OUR MISSION:
Starting, managing, and growing a business has always been a challenging and sometimes confusing process. It is especially difficult in these economic circumstances, and entrepreneurs are seeking assistance more than ever.
Fortunately, there are several professional, no-fee resources available to you in southeastern North Carolina to help with these issues and many more.
GW CORP is a coalition of government supported, not-for-profit organizations whose mission is to help you create and grow successful businesses in the region.
OUR GOAL:
The goal of GW CORP is to make it easier for individuals and small businesses to access the resources most suited to their particular needs. We have outlined the types of services available to those interested in starting their own business and to those already operating small businesses so they may make the best decision as to which organization(s) are in the best position to help them.
Please click on the links below to learn more about how you can find the professional knowledge, training, counseling, and mentoring you need to be more successful with your small business.
The regional small business centers at Cape Fear Community College and Brunswick Community College specialize in the following areas:
Provide free assistance to individuals who are interested in starting their own small business through confidential counseling, access to numerous resources, and business plan development.
Conduct free seminars, open to the public, designed to help individuals start their own company and learn the fundamentals of operation a small company.
Serve as a counseling source/sounding board to small businesses after start up to help them analyze and solve problems as well as develop mentoring relationships if desired.
A nationally recognized resource for small business advice and provides its clients with the critical resources and counseling necessary to maximize the success of existing and emerging small business. SCORE is a resource partner to the SBA. SCORE offers free and confidential business counseling by volunteer counselors who are working and retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders who share their real world wisdom, experience and personal lessons learned in business. Explore SCORE.
Oleander Drive
Suite #6
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-452-5395
Monday-Friday 10-3
Evenings & Saturdays by appointment
The SBTDC is a business development service of the University of North Carolina system, operated in partnership with the US Small Business Administration. The office at UNCW, which is part of the Cameron School of Business, specifically serves the counties of Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Onslow, Pender and New Hanover. SBTDC provides confidential, free-of-charge counseling services to startup and existing businesses. Using advanced business planning tools and resources, the counselors of the SBTDC provide you with the information you need to make smart decisions. The SBTDC also offers specialized services in market research, government procurement, export, the boating industry, and technology development and commercialization.
Created in 1953, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is the U.S. Federal Government's primary advocate for small business. The SBA provides a variety of program lending options for small businesses during the start-up phase by assisting with working capital and improving cash flow, and for business expansion purposes as they grow. Through the SBA loan guaranty program - the SBA works closely with banks and other private lenders to provide guarantees of 40 – 85% on loans made to small business clients – helping reduce bank lending risk and provide the small business client with longer loan terms to enhance cash flow. Located in Wilmington, the local SBA office provides small business counseling and advice on the SBA lending process and information on area lending resources.
LOCAL CONTACT INFO:
Don R. Spry, II
Senior Area Manager
don.spry@sba.gov
New Hanover County Public Library
Check out the Business Resources webpage under the Reference Link from the library homepage.
The Library provides a variety of books, newspapers, magazines, CDs, videos, and databases to help business start ups as well as established businesses. Use the library to find general business information and to research company, industry, investment, marketing, demographic or statistical information.
Main Library201 Chestnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Chambers of Commerce / Member Associations
There are several Chambers of Commerce serving southeastern North Carolina. The primary role of each chamber is to provide support services, resources, networking opportunities and other outreach functions to their membership, consisting mostly of small businesses in their communities. Links to each chamber and member association are provided below:
Burgaw, NC
Carolina Beach/Kure Beach/Fort Fisher, NC
Hampstead, NC
North Brunswick County, NC
Southport - Oak Island, NC
Topsail, NC
Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC HBA
www.burgawchamber.com
www.pleasureislandnc.org
www.hampsteadchamber.com
www.nbchamber.net
www.southport-oakisland.com
www.topsailcoc.com
www.wilmingtonchamber.org
www.wcfhba.com