Minority Entrepreneurship
Everyone should have access to the resources they need in order to successfully root their business in the community. We provide one-on-one consulting, training classes, promotion, advising, and business fairs for new and established entrepreneurs in our area. This directly spurs economic activity and progress, and is key to helping us meet all of our goals for the community from increased home ownership to development and sustainability of the local economy.
Our Annual Gate City Minority Business Opportunity Fair serves to connect minority and women-owned businesses interested in pursuing contracting opportunities with key decision makers from local public institutions, government agencies and major private companies in the local and surrounding communities.
R.E.A.L
Entrepreneurship
An intensive, 10-week training class seeking to facilitate the development of new business plans and strategic plans that will improve the likelihood of starting and operating a successful small business. Nearly 400 participants have come through our program.
Gate City
Minority Business Opportunity Fair
This networking event provides exposure for local minority firms to contracting opportunities with the local municipalities, state universities, community college, military/federal agencies and larger private companies. It is conducive for meeting key decision-makers and forging mutually beneficial business relationships and alliances.
Business
Accelerator
A program that provides one-on-one consulting to existing minority entrepreneurs (includes initial business assessment), various small business workshops, and outreach activities. More Information
Serving Businesses in our Community
Arlene’s Restaurant
“Yes, I most definitely recommend East Greensboro NOW’s mentor services. I was referred to them by a business colleague and looking for additional funding. Since then, Mac has been a jewel to me. When I started out I had a cafe and Mac helped me with the planning and budgeting for my business. I realized how much I didn't know. Mac was very detailed with helping me build my budget. He believed in me and was extremely supportive. He led me in the right direction for funding and other resources to help grow my business. Three significant benefits I gained were:
*Learning how to live on a budget
*Consistent and Open Communication
*Accountability- Mac did whatever it took to make sure I stayed on the right track.”
Breez Cheez
“We were referred to the REAL Entrepreneurship course by Lee Mortensen at the Greensboro Farmers Market (GFM), where we sell Breez Cheez Spread on Saturdays. We found the course to be extensively informative, extremely enlightening and enjoyable. We highly recommend this course to other entrepreneurs because it provides all the aspects of a business plan. The course gave us everything we needed to assemble a solid business plan.
The Instructor, Phil Barnhill, was exceptional in his knowledge, understanding and conveyance of each aspect of the course. He kept the class interesting and kept us motivated to continue to build the blocks of our business plan. His one-on-one session with us was encouraging, creative and enlightening. He is a lifetime resource.
The three most significant benefits for Breez Cheez Spread are:
*The Introduction to Financial Concepts, because it included the break-even and cash flow analysis.
*SWOT Analysis
*The plethora of high quality resources was incredibly profound and useful.“
Poppy’s Pickles
I recommend East Greensboro NOW REAL Entrepreneurship course because it was very informative on so many different items that you need when starting a new business. I enrolled to learn how to write a business plan.
The most significant benefits to my business are:
*The ability to access so much (resources) from the library
*The different knowledge from the various (guest) speakers
*How to figure out the break-even analysis and the cash flow for a new business
John Parker: Reviving a Legacy
As the son of a restaurateur and a former student of EMSDC’s REAL Entrepreneurship class, John Parker has first-hand knowledge of the challenges and benefits of entrepreneurship. With this knowledge, John Parker would take steps to revitalize the old charm of his family’s former restaurant.
John’s father once told him, “If a man can’t find a job, he can create one.” In 2010, after losing his job at Mother Murphy’s, John was faced with the challenge of turning his father’s words into a reality. It was at that time he decided to turn his loss into an opportunity. John would attempt to revive the legacy and success of his father’s former Goldsboro barbecue restaurant, “Guy Parker’s Barbeque”. A restaurant owned and operated by Guy Parker for over 40 years. In those 40 years the restaurant had become famous in the Goldsboro community. It was known for its dedication to using natural local products, but more so for Guy Parker’s role in breaking racial barriers in Goldsboro by establishing the town’s first integrated restaurant. At Guy’s everyone was welcomed through the front door and treated as respected customers regardless of race.
After completing the REAL Entrepreneurship class and further consultation with EGN staff, John decide against reopening Guy Parker’s Barbecue but instead reviving the famous sauce once served in the restaurant. After several attempts he was able to perfect the sauce. It is now known as, “Guy Parker’s Old Fashioned Barbecue Sauce and Marinade”. John’s first sales were made from the trunk of his car but it was not long before he was able to get his sauce placed on the shelves of local grocery stores. Today “Guy Parker’s Old Fashioned Barbecue Sauce and Marinade” can be found in Harris Teeters, Whole Foods, and The Fresh Markets all over the state. The sauce can also be purchased online at www.guyparkerbbq.com, various local markets, and in some South Carolina markets.