Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.
306 W. Harwood St.
Asheville, NC 28801
Farmer support, Agriculture, Local Food Systems
Kristen Aldrich
828-236-1282
ArtWorks

ArtWorks

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.
400 7th Street SW
Washington DC, DC 20506
Gov Agency
Niki Jacobs
(202) 682-5403
Asheville Angels

Asheville Angels

Asheville Angels is a member-based angel investor network, investing in startups and early-stage, high-growth companies across the Southeast USA.
36 Montford Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
Funding Agency, Angel Investor Organization
Josh Dorfman
BLNC

BLNC

BLNC provides answers to questions about starting or growing a business.
15000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513
Business startup counseling
Melanie Underwood
980-256-0497
Carolina Farm Credit Union

Carolina Farm Credit Union

Carolina Farm Credit offers financing for young and experienced farmers, as well as those buying a rural home or running an ag-related business.
1216 Fallston Rd.
Shelby, NC 28150
Loans for land, homes, and living
Brandy Swink
704-482-6321
Center for Craft Creativity and Design

Center for Craft Creativity and Design

CCCD administers three national award programs: the Craft Research Fund Program for independent and graduate scholars, the Windgate Fellowship Award Program for emerging craft artists graduating from universities, and the Windgate Museum Internship Program for craft-focused curatorial internships within museums. Additionally, CCCD convenes national meetings, curates exhibitions, programs lectures and workshops, and sponsors international residencies
 67 Broadway Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Non profit
ANNA HELGESON
828.785.1357
Charlotte Regional Fund for Entrepreneurship

Charlotte Regional Fund for Entrepreneurship

To support organizations and initiatives that cultivate high growth entrepreneurial, innovative enterprises and create economic prosperity in the Charlotte region.
220 N Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Funding
Eli Kahn
704-973-4542
Charlotte Regional Partnership

Charlotte Regional Partnership

Charlotte Regional Partnership is a nonprofit organization comprised of 16 counties dedicated to the planned growth and prosperity of Charlotte region
550 S. Caldwell St., Suite 760
Charlotte, NC 28202
Economic Development, Regional Partnership
Steven Pearse
704-347-8942
City of Kings Mountain

City of Kings Mountain

The City of Kings Mountain has a manager/council form of government. City Council is the policy making and legislative body of the city government.
101 W. Gold Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Municipality
(704) 734-0333
City of Shelby

City of Shelby

Are you planning to open a business in Shelby? Great! The City of Shelby wants to help you prosper in your business ventures. Contact (704 484-6829).
300 S. Washington St.
Shelby, NC 28150
Municipality
704-484-6801
City Startup Labs Charlotte

City Startup Labs Charlotte

City Startup Labs entrepreneurs move through modules on conditioning, entrepreneurial mindset, critical-thinking, team-building, & business planning.
PORTAL Building, 9319 Robert D. Snyder Rd
Charlotte, NC 28233
Netwrok
Henry Rock
(704) 807-3000
Cleveland Community College -AAS in Entrepreneurship

Cleveland Community College -AAS in Entrepreneurship

An AAS in Entrepreneurship from Cleveland Community College allows a student to transfer-in to the BS in Entrepreneurship at Gardner Webb University.
137 South Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152
Community College
Dr. John Lattimore
704-669-4020
Cleveland Community College -Continuing Education

Cleveland Community College -Continuing Education

Continuing Education classes are non-credit classes intended to help the entrepreneur learn about specific areas of starting a business.
137 South Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152
Community College
Ken Mooney
704-669-4115
Cleveland Community College -Small Business Center

Cleveland Community College -Small Business Center

The Small Business Center at CCC provides workshops, seminars, counseling, information, and referral services for small business owners and operators in Cleveland County.
Le Grand Center, 1800 E. Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28152
Community College, Small Business Center
Steve Padgett
704-669-4146
Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce -Shelby

Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce -Shelby

The Cleveland County Chamber's mission is to strengthen business, promote economic development and enhance community vitality.
200 S. Lafayette St.
Shelby, NC 28150
Non-Profit, Chamber of Commerce
Christine Cribb
(704) 487-8521
Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership

Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership

CCEDP works to actively recruit new industry & create in Cleveland County a healthy and diverse environment for existing, expanding, & new businesses.
1800 E. Marion St
Shelby, NC 28152
Economic Development
Kristin Reece
704-669-4701
Cleveland County Government

Cleveland County Government

The Cleveland County Government serves the people of Cleveland County, North Carolina.
311 East Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28150
County Government
Brian Epley
704-484-4900
Cleveland County NCSU Cooperative Extension

Cleveland County NCSU Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University and the School of Agriculture at North Carolina A&T State University. We are county agents, professors, scientists and volunteers working together to improve the quality of life in North Carolina.
130 S. Post Rd, Suite 1
Shelby, NC 28152
Deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians.
Greg Traywick
704-482-4365
Cleveland County Schools -Career and Technical Education (K-12)

Cleveland County Schools -Career and Technical Education (K-12)

Cleveland County Schools offers programs in Career & Technical Education (CTE) to develop entrepreneurial skills for middle & high school students.
400 West Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28150
Public Education
Tony Fogleman
704-476-8035
Cleveland County Small Business Investment Grant Program

Cleveland County Small Business Investment Grant Program

The Small Business Grant requires a net increase in taxable value of at least $50,000 for the year following the year of application.
311 E. Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28150
County Tax
Sherry Lavender
704-484-4843
CLT Joules

CLT Joules

Not-for-profit accelerator providing entrepreneurs with key connections and tools to develop successful clean energy companies
204C PORTAL Building, UNC Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28233
Networking
Bob Irvin
 (704) 458-4188
Entrepreneurs Organization Charlotte

Entrepreneurs Organization Charlotte

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a global, peer-to-peer network of more than 12,000+ influential business owners with 160 chapters in 50 countries. Founded in 1987, EO is the catalyst that enables leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow, leading to greater success in business and beyond.
NA
Charlotte, NC
Network
John Bly
Foothills Farmers Market

Foothills Farmers Market

FFM values family farms, endorses sustainable food production practices & innovation, & contributes to the health & prosperity of the local community.
126 W. Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28150
Agriculture
SHELBY: Angelina Smith KINGS MTN: Nancy Fichter
SHELBY: 704-470-7603 KINGS MTN: 704-600-5397
Gardner Webb University -BS in Entrepreneurship

Gardner Webb University -BS in Entrepreneurship

At Gardner-Webb we seek to educate men and women to compete effectively in tomorrow’s business world.
110 South Main Street
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
University
Dr. Van Graham
(704) 406-2260
Kings Mountain – Economic Development

Kings Mountain – Economic Development

Kings Mountain became recognized as a NC Main Street City in 2009. Our main streets are the places of shared memory where people still come together.
101 W Gold Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Economic Development, Government Department, Non-Profit
Michael Worley
704-730-2197
Manufacturing Solutions Center

Manufacturing Solutions Center

The Manufacturing Solutions Center is a non-profit in Conover, NC, working to assist with product testing, development, training, & engineering.
301 Conover Station SE
Conover, NC 28613
Entrepreneur support
Linda York
828-327-7000
Matchforce

Matchforce

The portal supports the NCMBC's goals to retain federal revenues and create jobs by: expanding government contracting with NC companies; integrating transitioning military and military family members into the state workforce; and recruiting additional defense-related industries to North Carolina.
2201 Hull Road
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Supports the NCMBC's goals to retain federal revenues and create jobs
(Online web-based)
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Mauney Memorial Library

Mauney Memorial Library

As a vital and innovative centerpiece in Kings Mountain, Mauney Library provides resources to our citizens in creating and achieving a bright future.
100 S. Piedmont Avenue
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Public Library
Heather Sanford
704-734-4495
National Endowment of the Arts

National Endowment of the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.
400 7th Street, SW, 
Washington DC, DC 20506
Non profit
Niki Jacobs
(202) 682-5403
NC Department of Commerce

NC Department of Commerce

The NC Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community & workforce development, providing support to launch & grow business.
301 North Wilmington StreetRaleigh, North Carolina 27601-1058
Secretary of Commerce John E. Skvarla, III
(919) 814-4600
NC Department of Labor

NC Department of Labor

The N.C. Department of Labor is charged with promoting the "health, safety and general well-being" of more than 4 million workers in the state.
1101 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1101
Cherie Berry
NC Dept Agriculture

NC Dept Agriculture

Essentially operating as the North Carolina ‘Agricultural Bank’ NCAFA originates, services, and finances loans in the agricultural sector that would otherwise not be made.
1001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
Gov Agency
Chales Walls
919-790-3949
NC Military Business Center

NC Military Business Center

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a business development entity of the North Carolina Community College System
2201 Hull Road
Fayetteville, NC 28303
Business development entity of the NC Community College System
Fran Perez-Wilhite
704-806-6858
NC Natural Products Association

NC Natural Products Association

Our mission statement: The North Carolina Natural Products Association (NCNPA) was formed as a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to conserving, cultivating, sustainably harvesting, and processing North Carolina grown medicinal plants. NCNPA's mission is to establish North Carolina as a key global supplier of premium-quality raw materials and plant-based value added products such as natural medicines, organic products, functional foods, and personal care products.
PO Box 8023 Asheville NC 28814
non-profit organization
Chuck Blethen
828-301-3010
NCSU Cooperative Extension Office

NCSU Cooperative Extension Office

The Cooperative Extension offers educational programs to benefit farmers, rural and urban residents, families, community and civic leaders and youth.
130 S. Post Rd., Suite 1
Shelby, NC 28152
Agriculture, State Organization
Greg Traywick
704-482-4365
NCSU Industrial Extension Service

NCSU Industrial Extension Service

IES helps improve, promote, & connect industry to the world-class research of NC State in manufacturing, healthcare, & government service sectors.
1005 Capability Drive, Suite 200, Research III
Raleigh, NC 27606
NC State Industry Expansion Solutions
Phil Mintz
919.515.2358
Queen City FinTech Charlotte

Queen City FinTech Charlotte

Providing world class mentorship and capital to fintech startups from around the globe; all in the heart of financial services hub Charlotte, NC.
222 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Funding
Dan Roselli
(980) 505-7455
Rev Tech Labs

Rev Tech Labs

The three-month program focuses on early-stage mobile, software and web companies. RevTech Labs provides free work space, mentorship and programming all geared toward revolutionary technology startups.
222 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Networking
Dan Roselli
(980) 505-7455
SCORE

SCORE

Workshops and events are offered to entrepreneurs. Webinars and mentoring offer support to start-up businesses.
6302 Fairview Rd, Suite 300
Charlotte, NC 28210
Free one on one mentoring to business owners and entrepreneurs.
VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS
704-344-6576

Small Business and Technology Development Center

The SBTDC has helped NC businesses grow and create new jobs since 1984. We provide management counseling and educational services to small businesses.
1990 Main Ave. SE
Hickory, NC 28602
Provider of management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses
Byron Hicks
828-345-1110
South Carolina Angel Network/Upstate Angels

South Carolina Angel Network/Upstate Angels

investment sourcing, regional syndication, angel group development, and investor education
Early stage capital formation in South Carolina.
(Online web-based)
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Spangler Branch Library

Spangler Branch Library

It's the mission of the Cleveland County Library System to offer access to a comprehensive collection of materials, in a safe & welcoming environment.
112 Piedmont Drive Lawndale, NC 28090
Public Library
Debbie Page
704-538-7005
Uptown Shelby Main Street Program

Uptown Shelby Main Street Program

Uptown Shelby’s tree-lined streets invite locals and visitors alike to a variety of independent businesses and top-notch attractions.
211 South Trade Street
Shelby, NC 28150
Main Street Program, Government Department, Non-Profit
Carly Bostic
(704) 484-3100
USDA Business Loans

USDA Business Loans

USDA Business & Industry Loan Guarantee program bolsters the existing private credit structure through the guaranteeing of loans for rural businesses
Guaranteed loans for small businesses.
Bill Tew
919-776-4331 X112

USDA Rural Development

USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers programs to support business development and job training opportunities for rural residents.
4405 Bland Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
Rural economic development loans and grant programs.
Mel Ellis
919-873-2000