Help for Small Businesses

Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 02:51 Press Release

Regional partnership will expand training and support to Ocracoke businesses.

The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, Beaufort County Community College, and Hyde County Office of Planning and Economic Development have formed a partnership to offer business owners on Ocracoke Island entrepreneurial resources for success. Hyde County is excited to help facilitate expansion of services from both entities with the goal of providing a consolidated training effort for businesses on Ocracoke.

The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce is a regional non-profit business membership organization with 1,000+ members in Dare, Currituck, and Hyde Counties. The Chamber collects major economic data for the region in addition to sponsoring trainings, seminars, and business counseling sessions. With 28 business members on Ocracoke, the Chamber sees this partnership as a way to better serve the needs of the island’s business owners and managers.

Beaufort County Community College’s Small Business Center also offers a variety of services and resources to local business owners including an online training program. Access the training program for free here. The program is a global program that offers aspiring entrepreneurs and small business-owners valuable business skills. HP LIFE offers participants a path to realizing their business dreams. The NC Small Business Center Network, in partnership with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), is pleased to offer this innovative program to NC entrepreneurs and small business owners free of charge! This program is self-paced, making it possible for more aspiring entrepreneurs to participate. All you have to do is register to start.

The Hyde County Office of Planning & Economic Development, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and Beaufort County Community College are currently offering online entrepreneurial training with plans to form and offer a more comprehensive entrepreneurial training program to the businesses of Ocracoke in the future. For more information interested individuals can contact Kris Cahoon Noble at knoble@hydecountync.gov.