By Steve Lawson
Published: April 25, 2009
Laid-off workers in Rockingham County now have an alternative in their search for a positive future — self-employment.
North Carolina is one of three states participating in GrowingAmerica Through Entrepreneurship (GATE) — a national demonstrationprogram funded through the U.S. Department of Labor. The programassists dislocated workers by providing training and coaching to thoseinterested in starting their own business.
The Small Business Center at Rockingham Community College is one of eight across North Carolina offering the program.
“This is something very exciting for our community,” said DebiJoyce, an SBC instructor and the local GATE consultant. “Prior to this,there’s really been very little available to help people start theirown business.”
In North Carolina, the project is a cooperative effort involving theN.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Rural Center, N.C. Community CollegeSystem, Employment Security Commission, JobLink Career Centers and N.C.REAL Enterprises.
Joyce said the local SBC would partner with the JobLink CareerCenter at the Employment Security Commission office in Wentworth.Laid-off workers interested in opening their own businesses start byvisiting JobLink to confirm they are eligible for the WorkforceInvestment Act program. Then they can apply for GATE assistance byfilling out an online application.
“Participation in the program involves more than just being eligibleand having a good idea for a new business,” Joyce said. “Those approvedfor the program will be randomly selected from those qualifying.”
The random selection is due to the program being part of ademonstration project. Since the program is in the developmental stage,participants’ results will be compared against those of a control groupnot participating in order to evaluate the program’s benefits.
Services provided by GATE include assessment of entrepreneurialskills, business and entrepreneurial courses, one-on-one businesscounseling, introduction to other resource professionals, and helpapplying for microenterprise loans upon completion of a workablebusiness plan.
“With the high unemployment rate in Rockingham County, this programcan be a gateway for many individuals who have considered being theirown boss,” said Joyce. “It’s an opportunity to develop our localeconomy by creating some homegrown businesses. You never know whichidea may provide the next big business for the county.”
For information about the program, contact Joyce at 342-4261, ext.2349; visit the local JobLink Center in Wentworth; go online to http://www.ncprojectgate.org or call 1-877-9NC-GATE.
SOURCE: REIDSVILLE REVIEW