Resources

UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) identifies and nurtures fast-growth, high-impact business ventures from the campus and the community. In collaboration with other business and economic development organizations, the CIE supports growth in the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing student, faculty, and community entrepreneurs with education, networking opportunities, flexible work space options, experienced mentors and advisors, and connections to resources. CIE events are open to members and the general public. Welcome Wednesdays are held twice a month for walk-in introductions to programs and services.

Contact

UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
803-G S. College Road
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC 28403-5676
(910) 962-3611
CIE@uncw.edu

Brunswick and Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center

Small Business Centers provide local, experienced counselors as advisers for new and existing businesses. Available on an as-needed basis, this confidential service acts as a sounding board for new ideas and/or concerns that business owners might have. The center’s staff helps business owners find solutions to challenging business questions, and there is no charge for this service.

Small Business Centers offer a wide variety of seminars and workshops to help small businesses become successful. Some of the topics include: How to Start a Business, How to Write a Business Plan, Financing Your Business, Bookkeeping and Taxes and Marketing for Success.

Contact

Cape Fear Community College
Small Business Center
411 N. Front Center
Wilmington, NC 28401-3910
(910) 362-7216
https://cfcc.edu/small-business-center/

Brunswick Community College
Small Business Center
Main Campus
50 College Road
Bolivia, NC 28422
(910) 755-7300
https://www.brunswickcc.edu/programs/small-business-center/

Brunswick Community College - Leland Campus
2050 Enterprise Boulevard
Leland, NC 28451
(910) 755-7404

South Brunswick Islands Center
9400 Ocean Highway 17 W
Carolina Shores, NC 28467
(910) 755-7404

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SCORE Cape Fear Region

SCORE’s local chapter is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses across southeastern North Carolina launch, grow, and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.

SCORE Cape Fear Region mentors new and existing small businesses by providing confidential advice, consultation and education, from experienced business experts who volunteer their time and expertise. Services are delivered through in-person and electronic counseling and free or inexpensive workshops and complimentary business tools, webinars, templates, and tips are available online at SCORE.org. SCORE is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is supported by local donations.

Contact

SCORE Cape Fear Region
4010 Oleander Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 452-5395
counselor@wilmingtonscore.org
https://capefear.score.org/

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U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA assists small businesses with counseling and training through a network of nonprofit SBA-sponsored organizations. These organizations can help startups and existing business owners evaluate business ideas, create business plans, loan proposals, marketing plans, and provide other assistance related to running and managing a business.

SBA assists small businesses with government-guaranteed loans and special financing options for businesses looking to obtain $5,000 to $5 Million. SBA works with a variety of banks, credit unions and non-bank lenders across the state and country. The agency also offers specialized programs and tools to help with access to the federal government market, including the SBA 8(a) Business Development and HUBZone programs.

Contact

SBA Wilmington Area Office
c/o Cape Fear Community College
419 N.Third St. Room 106
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 815-3188
Don.spry@sba.gov
https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/nc/charlotte

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Small Business Technology Development Center

The SBTDC is a business advisory resource for growing and developing businesses. Its professionals provide services statewide from offices hosted by campuses of the University of North Carolina System. The local office is affiliated with University of North Carolina Wilmington and serves Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Onslow, Pender, and New Hanover counties.

The SBTDC operates in formal partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency and others. The core of what the SBTDC does is in its personalized business counseling and strategy development services.

Contact

SBTDC at UNCW
601 S. College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28403
www.sbtdc.org

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Coastal Women Ventures

Coastal Women Ventures was created as a partnership between the YWCA and Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF). It is a collaborative program focused on creating and supporting small business opportunities for women entrepreneurs through business coaching, mentoring, small business education and connecting participants to loan capital.

The center is located inside the Lower Cape Fear River.

Contact

Coastal Women Ventures
Leslie Lewis
2815 S. College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28412
llewis@carolinasmallbusiness.org
(252) 364-3320
www.ywca-lowercapefear.org/what-were-doing/economic-advancement/cwv

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N.C. Biotechnology Center Southeastern Office

The N.C. Biotechnology Center provides long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina through support of biotechnology research, business, education, and strategic policy statewide. Headquartered in Research Triangle Park, the Center has five regional offices, including the Southeastern Office in Wilmington.

The Southeastern Office focuses on regional biotechnology economic development to strengthen the regional economy and improve quality of life across North Carolina through actions relate to marine biotech, industrial biotech, renewable bioproducts/energy, agricultural biotech and clinical research.

Contact

N.C. Biotechnology Center Southeastern office
4006 Oleander Drive, Suite 203
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 398-2385
Randall_Johnson@NCBiotech.org
www.NCBiotech.org

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The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County

The Arts Council of Wilmington’s core functions are to establish the region as an arts destination, promote arts-driven economic development and to provide a stream of funding to support the sustainability of artists and arts organizations.

The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover Count works with nonprofits and commercial enterprises, local and statewide elected officials, economic development professionals, business leaders and citizens on arts-centered programs and projects. Services include presentations, consultations, information, research, and networking.

Contact

The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County
221 N. Front St., Suite 101
Wilmington, NC 28402
(910) 343-0998
www.artscouncilofwilmington.org

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Brian Hamilton Foundation

The Brian Hamilton Foundation was established with one principle in mind: with the right resources and support, anyone can be a successful entrepreneur.

Brian Hamilton has used his first-hand knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur to assist people with the odds stacked against them start and grow their own businesses. They exist to provide the resources and mentorship they need to get their businesses off the ground. They provide a free online course teaching the basics of starting, running, and growing a business - available to anyone, anywhere.