Message from the Director
March 1st kicked off Women's History Month!
In honor of Women's History Month, let's show support and love to our local women owned businesses. This month we will be offering a webinar series hosted by the SBA to discuss the different programs available for government contracting. If you are a woman owned business it is highly recommended that you tune in to this no cost webinar to learn the benefits of certifying your business and how you can grow your business with that certification!

If you would like one-on-one assistance with how to certify your business as a women-owned please do not hesitate to schedule your free business counseling session by visiting www.nashcc.edu/sbc and completing a request for counseling.

Please Note: The Small Business Center will only be offering over the phone and virtual counseling for the month of March.

As always, STAY SAFE and remember to be cautious in all your activities. Keep your hands washed, practice social distancing and WEAR A MASK to protect yourself and others!

Tierra Norwood
Director, SBC at Nash Community College
252-451-8233
Announcing our new Small Business Specialist!
  • In honor of Women's History Month support a Woman-owned business today!
  • Are you a woman owned business? Have you registered your business as a woman owned business? If not, click here for more information on how to do so!
  • Questions about registering? Connect with the local Minority Women Business Enterprise Coordinator, Aaron Harris by email [email protected] or by phone at 252-972-1236
  • Learn more about MWBE at https://rockymountnc.gov/departments/finance/purchasing/mwbe
  • Do not miss our webinar on the benefits of registering as a woman owned business on March 31, 2021 at 12 noon.

Click Here to learn how the SBA advises you to celebrate America's Women Entrepreneurs!
Nash Community College needs your input!
Nash Community College is conducting a strategic planning process, an initiative the college undergoes every five years. In order to assess the organization's strengths and opportunities, we are seeking stakeholder input in a brief survey to inform the process and help us address the needs of the community. Please feel free to share this survey.

NCC aims to effectively contribute to the vitality of our community by addressing the needs of the local community, employers, business, industry and a wide array of stakeholder groups. The strategic plan, which goes into effect July 1, 2021, will assist the college in aligning our goals and initiatives with the needs of the community and ensure resources are used effectively and responsibly. 

Please complete this survey no later than March 5th!
Click Here to access the survey!
To stay in the know with what's happening at the Small Business Center, Like us on Facebook!
This free 8 week series is available on a class by class bases! Sign up for as many or as little as you'd like! Register today to reserve your seat! This series will be held at Nash Community College.
Classes begin March 4 - April 22.
March Schedule
WEBINARS

March 17, 2021
Wed 12 pm to 1pm

March 24, 2021
Wed 12 pm to 1pm

March 31, 2021
Wed 12 pm to 1pm


ON CAMPUS - AT NASH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
March 4, 2021
Thu 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

March 11, 2021
Thu 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM 

March 18, 2021
Thu 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

March 25, 2021
Thu 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM 
Upcoming Webinars Hosted by NCDOR
CLICK HERE to download the PDF and Register for Webinars
Are you in need of free legal advice for your nonprofit or small business?
The NC Pro Bono Resource Center is offering a free remote clinic to help!
Interested business owners can complete the screening form at https://ncprobono.org/csbni/
If you need assistance or have questions email [email protected]
The Town of Nashville announces the opening of their new Recreation Center!
The new Town of Nashville Recreation Center is located at 108 S. Boddie Street in Nashville. Be sure to check it out!
Do you have an internship opportunity available?
The Poole College of Management at NCSU is hosting a virtual small business internship Fair on Friday, March 26,2021 from 1 pm -4 pm . They are currently seeking local entrepreneurs and small businesses who may have a summer internship opportunity or project based work. If you would like to participate please email Patina Robinson at [email protected]
Eastern North Carolina Entrepreneurial Promise (ENCEP)
NCIFund and the National Institute of Minority Economic Development are launching The Eastern NC Entrepreneurial Promise (ENCEP), a virtual regional incubator for diverse companies in underserved counties of eastern North Carolina. Generous funding for ENCEP comes from NC IDEA FOUNDATION.

ENCEP will deliver high quality, intensive support to 15 companies through a series of workshops, mentorship, peer networking, and 1:1 coaching. Eastern NC companies with less than $250,000 in annual revenue and the potential to create 50 jobs and/or achieve $1 million in revenue within 5 years are eligible to participate. At least 75% of ENCEP companies will be owned by women ("WBE") and people of color ("MBE"), and 75% will be located in economically distressed counties east of Interstate 95. 

For more information visit their website HERE or
contact Dionne McGee [email protected]
Calling All Artists!
The Tar River Arts Collaborative will be hosting an interest meeting for local artist and community members. The meeting will be held March 2, 2021 at 2 pm on Zoom. CLICK HERE to register to attend.
NC Cooperative Extension released their Nash County Center 2020 Report to the People
To view the report CLICK HERE
Helping Small Businesses to navigate COVID Reopening or Retooling while staying Resilient
Family Forward NC has a new program geared specifically toward small businesses. Since June 2020 their COVID-19 Rapid Response program has provided employers with HR experts, resources and support needed as they navigate returning to work or retooling their business during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For more information visit https://familyforwardnc.com/returntowork/ or contact Lisa Finaldi at [email protected].
SBA Prioritizes Smallest of Small Businesses
in the Paycheck Protection Program until 3/9/21
Less than 20 employees?
SBA will allow 2 weeks for Mom-and-Pops only to have access to PPP.

The SBA will:
· Establish a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and
nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees
· Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these
categories of applicants
· Eliminate an exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions, consistent with a bipartisan congressional proposal
· Eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make federal student loan payments by eliminating federal student loan debt
delinquency and default as disqualifiers to participating in the PPP; and
· Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the PPP.
The 14-day exclusivity period will start on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9 a.m., while the other four changes will be implemented by the first week of March. The SBA is working on the program changes and will communicate details throughout this week.

For more information visit www.sba.gov/ppp
All small businesses will be eligible to apply fore the PPP until March 31, 2021.

View Press Release HERE
Targeted EIDL Advance Low Income Community Mapping Tool
The SBA is emailing the business owners that qualify for additional grant funds.    A low-income community mapping tool is now available to help Targeted EIDL Advance applicants determine if their business is in one. The map is on the COVID-19 EIDL web page under Targeted EIDL Advance.

The business address must be in a low-income community to qualify so this is a great tool for potential applicants to check to see if they meet that eligibility requirement before applying.   https://www.sba.gov/document/support-targeted-eidl-frequently-asked-questions
The IRS wants to hear from you!
COVID Corner - Resources for Small Businesses
US COMMERCE GRANTS AND CONTRACTS