The Enterprise Center offers resources to guide entrepreneurs as they build their business
At a time when changes to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and threats to Affirmative Action is threatening Black and minority-owned businesses across the county, now more than ever it’s important that business owners build relationships with programs and initiatives designed to help them thrive like The Enterprise Center.
A part of the S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation (CDC), The Enterprise Center, located on Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., is a 40,000-square-foot venue which includes 45 office spaces, a shared-use commercial kitchen, the Women’s Business Center, a conference center, computer lab, a staffed reception area, all to help entrepreneurs and their businesses reach their full potential .
The shared-use kitchen has 895 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art useable cook and prep space and is a fully licensed, permitted commercial facility to help support and build food entrepreneurs. A renewable membership is available for the shared-use kitchen, as well as monthly and hourly rentals.
The Women’s Business Center (WBC) was created with a mission to promote economic stability for all women in the Triad through entrepreneurship, while also eliminating the obstacles women face in the world of business by providing resources, training and access to capital.
Services offered by the Women’s Business Center include customized one-on-one business counseling, seminars and classes focused on key business topics, such as marketing, finance, certification and small business resources, loan package preparation assistance and lender referrals, certification assistance, networking opportunities, access to resources, business referrals and more.
Olajumoke Michael, director of the Women’s Business Center, said what she enjoys most about her work is seeing businesses grow and individuals reach their professional and personal goals. Michael’s passion for helping small businesses started when she began working with entrepreneurs in her home country of Nigeria.
“Originally I’m from Nigeria West Africa and I’ve seen what it’s like to have and not to have, and I’ve seen how entrepreneurship can bring families out of poverty,” Michael said. “When I first started my career … it was exciting to see people that I’ve helped grow their business, so when I moved to the U.S. and saw this opportunity, I knew it was the right fit for me.
“The Women’s Business Center is here to help start and grow your businesses. The goal for us is to help you move the needle and we want to help you step by step. There’s a lot of information out there but it can be a bit overwhelming and what we help do is break it down.”
In addition to events hosted by the shared-use kitchen, Women’s Business Center and the Community Garden, according to Carol Davis, executive director of the S.G. Atkins CDC, they also have business counselors on staff who host workshops. Davis said the CDC is doing everything they can to spread the word about the offerings at The Enterprise Center.
“We actually have workshops every week on business plans, marketing, doing your financials … we really try to provide everything in terms of information and space for small businesses to get started and grow,” Davis said. “We use Eventbrite, we use Instagram, we’re using all the tools to try to reach people and get them to come in for this information.”
For more information about the S.G. Atkins CDC and programs and initiatives offered at The Enterprise Center, visit www.sgacdc.com.
