The North Carolina Community Colleges Small Business Center Network (SBCN) encourages the public to celebrate local Small Businesses. National Small Business Week is April 30-May 6, 2023.

Goldsboro Mayor, David Ham, signed a National Small Business Week proclamation on April 17th stating that Goldsboro, NC, “declares support for our small businesses, recognizes the innovations and contributions of small businesses, and urges the residents of our community to support small businesses and merchants during Small Business Week and throughout the year.”

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that over 50 percent of the working population works in a small business. A small business is defined by the Small Business Administration as one with 500 or less employees. Small businesses have generated over 65 percent of new jobs since 1995.

The mission of the North Carolina Community Colleges Small Business Center Network is to increase the success rate and number of viable small businesses in North Carolina by providing high quality, readily accessible assistance to prospective and existing small business owners. The SBCN assisted in starting more than 547 businesses in 2021-2022. Small Business Centers have

an economic impact in 90% of all NC Counties each year including helping to create and retain over 3,670 jobs in 2021-2022.

Wayne Community College’s Small Business Center is located on the main campus in the Walnut Building. Contact Esteban Guzman, Director, for more information at 919-739-6941.