Aug. 1, 2006: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences news release
		Media contact: Gary Bullen, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 919-515-6096 or gary_bullen@ncsu.edu Program Aims to Help Small Businesses With the changes in the structure of agriculture, North Carolina producers are looking for new business opportunities. Thanks to a North Carolina State University training program, the state now has a network of 60 trained professionals who can help small businesses evaluate entrepreneurial ventures before they strike out. The certified individuals, many of them with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, participated in “Creating Business Opportunities,” a training program sponsored by Golden LEAF and the Tobacco Trust Fund. Partners in the program included N.C. State, the N.C. Farm Bureau, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Agricultural Marketing Division and the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center. These individuals received more than 60 hours of training on evaluating a new business, understanding legal and regulatory issues, evaluating market potential, and developing a business plan. They also worked as members of regional teams to develop a marketing plan for a proposed business. Gary Bullen, Extension associate in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at N.C. State University, and a group of six colleagues developed the workshop. “Creating Business Opportunities” was designed to bring together professionals from Cooperative Extension, community colleges, NCDA&CS, small businesses and non-government organizations to form regional groups that could help local entrepreneurs. The program reflects the commitment of the university and its partners to helping achieve economic development for North Carolina, a priority of N.C. State's Chancellor James Oblinger and Dean Johnny Wynne of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Individuals certified in the program, along with their business titles, are listed by county: Ashe County Richard Boylan, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Alamance County Roger Cobb, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Alleghany County David Isner, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Beaufort County Lentz Stone, Beaufort Community College, Small Business Center director Buncombe County Bill Glenn, NCDA&CS, herbs and Christmas tree specialist Burke County Spring Williams, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Caldwell County Allen Caldwell, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Cherokee County Keith Wood, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Columbus County Michael Shaw, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent William Council, Southeastern Community College, Small Business Center director Craven County Matt Parker, NCDA&CS, agribusiness and aquaculture specialist Cumberland County Kenneth Bailey, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Davie County Phil Rucker, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Davidson County Amy-Lynn Albertson, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Edgecombe County Trudy Lynn, Edgecombe Community College, Small Business Center director Forsyth County Stephen Greer, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Gaston County Lara Worden, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Greene County Stan Dixon, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Guilford County William Wickliffe, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Theresa Nartea, North Carolina A&T State University, agribusiness and marketing specialist Harnett County Gary Pierce, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Haywood County Tony McGaha, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Henderson County Cliff Ruth, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Hoke County Keith Walters, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Jones County Mike Frinsko, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Lenoir County Nick Augostini, NCDA&CS, crops and melons specialist Macon County Debra Sloan, NCDA&CS, agribusiness and aquaculture specialist Madison County David Kendall, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Martin County J.B. Coultrain, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Georgette Chilton, Martin Community College, Small Business Center director Mitchell County Jeremy Delisle, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, assistant extension agent Montgomery County Roger Galloway, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Marla Coulthard, Yadkin-Pee-Dee Lakes Project, rural development director Moore County Taylor Williams, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Pender County Wayne Batten, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director James Felton, Central Carolina Community College, Small Business Center director Randolph County Barry Foushee, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Lonnie Hamm, Randolph Community College, business development specialist Robeson County Everett Davis, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Robert Moore, Robeson Community College, entrepreneurial adviser Rockingham County Kathryn Holmes, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Rowan County Darrell Blackwelder, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Rutherford County Steve Duckett, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Sampson County Laurie Wood, NCDA&CS Scotland County David Morrison, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Stokes County Michael Hylton, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Surry County T. Byran Cave, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Terry Garwood, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Vance County Kelly Groves, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Wake County Willa Dickens, N.C. Community College System, Small Business Center Network state director Kevin Hardison, NCDA&CS, horticulture marketing specialist Bailey Rayford, NCDA&CS, marketing specialist Washington County Frank Winslow, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Watauga County Dale Roark, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Wilkes County Matt Miller, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Yadkin County Jack Loudermilk, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, county extension director Yancey County Claude Deyton, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent Jean Harrison, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, extension agent Stanley Holloway, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, agricultural agent South Carolina Gina Bass, National FSA American Indian Credit - Natalie Hampton – 919.513.3128 or natalie_hampton@ncsu.edu - OTHER NEWS RESOURCES Current news releases | Earlier news releases | Media guide to experts | Extension On-Line News | Economic Focus and Economic Perspective | Media guide to disaster recovery experts | Perspectives On Line | Teletip To receive our releases before they are posted here or sent out in hard copy, subscribe to our e-mail news service.