Small
Business Feature
Who You Gonna
Call?
The SBTDC (www.sbtdc.org) or 1-800-258-0862) is not alone in its offerings for small businesses.
Four other major state programs, and one major federal program, are
specifically aimed their way. Among them:
 Community Colleges Small
Business Center Network. There are 58 small business centers, one at
each of the state’s community colleges. This grassroots network is
focused principally on providing extensive small business management
training, typically at little or no cost. They also provide short-term
business counseling and referrals to other resources. Some SBCs have
responsibility for management of local small business incubators.
919-733-7051
http://www.ncccs.cc.nc.us
Manufacturing Extension
Partnership of the N.C. State University Industrial Extension Program.
A part of the nation’s oldest engineering extension service, MEP
provides technical assistance services and educational programs to
small manufacturers statewide. Production improvement, quality safety
and supply chain management services are available on both a fee and
non-fee basis. The MEP has a number of field offices across the state
and a strong staff of experts on the N.C. State campus.
919-515-5408
www.mep.nist.gov/index3.html
Business Information and
Licensing Office. Run by the Secretary of State, this provides a good
starting point for businesses to determine their license and permit
requirements.
919-737-0461
www.secretary.state.nc.us
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources. This agency, through its Office of Small
Business Ombudsman, provides assistance to small businesses aimed at
helping them comply with environmental regulations.
919-733-4984
www.enr.state.nc.us
Service Core of Retired
Executives. This federal program is a resource provided by the SBA.
Using retired executives, SCORE provides free, short-term business
counseling to start-ups and small businesses. Its advisers are
organized into 10 local chapters across the state. The SBA, of course,
also helps secure financing for small companies and in 2001 guaranteed
nearly $19 billion in loans.
704-344-6563
www.score.org
Other resources. The state
Department of Labor (www.dol.state.nc.us, 1-800-733-7166) provides
voluntary OSHA compliance reviews to companies, and the Export
Assistance Center, a Commerce Department program, offers educational
programs at select community colleges, including Wake Tech in Raleigh,
Guilford Tech in Greensboro and Central Piedmont in Charlotte.
What’s more, says Scott Daugherty, executive director of the SBTDC,
“nearly every financial resource that’s available” is included
in a Capital Opportunities Report on the SBTDC’s website. “There
is no shortage of programs.”
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