Happenings Around Charlotte - For Entrepreneurs in the month of September

Greetings Entrepreneurs!   Below is a list of a few of the upcoming seminars to help you start, manage and grow your business.   

Check the class listings for your local Community College Small Business Centers. Also, your local Chamber of Commerce has additional events.  Other events can be found at www.score.org; www.sbtdc.org; www.fsuvboc.com;   www.ncceed.org/help/womens-business-center;  www.ncimed.org/index.php/client-services/women-business-development.   More can be found at www.sba.gov/nc and click on "calendar".  

Upcoming Events

September 9      Simple Steps for Starting Your Business #1          Charlotte

SCORE offers the first of five Simple Steps workshops for FREE.  This session will be held Packard Place, 222 Church St., “The Garage” meeting area, Charlotte.  Check-in 5:45pm and workshop from 6:00-9:00PM.  The remaining four workshops are $125.    Other Simple Steps will be offered at the SBA office on Fairview Road and at the University City Library.  Contact SCORE at 704-344-6576. 

September 9      WOSB & EDWOSB Contracting Program for Women       Greenville 

This SBTDC is sponsoring this workshop.  It will cover the WOSB contracting program and how businesses can compete for government contracts and grow their business. The WOSB contracting program allows federal agencies to offer WOSB set aside contracts to women business owners.   Discussion Topics include: Detailed Information on the eligibility requirements • Steps to take to certify your company as a WOSB or EDWOSB • Marketing your company as a WOSB or EDWOSB • How to compete for government contracts • Resources available and much more. 8:30am – 12:00pm.  300 E. First St. – Willis Building, Greenville, NC. Registration is Required:    http://www.sbtdc.org/programs/ptac/wosb-seminars-2014/  

September 10                   ABCs of Starting a Business         Durham

Hosted by the NCIMED Women’s Business Center of NC, this session will be held from 11:30am - 1:30pm.  Discussions include What does it take to be an entrepreneur?, How do I choose the right legal entity?, Do I need a business plan?, Where can I get money?, Who are grants for?, and much more.  To register, please contact Melissa Terrell 919-956-8889 mterrell@ncimed.org  Free.  

September 11   Connecting Business with Opportunity                 Greensboro

NCIMED, Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, SAS, Duke Energy and many other sponsors are hosting panel discussions and an awards luncheon in recognition of 2014 Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week.  An evening reception on September 10 kicks off the celebration.  On September 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 pm, join business, government and academic leaders at the second annual statewide celebration.  Keynote speaker is Joann Hill from the US Department of Commerce MBDA.  The event will take place at NC A&T University. $100.   Register at www.ncimed/org/medweek. 

September 11   Boots to Suits Conference                           Raleigh

Is your small business hiring?  Consider hiring a veteran!  More than 7,000 veterans will be transitioning from Ft Bragg this year.   The mission of Boots to Suits Conference is to train and educate human resources professionals and hiring managers on why veterans and spouses are an asset to any company or organization. The conference workshops are designed to encourage businesses and organizations to adopt military friendly hiring practices.   Fayetteville State University is hosting a conference for HR professionals and hiring managers at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh from 8 to 4:30.  $199/$249.  For more information, contact 919-515-2261 or go to  Go.ncsu.edu/opd   

September 11   Lunch and Learn:  Affordable Care Act                   Greenville

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act or ACA) enacted comprehensive health insurance reforms designed to ensure Americans have access to quality, affordable health insurance. Learn what the law means for your small business through this informative lunch and learn sponsored by the SBTDC and the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce.  Lunch is included in the registration costs ($12.00).  Guest Speaker: Al Delia, Office of Health Access, Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University.   12:00 PM until 1:30 PM  at the ECU Willis Building Auditorium,  300 East 1st Street Greenville, NC 27858.                

September 17                   Affordable Care Act Provisions                 2 PM  WEBINAR

Sponsored by the IRS.   Topics include: • The Affordable Care Act 2014 Marketplace tax provisions • Premium Tax Credit (IRC 36B)  • Individual Shared Responsibility Provision (IRC 5000A) • Small Business Health Care Tax Credit (IRC 45R) • Plus a live Q&A session with Subject Matter Expert.   Registration required: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=100208 

September 23         How Military Women Become Entrepreneurs      Charlotte  

Did you know that the skills you honed in the military are the very skills that make successful entrepreneurs?  Your military experience is your secret weapon, but there are other business skills you will need to start or grow your own business as a female veteran. Are you ready to call in reinforcements?  The North Carolina Women’s Business Center and the Small Business Center at Central Piedmont Community College would like to honor your sacrifice and hard work with a conference created just for you.  All women are invited to join us, but if you are a female veteran, an active duty female service member, or one of the military women on the frontlines here at home, we have put together an event to help you move forward with your own “new mission” as an entrepreneur.    Come listen to a panel of successful female veteran business owners, learn about the business resources available to you and be energized by Elizabeth McCormick, a former Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot who uses her experiences to inspire you to “Soar 2 Success!”  Harris Conference Center; Free.  Call  704-330-6736;  renee.hode@cpcc.edu;   Register:  http://bit.ly/milentrepreneur  

September 24        WOSB & EDWOSB Contracting Program for Women       Charlotte

This SBTDC is sponsoring this workshop.  It will cover the WOSB contracting program and how businesses can compete for government contracts and grow their business. The WOSB contracting program allows federal agencies to offer WOSB set aside contracts to women business owners.   Discussion Topics include: Detailed Information on the eligibility requirements • Steps to take to certify your company as a WOSB or EDWOSB • Marketing your company as a WOSB or EDWOSB • How to compete for government contracts • Resources available and much more. 9:00am – 12:00pm

8701 Mallard Creek Road, Ben Craig Center, Charlotte, NC.  Registration is Required:    http://www.sbtdc.org/programs/ptac/wosb-seminars-2014/http://www.sbtdc.org/programs/ptac/wosb-seminars-2014  

September 9, 16, 23        Brownbag Session: SBA Programs and Services for Your Small Business     Candler (Asheville)  

Grab your lunch and head to an A-B Tech site to discover what the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has in store for your small business, whether you are just starting or already in business.  Find out the available SBA-sponsored and SBA-funded resources to counsel and train small business owners in all areas of small business management (including business planning).   Find out what it takes to obtain a small business loan and to access SBA financing sources in particular.  Discover the SBA’s minority and other certification programs which can enable your small business to tap into federal government contracting opportunities. Time:  12 to 1 p.m.  Choose from one the following dates and locations: 1) Tuesday, Sept. 9, at A-B Tech Enka; 2)  Tuesday, Sept. 16, at A-B Tech South location; or 3)  Tuesday, Sept. 23, at A-B Tech Madison County campus.  Free of charge, but registration is required:  https://www.ncsbc.net/center.aspx?center=75020  (check back if event is not yet entered).  

September 26      WOSB & EDWOSB Contracting Program for Women       Pembroke

This SBTDC is sponsoring this workshop.  It will cover the WOSB contracting program and how businesses can compete for government contracts and grow their business. The WOSB contracting program allows federal agencies to offer WOSB set aside contracts to women business owners.   Discussion Topics include: Detailed Information on the eligibility requirements • Steps to take to certify your company as a WOSB or EDWOSB • Marketing your company as a WOSB or EDWOSB • How to compete for government contracts • Resources available and much more.   Registration is required:    http://www.sbtdc.org/programs/ptac/wosb-seminars-2014/  

Additional WOSB & EDWOSB Contracting Programs for Women

TRIAD Area October 1

ASHEVILLE  October 8

HICKORY  October 9

RALEIGH  October 14

BOONE  November 18

www.sbtdc.org/programs/ptac/wosb-seminars-2014/#sthash.l3otRzV7.dpuf

October 16          Funding High-Growth Ventures                               Greensboro

This workshop is  for any emerging or existing company who knows that understanding the scope of financing available to them is key to success. This workshop will use best practices and data to examine how to finance a startup business, including:             An introduction to start-up capital requirements and stages of development;     Examining investment opportunities – lender vs. investors; Exit strategies and options; Capital sources for entrepreneurs – angel investors vs. venture capitalists; Business plans for start-ups; How to surround yourself with great advisors; What is a fundable company.  6pm to 9 pm. Cost: $199.  Location: 7300 Cessna Drive Greensboro, NC 27409;  Register:  www.haloworkshops.com/register 

October 29-31                   GLOBAL MARKETS                           Charlotte

Compete, Win, and Grow Your Business through Exporting.  Looking to penetrate new overseas markets and boost your bottom line through exports? Then reserve your place now at a DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS event in 2014.  Several events will be held around the country.  

At Each DISCOVER GLOBAL MARKETS Conference you will: • Meet one-on-one with U.S. Commercial Diplomats visiting from abroad • Participate in panel discussions on the latest industry trends  • Identify new and emerging markets of opportunity ahead of your competition • Learn about U.S. export programs designed to cut your time to market • Network with U.S. trade officials, leading private sector experts and like-minded U.S. businesses active in overseas markets.  

Breakout Session will cover questions on:  • Export finance  • Protecting your intellectual property  broad  • Complying with U.S. Export Controls • Mitigating your risk • Market entry strategies.   $295.  Register at:  https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1468383  

For more information, http://export.gov/discoverglobalmarkets/  

December 8 – Charlotte:Advanced Proposal Preparation & Development Workshops

December 11 - Wilmington

The North Carolina Military Business Center is hosting six Advanced Proposal Preparation and Development Workshops throughout North Carolina. Each workshop session will consist of two days of lecture, discussion, extensive hands-on class exercises and homework.  Participants will build on prior experience to: Make informed bid/no-bid decisions, Develop a technical proposal response to a sample solicitation, Develop a pricing estimate for a sample solicitation, Present an oral presentation of their proposal, and more.  Attendees must have working knowledge and experience with basic acquisition processes, federal government solicitations, basics of technical and price proposal preparation, federal source selection processes and applicable Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).  $425.  Register today online at: http://www.ncmbc.us/14AdvancedProposalWriting.php