As part of the Small Business Week celebration, Piedmont Community College’s (PCC) Small Business Center announced the expansion of BOOST, Building Opportunities on Savings and Training. This matching grant program recently received funding from Roxboro Savings Bank to ensure additional businesses could benefit from the program. The presentation was made at the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce Good Morning Coffee Hour on Tuesday, May 2.
When presented with the idea of supporting this program, members of Roxboro Savings Bank’s board of directors immediately saw the positive connection. PCC’s Vice President of Advancement and Communications, Beth Townsend, expressed her gratitude during the official announcement.
“With a generous gift of $10,000, the bank joins PCC’s Small Business Center in the commitment to champion new and current entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and match grant funds,” said Townsend.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to sponsor the BOOST program,” said Keith Epstein, Executive President and CEO of Roxboro Savings Banks. “PCC and the Small Business Center have tremendous resources to offer the entrepreneurs in our community, and we are pleased to fund access to those programs. Small Businesses provide vital employment and economic energy. When we invest in their success, we create a brighter future for the entire community.”
Epstein concluded his message with, “For over a century, our loyal, local depositors have empowered Roxboro Savings Bank to contribute to initiatives such as the BOOST program.”
The BOOST program has assisted local businesses since 2020, allowing for expansion and start-up possibilities. Through the program, business owners and employees develop skills by enrolling in and successfully completing three free small business seminars. Once complete and with a clear plan for using funds, the participants are awarded a grant of up to $1,000, which they must match. By doing so, the program encourages business owners to utilize equity, rather than debt, to grow their respective businesses.
To demonstrate the importance of BOOST, the crowd heard from Dawn Wright, owner of Unkink Me Suites and an early participant in the program.
“BOOST helped me upgrade my initial offering in the community, which was massage therapy,” Wright said. “I advanced from a Massage Therapist to a Posture Rehabilitation Specialist. The funding provided important foundational elements, giving me the latitude to upgrade my specialty.”
The event concluded with a check presentation as Townsend again thanked those present from the Bank.
“We are so grateful for your support… thank you to the board of Roxboro Savings Bank. Thank you for your continued support, not just of Piedmont Community College, not just of small businesses, but of our community overall,” Townsend said.
Other Opportunities Through PCC’s Small Business Program
Scott Keen, Director of PCC’s Small Business Center, also shared other services offered, such as a resource library, one-on-one business counseling, and free in-person and online seminars for easy access.
He introduced Reena Bhatia, Business Development Specialist for the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC).
NCMBC is state-funded and directly aligned with community colleges through the Small Business Center. Their mission is to leverage military and other federal business opportunities to expand the economy, grow jobs, and improve the quality of life in North Carolina.
Bhatia helps businesses identify federal contract opportunities as prime and subcontracts; notify and pre-position North Carolina firms for specific opportunities; and assist firms to understand government solicitations, prepare winning proposals, and execute federal contracts successfully.
Those in Person and Caswell counties interested in learning more about the BOOST program and opportunities through NCMBC should contact Scott Keen, Director of PCC’s Small Business Center, at (336) 322-2484 or scott.keen@piedmontcc.edu.
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