FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rural Center Asks for Input from Entrepreneurs
Local small business leaders share ideas
Washington- Early this morning, area entrepreneurs met to discuss where they were going, where they came from, and the climate of the economy in eastern North Carolina. Fourteen business owners, Darlene Deberry and Eric Pages from the Rural Center, and Eliza Mahoney from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) met over breakfast at Metropolitan AME Zion Church fellowship hall in Washington.
Eric Pages of the Rural Center kept the discussion flowing by asking about the Beaufort County area, the reactions entrepreneurs received from family and friends after starting these businesses, and what would make their jobs easier. Though the discussion remained positive, the hardships of starting a business are always present. Most of the entrepreneurs present at this meeting had been trained through the Metropolitan Business Development Center and were able to develop professional relationships and work together to get their businesses off the ground. Several leaders had established strong relationships with Metropolitan and assisted in the findings discussion. An example was cited where Tony Meza, owner of a home repair business, had helped Brenda Harvey, who has a childcare center, prepare her building for the children she is now caring for.
“Small businesses need more attention and help from the federal government; these folks [local business leaders] are the backbone of our economy and seem to be overlooked too often. We think that the Rural Center and Billy Ray Hall are great advocates for our rural small businesses” said Ross Steckley, director of Metropolitan Business Development Center.
Business owners Derrick Middleton, Queen Windley, Bill Booth, Shirley Williams, Sam Jarvis, Ron Toppin, Dallas Brown, Doyle Payne, Brenda Harvey, Patrick Chiganazira, Tony Meza, and Rick Stevens were in attendance. Attendees stated that “We need attention here in the eastern NC area. Our business ideas are valid and we can grow our businesses if given a chance to access loan dollars and have access to Federal Contracts” Impediments such as skyrocketing insurance costs and keeping willing workers on the job were noted as having a negative impact on their bottom lines. Reverend David L. Moore thanked the Center for holding the event in Washington and encouraged the business owners by asking the Rural Center that more funds be made available for businesses in the East and for use by the Business Development Center.
Metropolitan Business Development Center is a non-profit organization based in Washington, North Carolina. Since its inception in August of 2000, it has aided in the development of over 40 businesses and the addition of more than 100 jobs to the Beaufort County area. The Rural Center works to develop, promote, and implement sound economic strategies to improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians. CFED promotes asset-building and economic opportunity strategies -- primarily in low-income and distressed communities -- that bring together community practice, public policy, and private markets in new and effective ways.
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