Plan now to enter a grant competition that will award selected owners of start-up and ongoing businesses $5,000, $2,500, or $1,500. Deborah Hardison, Director of Richmond Community College’s Small Business Center, can help anyone improve his business plan or start one from scratch.

“The business plan contest is sponsored by the Southeastern District of the N.C. Small Business Center Network. This is a three-tier competition. Local winners roll up to regional judging, and the final three selected compete for the grand prizes. The winners will be presented their checks on June 15th. The funds were obtained through a N.C. Rural Center grant to our district and was spearheaded by Tom Hemphill of Brunswick Community College,” said Hardison.

Hardison said the details of the competition are being finalized, but wants local entrepreneurs to start fine-tuning their plans now. The submission date for local plans is April 29, 2011 by 3:00 p.m. to RCC’s Small Business Center.

“Sometimes all you need is a little extra capital to get your business off the ground or to be able to expand your business. It’s my job to assist you and provide you access to a wide variety of free services within the state that can help you,” he said.

The N.C. Small Business Center Network was recently re-organized into new districts that more closely match the state’s economic development districts. The Southeastern District counties include Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland.

The Small Business Centers serving these counties are Bladen, Brunswick, Cape Fear, Fayetteville, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, and Southeastern Community Colleges.

For more information on guidelines, contact Hardison at sbc@richmondcc.edu or (910)410-1687.