Camden

Small Business Center Recognized

College of The Albemarle’s Small Business Center recently received the Small Business Center Network Award for the Eastern Region. In order to be considered for the award, small business centers must meet specific criteria set forth in annual reporting guidelines.

Ginger O’Neal, Director of COA’s Small Business Center (SBC) at the Elizabeth City Campus stated that “During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the Small Business Center held a total of 84 SBC events with a total of 1,142 attendees. A total of 106 SBC clients were served for a total of 380 counseling hours.” The Small Business Center events featured seminars on computer basics, tanning certification, a wide variety of business topics including marketing, beating debt, e-mail communication, leadership training, and surviving the recession. There were also some specialty seminars which included cooking basics, how to publish your book, grammar
and proofreading, and grant writing.

With a strong partnership with the local Chambers of Commerce, Ginger O’Neal and her staff have been able to bring to the residents of northeastern North Carolina numerous small business seminars and workshops that make a difference for the local entrepreneurs. One special project with the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is the Outer Banks Project SMILE or Sharing My Island Love with Everyone. Seminars offered through SMILE prepared the Outer Banks area for the influx of visitors to the area by focusing on the importance of visitors to the community. Hospitality training and customer service skills for both owners and their employees was offered through this unique program.

At the award presentation in Raleigh, Dr. Scott Ralls, NC Community College System President said, “The NC Community Colleges’ Small Business Center Network is one of the largest, state-funded small business assistance network in the nation. The contribution they make to communities and individuals across the state is vital to North Carolina’s economic recovery.”

This post has been viewed 523 time(s)

© 2010 NE NC News.