Entrepreneur Resources

Entrepreneur: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.

Source: Merriam-Webster

Statewide

• The N.C. Community College System has an entrepreneurship curriculum available at a number of campuses, and the system's Small Business Centers Network offer classes, workshops and other programs designed to help business owners.
• The Small Business and Technology Development Center, with 18 regional offices around the state, has an entrepreneur-focused Strategy & Organizational Development  program and on-line training resources designed to increase the likelihood of business success.
• N.C Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services "The Business Side of the Food Industry" resources.
• N.C. Cooperative Extension, based at the state's two land-grant educational institutions, N.C. A&T State University and N.C. 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 offer business and entrepreneurship-related programs.
• The N.C. Rural Center's Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship supports the development of micro, small and medium-size enterprises in rural NC. Project GATE helps dislocated workers explore options for starting their own business.
• N.C. State University's Industrial Extension Service. IES works one-on-one with small and medium-size manufacturers to help them stay competitive, retain jobs, and increase profits.
• The UNC School of Government offers an annual program on Basic Community & Economic Development. The event is held in August.
• The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction offers a variety of career and technical education programs on their Web site.

Entrepreneurship Programs with the UNC System

• Appalachian State University Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center for Entrepreneurship in ASU's Walker College of Business was created in 2006 to support an incredible, burgeoning group of student entrepreneurs.
• East Carolina University - Small Business Institute Program that provides on-site management assistance to small business owners while providing senior-level and graduate students with valuable practical assistance.
• Fayetteville State University - Center for Entrepreneruship is striving for leaderhsip in entrepreneurship and innovation training.
• NC A&T State University- Interdisciplinary Center for Entrepreneurship and E-Business.  Dedicated to developing the entrepreneurial spirit at North Carolina A&T State University.
• NC State Entrepreneurship Initiative - through the EI, individual entrepreneurial projects and programs throughout the university unite to provide students with top-tier resources and opportunities.
• UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Education has created a Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
• UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School has a Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and The Center for Sustainable Enterprise runs BASE, the Business Accelerator for Sustainable Entrepreneurship.
• UNC-Charlotte's Charlotte Research Institute - a research facility with lab space, partnerships and access to faculty and internships.
• UNC-Greensboro's North Carolina Entrepreneurship Center provides co-curricular and outreach programs for students and the community to create entrepreneurial opportunities. 
• UNC-Pembroke's Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship. The center stimulates entrepreneurial thinking among students and support entrepreneurs and new ventures in Southeastern N.C.
• UNC-Wilmington Entrepreneurship Center for students and entrepreneurs.
• The UNC System also offers a number of on-line undergraduate and graduate business degree programs.
• Western Carolina University offers a Master's of Entrepreneurship online education program and a Master's of Science & Entrepreneurship, an interdisciplinary two-year master's program. WCU and Haywood Community College have developed an entrepreneurship degree program.
• Winston-Salem State University's School of Business & Economics has a Center for Entrepreneurship.

Other Entrepreneurship & Business Education Resources

There are many private, not-for-profit organizations in North Carolina that serve the business community's need for training and education. Following is a partial list:

• Council for Entrepreneurial Development - Identifies, enables and promotes high-growth, high-impact companies and to accelerate the entrepreneurial culture of the Research Triangle and North Carolina.
• SCORE  - "Counselors to America's Small Business", provides free counseling support for start-ups and existing small businesses.
• EntreDotTM - a mentoring organization that is committed to ensuring entrepreneurial success.
• Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council - BREC is an entrepreneurial support organization that serves Western North Carolina.
• Mountain BizWorks -in-depth business planning courses, ongoing technical support and advanced training, and small business loans up to $50,000.
• Center for Economic Empowerment & Development - provides resources and advocacy for economic empowerment.
• N.C. Chamber - a not-for-profit membership organization representing the interests of business and industry.
• N.C. Economic Developers Association - statewide association for professional economic developers and their allies in North Carolina.
• N.C. REAL Enterprises - NC REAL is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping bring entrepreneurship and small business creation to North Carolina.
• North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities - North Carolina has many private colleges and universities that offer entrepreneur and/or business-related courses. View a list of most of those institutions.
• Self-Help Credit Union - Self-Help is a community development lender and real estate developer that works with qualified individuals, organizations and communities traditionally underserved by conventional markets.
• Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship - The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship is a private non-profit corporation focused on enhancing economic development in the Greensboro and the surrounding area.
• NC LEAP - The North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Project is a public service program of the North Carolina Bar Association.