Goldman Sachs Team Up with North Carolina Community Colleges to Bolster Business Ventures in Rural Areas
Liven things up and get down to the nitty-gritty of small business growth in North Carolina! The North Carolina Community College System just teamed up with big-time financier, Goldman Sachs, to kick off the 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in the Tar Heel State. This collaboration is part of Goldman's $100 million Rural Communities investment, focusing on strengthening small businesses and economic development nationwide.
For over fifteen years, 10,000 Small Businesses has been offering entrepreneurs a sweet deal: free business education, access to capital, and customized support services to help 'em grow like wildfire. In 2023, Goldman expanded the program to reach rural areas across 20 states—and North Carolina's the latest ride-or-die member.
"This Goldman Sachs collab Simply put, it's a sign of our system's unwavering support for small businesses as the engines of North Carolina's economy," said John Loyack, Vice President for Economic Development at the North Carolina Community College System. "We're stoked to bring high-octane resources to entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural and overlooked communities, using our statewide network of colleges."
The program will run through the North Carolina Small Business Center Network, which offers training and resources to small business owners all over the state. "The Small Business Center Network is perfectly equipped to connect entrepreneurs to the training and support they need," said Anne Shaw, State Director of the North Carolina Small Business Center Network. "This Goldman Sachs team-up is a smooth move—extends the awesome work we do daily in communities statewide, and it's a screamin' opportunity to beef up the impact we've got."
Participants in the program will gain enlightenment on key business skills like marketing, negotiation, and staff management, while crafting a bespoke growth plan. Grads will join a swanky, national network of fellow small business owners and alumni.
"Small businesses are the foundation of North Carolina's economy, fueling growth and innovation throughout the state,” said Anne Wellde, national director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. "We're so freakin' psyched to bring our education program to entrepreneurs across North Carolina—and together, we can slap on the rocket boosters for small business owners to succeed and create jobs in their own hoods."
Data gathered by Goldman shows that early results for rural participants who finished the program are a total game-changer:
- 68% reported a swell in earnings
- 60% went on to create fresh jobs
- 85% felt more resistant to facing adversity
- 68% plan to use the 10,000 Small Businesses network to rocket their business to new heights
Applications for the upcoming North Carolina cohort are open until June 15th. The three-month romp commences in September, with sessions happening in a hybrid format. The best part? It's free, and funded to the hilt by the Goldman Sachs Foundation.
[1] "Partnering with Community Colleges, Goldman Sachs Bolsters Entrepreneurship in North Carolina" - Wake Tech Blog[3] "North Carolina Small Business Center Network" - North Carolina Community College System website
- The North Carolina Community College System, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, has launched the 10,000 Small Businesses initiative in North Carolina, aiming to strengthen small businesses and economic development in rural areas.
- John Loyack, Vice President for Economic Development at the North Carolina Community College System, expressed their system's support for small businesses as the engines of North Carolina's economy, stating that they aim to bring high-octane resources to entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural and overlooked communities.
- The program will provide free business education, access to capital, and customized support services to small business entrepreneurs, with a focus on key skills like marketing, negotiation, and staff management.
- Participants will have the opportunity to join a national network of small business owners and alumni, and 68% of rural participants who completed the program have reported an increase in earnings and the creation of new jobs.
- Applications for the North Carolina cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program are open until June 15th, with sessions happening in a hybrid format and funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation.
