Contributed photo Pictured are: (front row, left to right) SBC Director Deborah Hardison, N.C. REAL Associate Director Melinda Todd, Tanikka Hough, Deborah Carter, Sandra Bennett, and REAL Facilitator Shereese Powell. (Second row) RCC Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development Steve Smith and N.C. REAL Eastern Region Associate Shannon Gallagher.

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Staff Report

Pursuing the dream of owning your own business takes courage. Getting help establishing a business takes wisdom.

Several people interested in following their dreams got off to the right start by enrolling in Richmond Community College’s REAL program offered by N.C. REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning) through RCC’s Small Business Center. This series of classes focused on starting businesses in the health care industry.

N.C. REAL-certified facilitator Shareese Powell said several groups participated and two chose to compete for a $500 grant from N.C. REAL for the best business plan. The grant winner will be announced in January.

“In the beginning, everyone had so many ideas; now, they have narrowed their focus and are seeing how to make things work,” said Powell.

Tanikka Hough of Wadesboro and Deborah Carter of Rockingham are interested in working together to start a business. Carter said she knew they needed guidance and jumped at the chance to take the free REAL course.

“They gave us resources I never knew existed. The course was extremely helpful,” said Carter.

Hough learned starting a business is not what she expected. She said developing a business plan was a challenging project.

Sandra Bennett of Rockingham is interested in a health care business.

“This course was a real eye-opener regarding how detailed a business plan needs to be before you open your business. There is a lot of planning, research, and work to be done before you even open the doors,” said Bennett.

Bennett graduates in May from RCC’s Human Services Technology program and is picking up courses in the Health Care Management Technology program in anticipation of meeting her goals.

“I know I can continue working on my plan with Deborah Hardison (SBC director) once this is over. Having the Small Business Center at RCC is a real resource for me and anybody interested in starting a business,” said Bennett.

Hardison offers free consultation to anyone interested in starting a business. She also offers seminars by leading professionals on topics ranging from marketing to supervisory skills. Contact her at 910-410-1687 for more information or visit www.richmondcc.edu and look under Community and Industry for the Small Business Center link.