. That’s what success looks like,” said Joseph Battle, CCI’s Program Director of Business Services. “We encourage women, minority and other small business owners, as well as organizations that work with entrepreneurs, to connect with Carolina Community Impact to learn more about this platform and partnership
opportunities.” For information about the new loan fund, contact Joseph Battle at [email protected] or visit www.ccifund.org.
  
There is still time to apply for the EIDL loan
Pre-Launch Series
COVID Vaccination Clinic
Need to schedule a counseling session or have questions about upcoming webinars or entrepreneurship programs?
Please contact Meghan Douglas, SBC Specialist
Meghan Douglas
Small Business Center Specialist

Email:

Phone:
252-451-8344
Resources for Small Businesses
US COMMERCE GRANTS AND CONTRACTS