THE SUPPORT CENTER PRESS KIT

Transcription

1 THE SUPPORT CENTER PRESS KIT Media Contact: Janice Rojas Marketing and Communications Associate (919) , Ext

2 CONTENTS LETTER OF INTRODUCTION 5 WHO WE ARE 6 IMPACT 7 OUR BORROWERS 8 TSC ON THE WEB 10 PRESS RELEASE 11 IN THE NEWS 12 TSC TEAM 14 PARTNERSHIPS 15 STAKEHOLDERS PRESS KIT 3

3 SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ECONOMIC ENGINES OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. LETTER OF INTRODUCTION It is my pleasure to set forth this introduction letter to acquaint you with The Support Center (TSC) and the impact of our organization in your region of media dispersion. Small businesses are the economic engines of communities across North Carolina. The Support Center believes in fostering economic development by providing loans and business services to underserved small businesses statewide. As a lender, TSC builds a relationship with small businesses to better understand their needs. TSC is the helping hand and guidance that provides financial trainings and workshops for the continued success of small business owners. To date, TSC has made 261 loans to small businesses totalling to $17.7M and created a total of 454 jobs. We have also been able to help 78 startups get off the ground since Our business services provide the extra support many small businesses need to ensure ongoing success and policy and research ensures we accurately track, manage and report our outputs and impacts. TSC s goal is to continue to make an impact in underserved communities by not only providing loans, but by being their partner in business growth and offering them technical assistance. I m very excited to share our enthusiasm and passion for fostering economic development with you in this letter. Best Regards, Janice Rojas Marketing and Communications Associate The Support Center PRESS KIT 5

4 WHO WE ARE THE SUPPORT CENTER (TSC) is a statewide nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans and financial training to start-ups and emerging businesses, and lending services to community-based organizations. OUR MISSION: to foster economic development in underserved communities by providing capital, business services and policy and research. OUR VISION: to create economic opportunity for all people. IMPACT FUNDING To date, TSC has made 261 loans to small businesses totaling to $17.7M and created a total of 454 jobs. We have also been able to help 78 start-ups get off the ground since Our business services provide the extra support many small businesses need to ensure ongoing success and policy and research ensures we accurately track, manage and report our outputs and impacts. THE WESTERN WOMEN S BUSINESS CENTER AT TSC The WWBC, an affiliate of TSC, provides high quality technical assistance and programs that reduce barriers and serve as catalyst to the success of entrepreneurs, particularly women who are socially and economically disadvantaged, in the western region of North Carolina. The WWBC meets the needs of women entrepreneurs through one-on-one counseling, workshops, training classes, networking, mentoring, and stop-in technical assistance. ACCOMPLISHMENTS TSC RECEIVED A N AERIS AA+3 RATING Aeris, which is a CDFI Assessment and Rating System company, is the only comprehensive, third-party assessment of a CDFI s impact performance, financial strength and overall performance. SBA COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE GUARANTEE PROGRAM TSC was officially approved to participate in the SBA Community Advantage guarantee program. WE CREATE JOBS As job creators and generators of local economic development, small businesses are the economic engines of communities across the state. However, many entrepreneurs face barriers in accessing affordable capital, particularly in recent years. Our Small Business Revolving Loan program helps to bridge this gap. HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT? We serve both existing and start-up businesses. Provide gap financing. Underwrite and service our loans in-house. Require only a 10% equity injection, whereas most lenders require 20-30%. Provide loan amounts from $5,000 to $250, PRESS KIT 7

5 OUR BORROWERS DIFFERENT BY DESIGN HAIR SALON Charlotte, NC The Support Center offers good support because they don t try to make you [borrow] more money than you actually need. They help you assess what amount will be good for your business...they also have a lot of good training classes for small businesses. LaMonica Moore, owner IRON GATE VINEYARDS Mebane, NC. With banks there was so much uncertainty about what they might do. The Support Center is more invested in my business. When I really didn t know who to go to, they had all of these resources available. Debbie Stikeleather, owner KINGDOM TRUCKING Charlotte, NC The Support Center helped us to purchase new trucks to expand our business. It s a blessing. Curtis McCrorey, owner DOUGLAS R. HARRIS JEWELERS Gastonia, NC. We just need a bridge loan. The Support Center s loan was just perfect for what we needed to do. They were very helpful and expedient. Douglas & Lou Anne Harris, owners Your Partner in Small Business growth TSC is a statewide nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans and financial training to start-ups and emerging businesses, and lending services to communitybased organizations. Our mission is to foster economic development in underserved communities by providing capital, business services and policy and research to support small businesses. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for all people. TSC achieves its mission by partnering with our clients and community partners PRESS KIT 9

6 PRESS SOCIAL MEDIA PRESS RELEASE WESTERN WOMEN S BUSINESS CENTER WILL HOST FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE Featuring the Bold & Brave Women Entrepreneurs in Western NC ASHEVILLE, N.C. (May 27, 2015) The Western Women s Business Center (WWBC) at The Support Center (TSC) announced that registration is open for their first annual conference aimed at empowering local women-owned businesses. The conference will be held June 25 from 8:30am to 5pm at The Harvey L. Haynes Conference and Technology Training Center located at A-B Tech Community College on Enka Campus, in Candler, NC. WWBC s conference, Bold & Brave: Women Entrepreneurs in Western NC will open with music by Leeda Lyric Jones, a renowned Asheville-based band known for an enlightened mixture of pop, soul, funk, and bowties. The conference will host local business leaders, co-sponsors and distinguished speakers. Keynote speakers will include award-winning motivational speaker and business growth expert, Meridith Elliott Powell, also known for her book, Winning in The Trust & Value Economy; Danielle McClennan, Executive Producer and Founder of boutique video production company, Link d Media; and Selina DeLangre, President and CEO of Selina Naturally and owner of Celtic Sea Salt Brand and other quality natural products from around the world. Access to Capital for Women Entrepreneurs: Getting your business started How to Make the Most Out of Your Online Presence this Year: How to market your business online The lead sponsor for the conference is The Support Center (TSC). TSC also provides loans to qualified women-owned businesses that seek services from the WWBC. The WWBC is filling this tremendous void in services to entrepreneurs, particularly socially and economically disadvantaged women, by providing training, technical assistance and access to capital. TSC s WWBC is pleased to partner with the SBC of AB-Tech and the SBTDC in order to bring a day of information, tools, resources and most of all, inspiration to women entrepreneurs in this region, says Sharon Oxendine, Director of the WWBC. We have some dynamic speakers, food catered by women entrepreneurs and engaging activities. We re looking forward to sharing how women entrepreneurs can continue to access WWBC here in Western North Carolina. Other lead sponsors for the conference include the SBC at AB-Tech Enka and the SBTDC. The SBC is part of a statewide community college-funded initiative with a vision to support small business and economic development in local communities. The North Carolina SBTDC is a business advisory resource for growing and developing business. They provide services statewide from offices hosted by campuses of the UNC System. The SBTDC is administered by NC State University on behalf of the UNC system and is operated in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. About the Western Women s Business Center (WWBC) With over 500,000 of the Western region s population being women and an average of 30 percent of all businesses in the region owned by women, there is significant market opportunity for the The WWBC s mission is a natural fit within TSC s mission as it incorporates and extends the work we already do in providing training and technical assistance to not just women but all underserved markets in North Carolina, says Lenwood V. Long, Sr., President/CEO of TSC. The WWBC s conference will give current and prospective women entrepreneurs the tools to succeed, learn new skills while inspiring other women entrepreneurs who are facing obstacles to grow in the world of business. The conference will host four concurrent workshops covering topics including: Exploring New Markets with Corporate and Government Contracts: Corporate and federal Programs How Do I Pay Myself? Tips on getting a paycheck from your business business services the WWBC offers. In addition to a monthly networking workshop series, the WWBC also offers business plan development, one-on-one business development counseling, and certification assistance for federal programs and referral support for business services. For more information about WWBC, please contact Sharon Oxendine at (828) or soxendine@thesupportcenter-nc.org. About The Support Center (TSC) Founded in 1990, The Support Center (TSC) is a statewide, nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business loans, financial training to businesses and lending services to community-based organizations. Over the past five years, TSC has invested more than $17.7 million in 261 small companies across North Carolina helping to create or retain more than 531 jobs. For more information about TSC, please contact Marketing and Communications Associate, Janice Rojas at (919) or jrojas@thesupportcenter-nc.org. ### PRESS KIT 11

7 IN THE NEWS PRESS KIT 13

8 THE SUPPORT CENTER TEAM Lenwood V. Long, Sr. President/CEO Awamary Lowe-Khan Executive Vice President, Finance and Operations Don Harrington Vice President, Chief Credit Officer Sadaf Knight Policy & Research Vice President G. Edward Timberlake Business Services and Lending Director Amber Banks Underwriting and Credit Director Sharon Oxendine Dir. Women s Business Center of Western NC Janice Rojas Marketing and Communications Associate PARTNERSHIPS Ron Fisher Business Development Officer, Charlotte Patricia Costello Business Development Officer, Asheville Tonya Snider Business Development Officer, Western Region Kevin Harris Business Development Officer, Eastern Region Building sustainable partnerships remain a very high priority for TSC. During the year we worked to deepen our partnerships with a number of community groups. Irish McNeal Loan Processor Susan C. Sauro Human Resource and Office Manager Vermecha Pulley Loan Servicer Regina Durham Executive Assistant Meryl Olson Accounts Receivables Accountant TSC collaborated with the Governor s office, Department of Commerce, the Town of Edenton and Edenton officials that led to helping a new corporation relocate to North Carolina, bringing dozens of high paying jobs. Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and the Citi Foundation selected 50 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) professionals to participate in the Citi Leadership Program for Opportunity Finance. Two staff members from TSC were among those selected to participate in the Executive Leader and Emerging Leader program. TSC was selected by the City of Charlotte to partner with Self-Help Credit Union to help manage the Charlotte Community Capital Fund (CCCF). TSC has been named the Participating Lenders Program Manager and will also be a participating lender receiving an 85% guarantee for loans made in the seven counties surrounding the Mecklenburg area. Through our partnership with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, TSC has been able to take advantage of several training and grant programs. Two TSC staff members were selected to attend a specialized small business lending training. One borrower and one TSC staff member participated in the Goldman Sach s development program that it offers in partnership with Babson College PRESS KIT 15

9 STAKEHOLDERS TSC is proud to be generously funded by foundations, financial institutions and federal and state agencies. They invest in our vision to create economic opportunity for all people, bringing capital and financial training to those who need it most. To them all we say Thank You. YOUR PARTNER IN SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH PRESS KIT 17

10 3128 Highwoods Blvd, Suite 170 Raleigh, NC Phone: Fax: