In partnership with the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development (NCIMED), The Support Center has organized a series of lunch and learn workshops for existing and aspiring small business owners in communities served by its affiliate community development credit unions (CDCUs).

The first in the series of six was held in Edenton, NC on June 17. Area residents and members of Generations Community Credit Union (Generations) were provided tips on the key components of a successful business plan by La-Tasha L. Best-Gaddy, NCIMED Assistant Director of Business Development and Director of Financial Education & Training.  "We are proud to join with The Support Center to encourage entrepreneurship in rural and low-income communities," says Best-Gaddy. "Our first session went really well and all attendees were from existing businesses and could appreciate and relate to what we had to share."

The Support Center received a grant from Bank of America to sponsor the series. The mission is to extend education and tangible resources to those seeking to improve their existing business or someone looking to start a business for the first time. The series was created due to the realization that the unemployment rates in most of the communities where CDCUs operate are in the double digits, federal and local government resources are scarce, and the lack of financial education for LMI individuals is stifling the local economy. 

"Despite major obstacles, we have and continue to assist our affiliate CDCUs in identifying and making loans to viable businesses that not only pay their loans as agreed, but are able to create and or maintain jobs in these communities," explains Lenwood V. Long, Sr., president of The Support Center. "We realize that if people in these commnities had access to more information about the financing and resources that are available to them we would see even greater success. For this reason, The Support Center has partnered with NCIMED to launch the Small Business Lunch and Learn Series."

The Small Business Lunch and Learn Series is scheduled to run throughout summer 2010. For the full schedule of sessions, click here.