Business Resources
There are many resources and programs out there to support your business, it’s just a matter of finding them. The Economic Development Commission has the expertise to help local business owners find the right local, state, or federal resources to launch or grow your business. Whether it is financing your small business, specialized job training, or securing incentives to grow your operations, the EDC is here to help you through the process.
Start A Business
VGCC Small Business Center – The Small Business Center at Vance-Granville Community College aims to help new and existing small businesses throughout Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren Counties. The Center provides a suite of services and assistance at no cost, including education, training, one-to-one counseling, business plan development, and access to capital resources.
www.vgcc.edu/coned/small-business-center/
(252)738-3240
Minority Business Development Agency – The MBDA’s mission is to foster growth and competitiveness for minority-owned businesses through capital, contracts, and markets. The MBDA can help identify financing opportunities, business planning, market analysis, business certifications, and registration assistance.
www.mbda.gov
(202)482-2332
SBA Business Centers – The U.S. Small Business Administration has a number of different centers that provide technical assistance, including Veterans Business Outreach Centers and Women’s Business Centers. These Centers provide problem-solving assistance, help businesses access capital, improve business planning, and other technical support.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State University
www.fsuvboc.com
(910)672-2683 - Women’s Business Center of North Carolina
www.theinstitutenc.org/programs/
(919)956-2334
SCORE – SCORE is nonprofit organization of volunteer counselors who provide free mentoring, education programs, workshops, and webinars to small businesses. Small business owners can find a mentor within their industry or nearby who can provide experienced advice and help troubleshoot problems.
www.score.org
(800)634-0245
North Carolina Rural Development Center – The NC Rural Development Center’s mission is to develop, promote, and implement strategies to improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians. The Center has several programs that provide access to capital for small businesses in the state’s 78 rural counties. One such program is CornerSquare Community Capital, which is focused on serving individuals and communities that have struggled to access capital for reasons that include race, gender, wealth, or experience. Thread Capital is another program, a direct micro-lending program that provides access to capital, coaching, and connections to small businesses across North Carolina.
www.ncruralcenter.org
(919)250-4314
US Department of Agriculture Rural Development – The USDA Rural Development operates over fifty financial assistance programs for a variety of rural applications. Click here to see the full list of programs available. There are offices set up in many of North Carolina’s rural counties, including a site in Henderson, that can connect you with support.
www.rd.usda.gov
(252)438-3134 ext. 4
US Small Business Administration – The SBA is a federal agency that provides access to funding programs, learning platforms, and resource partners. The SBA can match you to lenders who offer SBA-guaranteed loans, which carry competitive terms, lower down payments, and flexible overhead requirements.
www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans
(800)827-5722
Community Development Financial Institutions – CDFIs are banks, credit union, or other financial agencies that promote inclusion and economic development in disadvantaged communities. With a larger focus on serving people in low-income communities that have historically been locked out of the financial system, CDFIs rely less on credit scores when providing loans and other products and instead focus on more holistic factors and community development efforts. To find a North Carolina CDFI, you can visit the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s list of certified CDFIs.
Local Banks – Hometown banks play a significant role in supporting the local economy by providing loans and other financial products to local business. The Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission has compiled a list of local banks and contacts on its webpage.
www.vancecountyedc.com
(252)492-2094
Vance County Planning and Development Department – The County’s planning department conducts state-mandated building inspections for all phases of construction. It also administers and enforces all development plans and related ordinances. On its website, the Department has compiled guides to help local businesses understand the permitting process and has also listed a Frequently Asked Questions page.
www.vancecounty.org/departments/planning-and-development
(252)738-2080
Entrepreneurs Assistance Program – The North Carolina Bar Association coordinates volunteer attorney to provide pro bono business law advice to small business owners across the state through its Entrepreneurs Assistance Program. The program also partners with nonprofits to deliver webinars and clinics on topics relevant to small business owners.
www.ncbarfoundation.org
(919)677-0561
Henderson Vance Downtown Development Commission – The Commission is tasked with the development of Downtown Henderson, and as part of Main Street America, the Commission identifies projects that will improve the quality of the district. The Commission can serve as a partner in promoting downtown businesses and planning activities that attract people to downtown.
www.hendersonncdowntown.org
(252)425-0844
Expand my Business
NC Small Business and Technology Development Center – The SBTDC is a business advisory resource that provides management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses looking to grow. With its experience and knowledgeable business counselors, SBTDC helps businesses solve problems and make better decisions.
www.sbtdc.org
(919)258-0862
NC Manufacturing Extension Partnership – NCMEP is a hub for small- and mid-size manufacturers seeking to incorporate new technology to expand their business. Businesses can partner with NCMEP to find solutions to improve productivity, increase sales, and create and retain jobs. The Partnership offers help with workforce development and training, supply chain assistance, advanced manufacturing deployment, and cybersecurity strategy, as well as regular webinars and events to network and learn the latest technology and practices.
www.ncmep.org
(919)513-6119
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina – EDPNC is a public-private organization that helps businesses, large and small, thrive in North Carolina. For those seeking to grow their business, EDPNC can help with market analysis, workforce training, supply chain connections, and export assistance.
www.edpnc.com
(919)447-7777
Learn about Incentives and Grants
OneNC Fund – The One North Carolina Fund is a cash-grant program that allows the state to quickly respond to job creation projects, especially those in less prosperous areas of the state. Businesses can take advantage of the program by locating or expanding in Tier I counties, like Vance County. The funds must be used for installing/purchasing equipment, structural repairs to buildings, or upgrading/expanding utility lines, and the project must create new jobs.
Job Development Investment Grant – The Job Development Investment Grant is a performance-based, discretionary incentive program that provides cash grants directly to a company when it creates jobs and invests in the state. Grants are awarded only in competitive recruitment or retention situations. JDIG grants can significantly help offset the cost of locating or expanding a facility in the state, and locating or expanding in a Tier I county, like Vance County, makes businesses who choose to locate here more competitive for the program.
Building Re-use Grants – This grant program provides funds to local governments to assist with improvements to buildings that will directly lead to the creation of new, full-time jobs. The funds can be used for two purposes: The renovation of vacant buildings and the renovation/expansion of a building occupied by an existing company wishing to expand at its current location.
Local and State Incentives – Both Vance County and the City of Henderson can provide matching funds for many state incentives, including the county’s popular Building Re-use Grants, the One North Carolina Fund, and grants from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Our economic development incentives are based on several factors including capital investment, number of jobs created, type of industry, wages and benefits for employees, and company location.
Call the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission to learn more about specific sites and incentive programs or visit our webpage.
www.vancecountyedc.com
(252)492-4029
Locate in Vance County
Why Vance County? – Vance County has many competitive advantages, including a lower cost of doing business, a trained workforce, proximity to the Triangle, and strategic access to major highways, airports, and seaports. There are also several state and local incentives. The County is qualified to offer Tier I incentives, which can be some of the most generous in the state.
Site Selection – The Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission lists many properties throughout the county on its webpage, including sites at the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park. The Commission is here to help you find the right place to do business in Vance County. You can view available sites here on our website.
Competitive Incentives – Henderson and Vance County have local incentives for expanding and relocating companies that are competitive and aggressive. Our economic development incentives are based on several factors including capital investment, number of jobs created, type of industry, wages and benefits for employees, and company location. Both the City and County can provide matching funds for many state incentives, including the county’s popular Building Re-use Grants, the One North Carolina Fund, and grants from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Foreign Trade Zone #93 – Vance County is part of Foreign Trade Zone #93, which covers the greater Research Triangle region. That designation allows domestic and foreign products to enter without formal customs declarations. It stimulates international trade and helps create new jobs. No duty or excise taxes are applied if products are exported from the U.S., and goods can be stored, manipulated, used in manufacturing, and re-exported without payment of duty.
Call the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission to learn more about specific sites and incentive programs or visit our webpage.
www.vancecountyedc.com
(252)492-4029
Workforce Development and Other Resources
Customized Training at VGCC – The Customized Training Program at Vance-Granville Community College partners with local businesses to provide tailored training programs to meet workforce and industry needs, often at no cost to the business. The program is available to businesses making an appreciable capital investment, deploying new technology, expanding its operations, or seeking to enhance workers’ skills.
www.vgcc.edu/coned/industry-services/
(252)738-3520
Kittrell Job Corps – The Kittrell Job Corps is a federally funded program that offers free career training and education to low-income, young adults. Employers can partner with the Job Corps to streamline recruitment to customize training programs and create no-cost work-based learning programs.
kittrell.jobcorps.gov
(252)438-9100Vance County Career Center/NC Works – The Vance County Career Center
in Henderson is one of 80+ NC Works offices across the state that can help individuals find work, improve skills, and build a career. The Center offers several services at no charge, including resume/cover letter assistance, career assessments, access to training and education programs, job fairs and workshops, and free computer and internet access. For employers, the Center and NC Works can help with recruitment, job training assistance, and building an apprenticeship program.
www.ncworks.gov
(252)598-5200
Work Opportunity Tax Credit - The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a federal tax credit administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. It’s available to employers who hire individuals from eligible target groups who are qualified for positions but face significant barriers to employment. The tax credit employers can claim depends upon the target group of the individual hired, the wages paid to that individual in the first year of employment, and the number of hours that individual worked. The tax credit employers can claim varies, but a business can receive from $1,200 to $9,600 for each eligible employee.
