News
The Sequoyah Fund Community College Business Contest-January 19, 2010
The Small Business Center is pleased to announce that 18 curriculum students from our college have submitted their pre-applications for “The Sequoyah Fund Community College Business Contest”. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students. Participating students will compete with Southwestern and Tri-County students and are required to meet certain guidelines and submit a detailed business plan to a panel of judges. The Small Business Center will work individually with students as they develop their plans.The Sequoyah Fund will award up to $10,000 to the winning business, as long as the need is demonstrable and the founder plans to locate the business in one of the seven westernmost counties of NC within twelve months.
The Sequoyah Fund Community College Business Contest Information
Since business growth occurs in small businesses in our communities, an important goal of community outreach is the effective use of funds to boost the start-up of local businesses. To achieve this goal, community colleges must promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among students, encouraging these students to become “job creators” as well as “job consumers.”
The Sequoyah Fund Community College Business Contest is designed to encourage and reward financially those students who aspire to start businesses in our seven westernmost counties of North Carolina (Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Clay, Cherokee, Graham) and the Qualla Boundary.
The purpose of this competition is to further the creation of jobs through the development and start up of small businesses. The Sequoyah Fund Community College Business Contest will award up to $10,000 for the winning business, based on need demonstrated in their plan, and indication they are in the process of starting a new business in Western North Carolina within 12 months of the date of the award. Since research indicates that most new business failures result from a lack planning, a written business plan must accompany the application as support for the business idea, product, or service. Cash prizes will be awarded to the applicants who, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrate the business ideas and plans most likely to result in successful new business ventures.
Certified Entrepreneurial Community
Haywood County was recently named a certified Entrepreneurial Community, making it the first of its kind in both the region and the state. This distinction is particularly important to Haywood Community College. With two members on the leadership team, Laura Leatherwood and Sharron Donnahoe, the college is reinforcing the importance of entrepreneurship to this area.
Gaining certification as an Entrepreneurial Community took teamwork and dedication among the leadership team. Laura and Sharron joined forces with other local leaders CeCe Hipps, Tony Johnson, and Mark Clasby to lead the way for this county designation.
The purpose of ther Certified Entrepreneurship Community is to build and support a rich culture of resources for entrpreneurs in the county. All members have collaborated resources to nurture entrepreneurs and pave the way for them to open their businesses and thrive in our county.
With this designation, the county will participate in a marketing campaign to promote its status in the United States as well as to other nations. With our home county receiving this recognition, HCC's entrepreneurial initiatives can also reach many more people and encourage success among our residents.
