This grant provides funding to Columbus County to create the Columbus County Entrepreneurial and Business Development Center. The center will assist new local business start-ups and existing small businesses by offering low-cost shared office space and business development and management training and services. It is anticipated that Southeastern Community College’s Small Business Center will locate a satellite office within the new facility and that partnering agencies, including UNC-Pembroke, the Brian Hamilton Foundation, Southeastern Community College, and Fayetteville State University will provide business training and support services to participating businesses. The center plans to serve at least 21 businesses which will receive 700 training and/or support-service consultations and create 200 new jobs over a three-year period. Golden LEAF funds will be used for renovations to an existing building in downtown Whiteville to create the Entrepreneurial and Business Development Center.
