City of Hickory and Burke County leaders gathered June 27 to celebrate the completion of a new 12,000-square-foot airplane hangar at Hickory Regional Airport. The new hangar provides enough space to accommodate up to four large aircraft. The City of Hickory and Burke County partnered to construct the new hangar to meet growing demand and enhance the airport’s ability to attract tax base, generate revenue, and increase fuel sales.
The CVCC Small Business Center (SBC) provides free confidential business counseling to small business owners. These counseling sessions cover topics such as funding, planning, marketing, designing, and other resources from the experts at the SBC. The SBC also partners with law firm Patrick, Harper, & Dixon, LLP to supplement the SBC’s knowledge with legal advice about business, structure, and leases. CVCC Small Business Center’s goal is to help expand small businesses and give them the support they need to get started. If you are interested in attending a counseling session, please email sbc@cvcc.edu or click the button below.
Along with CVCC, Hickory has a host of resources for small businesses and start-up companies.
Among these resources is the Small Business Technology and Development Center (SBTDC), which offers events, job opportunities, training, and more to those in need of support. The SBTDC’s goal is to provide small businesses with the resources they need to expand. Through its outreach and services, the SBTDC has successfully helped small businesses in the Hickory area and all around North Carolina.
Startup Catawba, another resource for small businesses, is a website for businesses in Catawba County and Alexander County that provides local counseling, real-time answers to business questions, free training, and advice videos, among other services.
The Small Business Administration Start-Up Business Guide is also a helpful resource for small business owners. The SBA offers advice about starting a business, connects readers with local counselors, has online learning courses such as “Ascent for Women,” and also offers mentorship programs.
For advising and knowledge about entrepreneurship, there is an “Entrepreneur Exchange” podcast on The Mesh Network hosted by Small Business Center Director Jeff Neuville and CVCC Dean of the School of Workforce Development and the Arts Gary Muller. “Entrepreneur Exchange” episodes run between 40-50 minutes each and offer advice, discussions with guests from different fields, and a friendly atmosphere that makes their knowledge accessible to all. The most recent episode, “Legal and Tax Issues Facing Small Businesses, Fred Parker – Gardner Skelton” was released on June 6. The full archive of “Entrepreneur Exchange” episodes is available wherever you get your podcasts.
CVCC Small Business Center webinars will be back starting on July 12th! Topics include information on taxes, online sales, and merchandise. Check out the event calendar below for a listing of upcoming webinars and links to more information and registration.
Business Networking Event Update
The Business Networking Event was recently held in and around Vitality at Moretz Mills, as an opportunity for local small business owners to connect with each other and to provide resources and connections to these businesses. The expected number of visitors was exceeded, and the relaxed atmosphere of the event allowed people to connect with other business owners in a low-stress, yet engaging, environment. Ron Elmore, Director of the Appalachian Foothills sector of Small Business Technology and Development Center, was present at the event and stated that the event was “valuable time well spent.” He described the interactions he was able to have with new businesses, and went on to share that clients he had not interacted with in several years were able to attend this event, allowing the SBTDC to reconnect with those businesses. He also appreciated the City of Hickory’s presence at the event and its ability to provide business owners with resources. “Business owners in this area want to hear from the City,” stated Elmore. In that regard, he believed the Business Networking Event was a “mission accomplished.”
Matthew Xiong from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments was also present at this event. The Business Networking Event allowed the WPCOG to showcase itself to local businesses, and subsequently supply these businesses with resources, in an exchange that resulted in a “great event.” Xiong also commented that many small business owners do not know “where or how or who to talk to,” and to have an event offering support and community is a huge benefit to business owners. He stated that it is important to “listen to your customer about their business and their needs,” and went on to say that interaction among these businesses is positive, especially after periods where interaction was limited. Asking what businesses need is vital to business growth, and Xiong believes that the Business Networking Event was a great forum to engage in these important conversations.
Additionally, CVCC's Small Business Center and members of The Chamber of Catawba County were present.
Look out for future business networking opportunities!
Calendar of Events
Business Tax Essentials for the Small Business Owner
The City of Hickory is committed to promoting business and economic development and offers a range of incentives to new and expanding businesses. For more information on available programs and incentives, visit Business Developmentor contact Dave Leonetti in the Office of Business Development at 828-323-7422.
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