Are you thinking of starting your own business
or taking your current business to the next level?
Then you have come to the right place.
Counseling, Services, Resources, and Incubation
The Small Business Center provides free one-to-one counseling for business owners or prospective owners to assist them in getting started or with a specific area of concern. Counseling can cover a variety of topics ranging from licensing and marketing to patents and trademarks. We also offer a variety of resources and services to help businesses start and grow, including business incubation.
Free Counseling | Services and Resources
Business Incubator Program | Student Business Incubator Program
Workshops, Seminars, Expos and Camps
Inaugural program
Workshops, seminars, expos and camps are sponsored by the Center to assist the business entrepreneur with continuing education in the areas of management and supervision, communications, taxes and the "how tos" of operating a business, as well as other topics.
Class Schedule | Small Business Jump Start Day | Export Expo | YES! Camp | Living Your Dream
Technology Business Plan Competition
through June 30, 2009
A-B Tech’s Center for Business and Technology Incubation is conducting a Technology Business Plan Competition for emerging technology-based companies that are ready to enter into their production phase. The winner of the competition will receive a $25,000 grant through funds from an anonymous donor. An information session will be at 1 p.m. May 29 in the incubator.
About Technology Business Plan Competition
Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week
September 21-25, 2009
Since 1983, Western North Carolina has celebrated minority entrepreneurship in the region as part of the national Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week initiative. This year's events will be held September 21 - 25. Please visit website for details: http://wncmedweek.org
Living Your Dream
We are now offering a new program, “Living Your Dream”, that will provide real-life experiences for clients thinking of starting a bed and breakfast or a restaurant business. In addition, the program will generate income for existing businesses and help stimulate growth in North Carolina’s hospitality and tourism industry.
The program, “Living Your Dream,” will establish a network of model businesses that will expose Small Business Center clients to actual work practices, principles, and problems. The current models available to do a 3-day intensive work study program are The Big Mill, a bed and breakfast located in Williamston, NC and a locally owned and operated restaurant in the Asheville area, The Market Place.
2009 State of the Incubator Reception
On June 3, A-B Tech's Center for Business and Technology Incubation hosted its second annual State of the Incubator reception. This event was an opportunity to showcase current Incubator tenants and share many success stories. Per Russ Yelton, Executive Director, Entrepreneurial Ventures and Business Incubation, the businesses in the Incubator program collectively generated $12.7 million in revenue for 2007 and 2008 and paid an average annual wage of $31,000 to employees. In addition, even as the recession deepened during the first quarter of 2009, the companies in the Incubator program created 24 full-time jobs.
The following awards were presented to business owners who are currently participating in the Business Incubator program:
2009 Employee Growth Award – Endless Supply Company
2009 Million Dollar Round Table Award – Advanced Composting Technologies
2009 Million Dollar Round Table Award – BioVendor
2009 Fast Start Award – CFO Consultants, LLC
2009 Innovative Idea – AirplanesDIRECT
2009 Partner of the Year – NC Department of Commerce, International Trade Division
The Community's College, Dedicated To Student Success
