Across the nation–in rural, urban, and suburban areas alike–small businesses and entrepreneurs create the unique identity of our communities and are drivers of local economic development. Nowhere is this more abundantly clear than in North Carolina, where businesses with between two and 50 employees make up 95 percent of all business entities and account for 44 percent of employment in the state.

As we emerge from a year that saw many businesses close their doors permanently following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health of countless other small firms remain in jeopardy. The pandemic has only amplified serious existing issues facing our state’s small-business owners and entrepreneurs long before the arrival of COVID in 2020.

Now is the time to implement long-term and statewide policy solutions to stabilize the economic viability of our state’s small businesses. The NC Rural Center, along with a statewide Small Business Policy Task Force (SBPTF), have introduced North Carolina’s New Small Business Plan, a set of state-specific policy recommendations addressing the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs in the following focus areas: funding, support, opportunity, and knowledge. You can read “North Carolina’s New Small Business Plan: A Pathway to Prosperity for All” HERE.

Please join me by adding your name/organization name to this coalition to voice your support in ensuring that North Carolina’s entrepreneurs and small-business owners have equal access to the capital, resources, and tools needed to prosper. Signup link is HERE.
As a member of the North Carolina Small Business Coalition, you will have access to the latest news and updates regarding small business legislation and resources in North Carolina. If you have any questions about the coalition or its membership, please contact our Advocacy Engagement Coordinator, Miles Kirksey, at mkirksey@ncruralcenter.org.