For dislocated workers in Scotland County, Debra Morman with Project GATE may be able to help you find an alternative career path as a business owner.
GATE stands for Growing America Through Entrepreneurship. It is a cooperative venture between several agencies to offer individuals assistance in starting a business.
People selected can continue receiving unemployment benefits while attending Richmond Community College’s Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning Program to develop a business plan and determine whether their ideas are viable.
"The scholarship component covers tuition for the REAL program and for vocational and business courses related to their business plans,” said Morman, who works for RCC’s Small Business Center.
Participants with workable business plans can apply to the N.C. Rural Center’s Microenterprise Loan Program for start-up capital.
Morman is located at the Employment Security Commission JobLink Center and counsels individuals about the risks and benefits of starting a business. Her clients get the additional benefit of her background as a business coach.
“Despite the serious challenges in the current economy, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for many individuals looking to have promising careers as business owners," she said.
The program has 12 participants so far. Their interests range from start-up businesses in commercial cleaning and brick masonry to purchasing franchises. "Some people I spoken with have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but are unsure of what they want to do,” she said.
Morman provides these people assessments that will guide them toward options that fit their interests and skills so they stand a greater chance of being successful.
ESC Manager Burnest Graham said the program is the greatest thing he has seen in his career.
“To help people start a business on a solid foundation is wonderful. So many people start a business and close their doors prematurely because they gave it no thought," Graham said. "When you apply sound business principles, you know you need money to start a business. How long you keep it determines how long you stay in business. If you can attend college and then get a loan to build a financial base, that’s wonderful.”
GATE partners are the N.C. Department of Commerce, RCC’s Small Business Center, the ESC JobLink, and the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.
Visit Morman at the ESC office, call her at 276-4260, or e-mail at debram@richmondcc.edu.
SOURCE:
THE LAURINBURG EXCHANGE