伊丽莎白市，北卡罗来纳州 – The Small Business Center Network (SBCN) of the NC Community College System is commemorating 40 years of dedicated support and assistance to small businesses and start-ups throughout North Carolina. Small Business Centers (SBCs) are integral to the state’s community colleges, 提供保密的商业咨询, 研讨会, 还有资源推荐 to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Founded in 1984 with the establishment of eight SBCs funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, the SBCN expanded by 1995 to include at least one center at each of the state’s 58 community colleges. 每年, the centers contribute to the inception of an average of 650 businesses and the creation and retention of over 3,000个工作岗位.

今天, 拥有60多家分店, the Small Business Center Network stands as the most expansive state-funded technical assistance program for small businesses in the United States.

Dr. 杰克Bagwell, 阿尔伯马尔学院院长, 所述, “We are incredibly proud of our Small Business Center’s impact on the local economy. They provide a wealth of resources for small business owners and those thinking of beginning their own businesses. Our center fosters the growth and success of countless small businesses in our community.”

霍利斯台普斯, COA小企业中心主任, 添加, “We are honored to be part of the SBCN and at the forefront of economic development in COA’s seven-county service area. Our center counsels dozens of small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs each year, with hundreds attending our impactful and relevant workshops and 研讨会. 与创意人员一起工作, 才华横溢的, and hardworking entrepreneurs in the Albemarle area is a privilege, helping them achieve their dreams of business ownership.”

Highlights of 阿尔伯马尔学院’s Small Business Center:

• The center supports individuals from the exploratory stage of starting a business to established and expanding businesses, 提供一对一的商务咨询, 培训机会, 还有资源推荐.
• All services are free and available to the public; one does not need to be a COA student.
• Popular seminar topics include Writing a Business Plan, 市场推广及品牌推广, 社交媒体营销, 网站设计, NCDOR和IRS合规性, 以及获得资本的途径.
• In 2016, the SBCN named the center a Center of Excellence under the leadership of former director Ginger O’Neal, recognizing her initiative and collaborative spirit in guiding a local business through the start-up process.

本地企业家的感言:

• “The Small Business Center has been instrumental in my success as a small business owner/operator. I have reached out multiple times for assistance and have been provided the best professional and valuable information and guidance. Thank you so much for the support and faith in my business.——Stephanie Blanchard, River City Craft Co.
• “The Small Business Center has been an amazing source of information and resource awareness when starting my business. They were able to coach and guide me so that I understood how to move forward.-本地企业家
• “The SBC is a valuable resource for our small business community and has helped my company tremendously.-本地企业家

The mission of the Small Business Centers is to increase the success rate and number of viable small businesses in North Carolina. 每个中心都致力于提供高品质的服务, readily accessible assistance to prospective and existing small business owners, 旨在创造和保留就业机会.

For more information on the center and its services, contact:

• 霍利斯台普斯, COA Small Business Center Director, at (电子邮件保护) 或252-335-0821，分机.2370
• Kristen Simpson, COA Workforce Development and Specialized Training Coordinator, at (电子邮件保护) 或252-335-0821，分机. 2229

For all other COA-related information or media inquiries, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA Director of Communications and Marketing, at 252-335-0821 ext. 2420 or (电子邮件保护).