Entrepreneurs in Rural North Carolina and Mentors in Kansas City – Two Successful Programs

Lots of interesting things are happening for entrepreneurs in rural North Carolina. Last week, Governor Mike Easley announced ten winners of the Homegrown Jobs Initiative, a statewide demonstration grant competition for communities undertaking innovative entrepreneurial development efforts.

The winners include a project to promote marine and aquaculture-related businesses (Carteret County), an initiative to support “green infrastructure” in Northeast North Carolina, and a project to help rural North Carolina firms work more closely with technology companies headquartered in the Research Triangle region.

If you’re interested in learning more about what’s happening in North Carolina, you might also want to check out a new report prepared for the North Carolina Rural Development Center. Understanding the Environment for Entrepreneurship in Rural North Carolina is a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities facing new business owners in the state. It includes the results of focus groups and also offers suggestions for how the state can more effectively nurture entrepreneurship in its rural counties.

To learn more about NC’s Homegrown Jobs Initiative, visit http://www.ncruralcenter.org/entrepreneurship/index.asp
To access the 2004 report, Understanding the Environment for Entrepreneurship in Rural North Carolina, by Erik R. Pages and Deborah Markley, visit
http://www.ruraleship.org/index_html?page=content/North_Carolina.htm

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Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program

Research shows that having a supportive mentor is a critical ingredient in career success in all jobs, but it’s especially important for the budding entrepreneur. But, finding an effective mentor is easier said than done. It’s a little easier in Kansas City thanks to the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program (HEMP).

Thanks to the support of Barnett Helzberg, Jr., founder of Helzberg Diamonds, HEMP links new business owners with some of Kansas City’s best-known business leaders. The program has been a huge success not only in spawning new world class businesses, but also by providing a venue where successful business owners can “give back” and help support the next generation of the region’s leadership. If you’re looking for a model of an effective mentoring program, the Helzberg program is an excellent starting point.

Helzberg Entrepreneurial

Mentoring Program

4747 Troost

Kansas City, MO 64110

Phone: (816) 235 – 6125

FAX: (816) 235 – 6564

http://www.helzbergmentoring.org