As a business leader, or employer of any type in North Carolina, you’re facing new challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. EDPNC is here to help you navigate these unique economic challenges in the days ahead.
Whether you’re searching for help getting started on a business plan, sources of capital to fund your start-up, government contracting opportunities or minority resources and programs, we’re here to help.
Our small business advisors can guide you to this information and much more. To get started, call us toll free at (800) 228-8443 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit the resources below.
Jump to:
Your business plan is the foundation to help you meet your goals. Many resources are available via counseling at your Small Business Center, SCORE or online.
The Small Business Center Network of the North Carolina Community College System offers business planning assistance as well as a guide for start-up and established businesses.
Our small business advisors can guide you to this information and much more. To get started, call us toll free at (800) 228-8443 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit the resources below.
The ability to sell or promote your products and services is critical to your success. By expanding your markets, diversifying your products and tapping into new resources, your company will continue to grow. Here are some of the marketing services available to you.
Finding sources of capital for your business start-up can be confusing and difficult. The following includes basic information on the various resources available for individuals seeking start-up financing, loan guarantee programs and technical assistance. No matter what type of business you have, it is essential that you have a good business plan in place prior to seeking funding.
The Rural Center oversees several lending programs expected to free up to $800 million in capital for small businesses in North Carolina during the next few years.
A guide designed to put you in the “driver’s seat” to create a plan that will help you find money to start or expand a business.
For individuals in North Carolina's 85 rural counties who have sound ideas for starting or expanding a small business but may not qualify for bank loans.
A guide that provides information about financial resources available to small businesses.
The SBTDC provides counseling assistance to growth companies seeking equity capital, offers educational programs for both qualified investors and growth company entrepreneurs, works with angel and venture capital funds, and serves as a statewide resource and connection to private equity investment.
The SBA does not generally loan directly to your business, but instead offers loan guarantee programs through local and regional banks.
USDA Rural Development operates more than 50 financial assistance programs for a variety of rural applications.
Recent legislation makes available crowdfunding, a new equity funding mechanism that allows NC investors to buy equity or debt offerings in NC small businesses.
These six funds provide $50,000 to $125,000 in early seed-stage capital to emerging technology-based businesses. Funds are up and running in the Triad, East, West and Coastal Piedmont regions. Funds are under development for the Triangle and Coastal regions.
A technology incubator located in the heart of Research Triangle Park driven to increase the number of technology companies originating in or relocating to North Carolina. Its website lists loan and other financial resources.
A nonprofit foundation that helps transform formerly tobacco-dependent economies through grants in agriculture, economic development and workforce preparedness, as well as educational assistance.
Offers a number of programs for biotechnology-related businesses.
Since its founding in 1994, the Institute has channeled more than $65 million to local Community Development Corporations, resulting in more than $358 million of completed local development projects. Financial programs include grants, loans and equity investments.
A community development financial institution, which provides small business loans and business services to support the startup, growth and development of small businesses in North Carolina, especially those in underserved markets.
A community development lender, credit union and real estate developer that works with individuals, organizations and communities traditionally underserved by conventional markets.
Created in 1997 to address the barriers facing tobacco farmers and tobacco dependent communities.
You may be considering offering corporate stock, shares in a limited partnership or some other security to help fund your start-up. Security offers and sales in North Carolina are subject to the North Carolina Securities Act.
Call the Secretary of State, Securities Division, at (919) 814-5400, Option 5-2, or (800) 688-4507 for more information.
Provides information on grant opportunities.
Provides access to information about more than 1,000 federal grant programs.
Provides information for start-ups and small businesses.
The North Carolina Community College System has an entrepreneurship curriculum available at a number of campuses, and the system's Small Business Centers Network offers classes, workshops and other programs for business owners.
With 18 regional offices across North Carolina, the Small Business and Technology Development Center has an entrepreneur-focused Strategy and Organizational Development Program and online training resources designed to increase the likelihood of business success.
Based at the state's two land-grant educational institutions, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University, this educational partnership helps people put research-based knowledge to work for economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and an improved quality of life. There are programs in all 100 counties, many of which offer business and entrepreneurship-related programs.
The Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship supports the development of micro, small and medium-size enterprises in rural North Carolina. Project GATE helps dislocated workers explore options for starting their own business. New Generation Ventures helps launch young adults on a path toward business ownership in rural North Carolina.
IES works one-on-one with small and medium-size manufacturers to help them stay competitive, retain jobs and increase profits.
This is a four-day introductory training course each summer designed for economic development professionals employed by public, civic, or private development agencies and individuals new to the field.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction offers a variety of career and technical education programs on its website.
The mission of "NC VetBiz" is to support, educate, and connect all veterans in commerce in North Carolina with resources to become successful in business.
The Center for Entrepreneurship in ASU's Walker College of Business was created in 2006 to support an incredible, burgeoning group of student entrepreneurs.
The Small Business Institute Program provides onsite management assistance to small business owners while providing senior-level and graduate students with valuable practical assistance.
The Center for Entrepreneurship strives for leadership in entrepreneurship and innovation training.
The Interdisciplinary Center for Entrepreneurship and E-Business is dedicated to developing the entrepreneurial spirit at the university.
Through the EI, individual entrepreneurial projects and programs throughout the university unite to provide students with top-tier resources and opportunities.
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education was created by the university's School of Education.
The university's Kenan-Flagler Business School has a Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. In addition, the Center for Sustainable Enterprise runs BASE, the Business Accelerator for Sustainable Entrepreneurship.
The Charlotte Research Institute is a research facility with lab space, partnerships and access to faculty and internships.
The Entrepreneurship Center provides co-curricular and outreach programs for students and the community to create entrepreneurial opportunities.
The center stimulates entrepreneurial thinking among students and supports entrepreneurs and new ventures in southeastern North Carolina.
Through events, opportunities, research, education and building relationships, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is building a large community of entrepreneurs.
The University of North Carolina System also offers a number of online undergraduate and graduate business degree programs.
The School of Business and Economics has a Center for Entrepreneurship focused on meeting the regional demands for entrepreneurship training.
There are many private, not-for-profit organizations in North Carolina that serve the business community’s need for training and education.
Identifies, enables and promotes high-growth, high-impact companies to accelerate the entrepreneurial culture of the Research Triangle and North Carolina.
The nation's largest network of free, expert business mentors
Provides free counseling support for start-ups and existing small businesses.
A fee-based mentoring organization committed to ensuring entrepreneurial success.
Mountain BizWorks is a non-profit that helps small businesses in Western North Carolina start, grow, and create jobs through loans, classes and coaching.
Provides resources and advocacy for economic empowerment.
A not-for-profit membership organization representing the interests of business and industry.
A statewide association for professional economic developers and their allies in North Carolina.
A not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping bring entrepreneurship and small business creation to North Carolina.
North Carolina has many private colleges and universities that offer entrepreneur and/or business-related courses.
Self-Help is a community development lender and real estate developer that works with qualified individuals, organizations and communities traditionally underserved by conventional markets.
The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship is a private, non-profit corporation focused on enhancing economic development in Greensboro and the surrounding area.
The North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Project is a public service program of the North Carolina Bar Association.
A number of minority resources and programs are available to help you start your business.
A statewide nonprofit organization that provides support via access to capital, expanded market opportunities, and executive education/training to small, minority and women-owned business enterprises. Programs include the Women's Business Center of North Carolina, which provides tools and services to help women entrepreneurs succeed.
Dedicated to increasing assets and creating wealth for communities and individuals in low-resource communities. Since its founding in 1994, the Institute has channeled more than $65 million to local Community Development Corporations, resulting in more than $358 million of completed local development projects. Programs include Initiative Capital (loans) and Grants and Technical Assistance.
Advocates for minority, women and disabled-owned businesses in their efforts to conduct business with the State of North Carolina.
A community development financial institution, which provides small business loans and business services to support the startup, growth and development of small businesses in North Carolina, especially those in underserved markets.
Created by the Women's Center of Fayetteville to enhance entrepreneurs' business skills.
Seeks to give existing American Indian businesses and new entrepreneurs a better chance of success by providing them with access to intra-member counseling, information sharing opportunities, and more awareness of other business development programs.
Works with a variety of issues, including economic development.
Provides economic development and business support for North Carolina Indians, Indian-owned business and North Carolina federal and state tribes and tribal organizations.
Advocates, promotes and facilitates the success of Hispanic businesses in collaboration with the business community at-large.
Did you know the government buys just about everything and needs a variety of services? Selling to the military and federal, state and local governments can expand your markets greatly. The following are links to government procurement services and assistance.
An innovative, cost-saving, and efficient method of purchasing that allows government entities to aggregate their purchases to obtain better prices from suppliers.
The central purchasing authority for all state departments, institutions, agencies, universities, and community colleges.
Advocates for minority, women and disabled-owned businesses in their efforts to conduct business with the State of North Carolina.
Conducts business with hundreds of vendors and contractors every year, to connect people and places in North Carolina.
Educates business associates on how to obtain contracts by providing comprehensive assistance in selling products and services to local, state and federal government agencies.
Provides information and resources on local government contracting, including competitive bidding and other legal requirements for purchasing and construction contracting.
Provides information about military contracting and other business opportunities.
Provides information about opportunities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Through this single point of entry, commercial vendors and government buyers can post, search, monitor and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire federal community.
Provides extensive information for small businesses that seek to contract and/or subcontract with federal agencies.
