SANFORD - The Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center has been awarded a $5,000 NC IDEA ENGAGE grant from the NC IDEA Foundation. NC IDEA is a private foundation committed to supporting business innovation and economic advancement in North Carolina.

The $5,000 grant will help support the Real Investment in Sanford Entrepreneurs (RISE) program initiative in Lee County for three years. The RISE program is an entrepreneur development program presented by the Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center, Downtown Sanford, Inc., and the Sanford Area Growth Alliance Chamber of Commerce. This project received support from NC IDEA.

The RISE program will be offered at no charge. The inaugural class will begin Jan. 29, 2020 and will run until April 1, 2020.

This eight-class program will introduce existing and potential entrepreneurs to the concepts and practices that will provide interested individuals with the tools necessary for business success. At the end of the program, each participant will have produced a business plan and will have the opportunity to present their plan and business concept to a team of business professionals.

RISE participants who wish to open a brick-and-mortar location in the Downtown Sanford 17-block municipal service district area will also be given consideration for a $5,000 small business grant assistance package.

"The ENGAGE grant will help us to serve 72 participants in the RISE program over the next three years," said CCCC Small Business Center Coordinator Terri Brown. "Participants will develop entrepreneurial skills and be able to produce their plan in a shorter period of time. This will lead to more empowered and engaged entrepreneurs in Lee County."

Meg Moss, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director with the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, noted: "The Sanford Area Growth Alliance is pleased to partner with the CCCC Small Business Center and Downtown Sanford, Inc. Because of this partnership, we believe we have the resources to achieve great things for entrepreneurs in our community.

"The goals of RISE are to fill available buildings with quality, well prepared businesses, to stop the revolving door of opening and closing businesses, to prepare entrepreneurs for the 'business of their business,' and to fill gaps and niches in our business community. This eight-week program, which will feature experts in a variety of areas specific to business, is sure to prepare folks for success in their professional life. Our goal is that, through this program, potential business owners will come away with a business plan that will ensure their longevity.

"In addition to developing a roadmap for their business, participants will gain insight for financing and banking options; understand legal references; and overcome their fears of bookkeeping and taxes. Running a business is exciting, but sometimes overwhelming, and through the RISE program, we want to make things run as smoothly as possible."

Kelli Laudate, Executive Director of Downtown Sanford Inc., says, "We know running a business is exciting and overwhelming at times. The goal of our RISE program is to provide a roadmap to our entrepreneurs, which will outline the resources they need to create a successful business plan. We are thrilled to partner with SAGA and CCCC to bring this entrepreneur-development program to our downtown with the hope of future businesses adding to our economic development."

Individuals interested in starting a small business in Lee County are encouraged to apply. Contact Terri Brown at tbrown@cccc.edu, Meg Moss at tmmoss@growsanfordnc.co, or Kelli Laudate at tkplaudate@downtownsanford.com for more information.

For more information on the Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center, visit www.cccc.edu/sbc.