6 Industry Groups Helping North Carolina Businesses

North Carolina Groups That Support Local Businesses

U.S. Small Business Statistics

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, as of 2018

• There are 30.2 million small businesses in the United States
• These make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses
• They employ 58.9 million people
• These make up 47.5% of all U.S. employees
• Of the 294,834 U.S. companies that exported goods in 2015, 97.6% were small firms

Men & Women In The Workforce

The percentage of men & women in the civilian labor force over time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor

Benefits Of Doing Business In North Carolina

In Depth

For businesses to succeed, it's important that they receive the financial and logistical support of other individuals and groups working toward a common goal. This notion is at the heart of the organizations included on this list, all of which are devoted to assisting professionals, promoting job growth, and fostering economically sustainable North Carolina communities. Focused on everything from farming to real estate, here are, in no particular order, six industry groups lending their help to businesses in the Tar Heel State.

Showing up at #1 is the NC Rural Center, which was opened in 1987 to enhance the quality of life for people living in the state's abundant rural areas. With the belief that these communities are critical to North Carolina's social and economic wellbeing, it works to fashion and implement strategies that address civic challenges, empower local business owners, and nurture new leaders. The Rural Center's efforts revolve around a broad range of subjects, including healthcare, manufacturing, religion, disaster recovery, and workforce development.

With the goal of stimulating economic growth, the Rural Center provides vital resources to small businesses and burgeoning entrepreneurs, including those in the agriculture and food service industries. These essential resources involve networks, educational opportunities, and funding programs that generate and preserve thousands of jobs. The Rural Center further bolsters community life through its leadership development programs, which train individuals to effect positive systemic change in a variety of public and private sectors. Make a donation online to contribute to a healthy, sustainable future for the state.

These essential resources involve networks, educational opportunities, and funding programs that generate and preserve thousands of jobs.

For #2 we have Mountain BizWorks. Focused on helping small businesses start, grow, and flourish, this community development financial institution seeks to cultivate a thriving, inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Western North Carolina. It carries out its mission by issuing loans of up to $250,000 to fledgling and established small enterprises, with an emphasis on underserved clients who might not be able to get financing from traditional banks. The group complements its lending activities with personalized peer-to-peer coaching, plus a trio of supportive, participatory classes.

Central to Mountain BizWorks' learning initiatives is its Foundations course, which helps both budding and established entrepreneurs develop comprehensive business plans for startup and expansion. The Alpine class offers one-on-one coaching and assessment to existing entrepreneurs, while ScaleUp provides growth strategy development assistance to enterprises that have already shown some market success. There are also classes that focus on learning financial management tools, plus a host of special partner initiatives that facilitate further educational and professional opportunities. Aid the creation of new jobs by investing in Mountain BizWorks.

At #3 is the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA. Driven by the understanding that sustainable agriculture is imperative to the region's social, economic, and ecological health, RAFI-USA develops and implements systems that foster prosperous, environmentally-friendly family farms. Aiming to address pertinent trends and ensure the welfare and success of agricultural laborers, it takes a multi-pronged approach that combines on-the-ground services, civic coalitions, and domestic and international policy advocacy. It also offers resources such as its farmer crisis hotline, which can assist with everything from natural disasters to low yields.

Driven by the understanding that sustainable agriculture is imperative to the region's social, economic, and ecological health, RAFI-USA develops and implements systems that foster prosperous, environmentally-friendly family farms.

RAFI-USA runs many programs that are designed to promote social and environmental justice and improve the longterm wellbeing of rural communities. Among them is a sustainability program, which educates farmers about risk management and uses advocacy to provide financial and technical support. Two other projects, Just Foods and Come to the Table, work to advance equitable agriculture and food access. The organization expands its systemic impact by making capital investments, pushing for reforms to production contract policies, and helping farmers of color overcome institutional barriers. Support RAFI-USA's operations by donating through its site.

For #4 we come to the NC Restaurant & Lodging Association, which strives to preserve and strengthen the state's hospitality industry. To do this, it connects food and lodging establishments with community advocates, campaigns for changes to legislation at local, state, and national levels of government, and supplies members with informative business resources. One such resource is a legal and regulatory team, which is available at any time to answer questions on a wide array of topics including food codes, innkeepers' rights, tax issues, and other everyday operational matters.

Committed to enhancing the restaurant and hotel ecosystem by representing its members' best interests, N.C.R.L.A. takes up advocacy on everything from tourism promotion to alcohol beverage control. To advance these efforts, it oversees a political action committee, and maintains a fund that supports various research and public policy initiatives. An equally important component of N.C.R.L.A.'s mission is its philanthropic foundation, which works to cultivate a strong, professional hospitality workforce by offering scholarships, grants, and educational and career development programs. If you're in the industry, become a member and get benefits such as discounts.

If you're in the industry, become a member and get benefits such as discounts.

Landing at #5 is the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. An economic development group devoted to the eleven core counties that comprise Central North Carolina, RTRP operates with the goal of marketing the region's economic viability to businesses seeking expansion and relocation. Serving as an ambassador for the Research Triangle, the biggest park of its kind in the nation, the organization works to highlight the abundant opportunities that make the area such a thriving hub for cutting-edge research, innovation, and business development. Among the selling points it notes are a strong infrastructure, a highly educated workforce, and a competitive cost of living.

Home to major universities and thousands of companies, the Research Triangle represents a vibrant and diverse ecosystem where students, entrepreneurs, academics, and established businesses contribute to a flourishing growth economy. RTRP emphasizes the region's viability for its five core industry sectors, which include advanced manufacturing, life sciences, technology, agriculture, and cleantech. The organization also champions the area's many co-working spaces and networking opportunities, as well as a rich startup culture that generates billions in venture capital investments. Connect with RTRP by subscribing to its quarterly newsletter.

Finally, for #6 we get NC REALTORS. Founded in 1921, this non-profit trade association seeks to facilitate the success of real estate professionals and improve the state's overall quality of life. It offers valuable resources and opportunities that help its members forge enduring relationships, increase their earning potential, efficiently conduct their business, and become proponents of their communities. NC REALTORS is comprised of over 40,000 members who represent a plethora of associations across the state.

It offers valuable resources and opportunities that help its members forge enduring relationships, increase their earning potential, efficiently conduct their business, and become proponents of their communities.

Among the resources NC REALTORS makes available to members are a legal counsel, industry-standard forms and contracts, and association services such as board training and strategic planning assistance. There are also a number of networking and educational opportunities held throughout the state and online, some of which include leadership development workshops, training events, and meetings. NC REALTORS also disseminates information through a range of print and digital materials including articles, webinars, and its "Insight" publications. To support the association, consider doing business with one of its members.