news-record.com

If you’re considering a new business venture or growing one already in operation, there are resources in Rockingham County that can make those processes easier. With expertise in technology, managerial practices, and business organization, there are local agencies that support businesses and nonprofit agencies.

From local Chamber of Commerce offices, to county, state and federal resources, people in Rockingham County are exercising their entrepreneurial spirit and finding better ways to do business.

Putting nonprofits on solid ground

One of the most comprehensive, local resources is the Rockingham County Business and Technology Center.

It offers expert advice, says Sharon Foust, Director of Rockingham County Help for Homeless, a nonprofit agency based in Madison that works to end homelessness in the county.

Since her agency receives grants from U.S. Housing and Urban Development, she needed better record-keeping capabilities. Shawn Gorman, the Entrepreneurial Development Coordinator for the Business and Technology Center, helped her find computer software to make her required quarterly and annual reports easier to complete.

He also met with the agency’s board, suggesting ways to better forecast its financial future.

“He’s like our personal consultant,” says Foust of the services that were free.

From experience to ownership

Thurman Smith, who owns Smith Automotive of Reidsville, turned to the Business and Technology Center in 2008, when he was making plans to open an automotive shop. With more than 25 years in auto mechanics, Smith knew his way around an engine, but he had no experience owning and running a business. The Business and Technology Center provided the help he needed to open a successful auto repair business, which he has already expanded to include a used car dealership. Smith’s ventures now employ seven people.

Starting with a business plan

In Stoneville, when Cliff and Jodi Lester were planning to open Servpro of Rockingham County, a 24-hour, fire and water disaster remediation company, they turned to the Business and Technology Center. Both had small-business experience — Cliff previously owned a café for more than 10 years and Jodi owns a real estate business. Even though they had drafted a business plan, Jodi Lester says Mark Wells, the Business and Technology Center’s Executive Director, along with a volunteer business counselor, helped them fine-tune their business plan, as well as put in place budgeting and forecasting tools.

Helping businesses grow

A few years ago, Lisa Doss, who started Eden’s Own Journal in 1998, knew it was the right time to grow her monthly newspaper from a small-town, Eden-based publication to a countywide venture.

It meant she’d go from publishing 8,000 copies to putting out 12,000.

She turned to the staff at the Rockingham County Small Business Center at Rockingham County Community College. Debi Joyce, a business counselor, guided her through the strategic planning and forecasting phase, helping to ensure that the move would be profitable. Joyce also helped her connect with business and community leaders in the areas into which she was expanding, making it easier to provide comprehensive coverage. Doss says the help was invaluable.

New resources for job seekers

Goodwill Industries, which already operates the Community Resource Center in Reidsville, has opened a second facility in Eden. The Eden Resource Center is a place to go for job retraining, to take classes and apply for jobs. It’s a collaborative effort between Goodwill Industries, the City of Eden, Rockingham Community College and CenturyLink.

Here’s a list of resources available to business owners.

Business Coalition of Rockingham County
P.O. Box 155
Wentworth, NC 27375
info@rockinghambusiness.org
businesscoalitionrc.org
(336) 342-7855
A healthy, collaborative and streamlined business climate for businesses of all sizes and entrepreneurs of all types — that’s what the Business Coalition of Rockingham County is all about. Most people have heard the old saying, “the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts.” Rockingham County is putting that into action. By working together, partner agencies enhance economic development by strengthening relationships and providing efficient access to information and technology. Whether starting, growing or moving a company, the Business Coalition is there to help you succeed.

Rockingham County Business and Technology Center
(P.O. Box 155, Wentworth, NC 27375)
240 Cherokee Camp Road, Suite 2
Reidsville, NC 27320
info@rockinghambusiness.org
rcbtc.org
(336) 342-7853
Technology is key to business success, whether you are starting a business, growing a business or increasing your competitive edge. Buyers now come from all over the world, not just down the street. Consumers want your products their way, and they want them now. The Rockingham County Business and Technology Center helps entrepreneurs learn how to plan, start and grow businesses, while making sure they understand how to use technology to be competitive in today’s global marketplace.

Rockingham Community College Small Business Center
(P.O. Box 38)
N.C. 65
Bishopric Lifelong Learning Center, Room 203-B
Wentworth, NC
rockinghamcc.edu
(336) 342-4261 (ext. 2316)
The Small Business Center (SBC) provides a range of services to small business owners, business and industry, prospective owners, and anyone who is determined to be a more successful and fulfilled person. The SBC delivers technical and managerial assistance to prospective business owners through more accessible and better information, education and training, and counseling and referral.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Local chambers of commerce serve as advocates for member businesses by holding education and networking events, addressing important legislative issues that affect business, and through a variety of support services and benefits. To become a member or to learn more about this business-building organization, contact your local Chamber.

• Reidsville Chamber of Commerce, (336) 349-848, reidsvillechamber.org
• Eden Chamber of Commerce, (336) 623-3336, edenchamber.com
• Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, (336) 548-6248, westernrockinghamchamber.com

CITY RESOURCES
To obtain a privilege license and to determine if other local licenses are required, contact the local business license department of the collections division of the city in which your business is located.

Reidsville
(336) 349-1057   
ci.reidsville.nc.us

Eden       
(336) 623-2110
ci.eden.nc.us

Madison
(336) 427-0221   
townofmadison.org

Mayodan          
(336) 427-0241
townofmayodan.com

Stoneville
(336) 573-9393   
town.stoneville.nc.us

Wentworth       
(336) 342-6288
townofwentworth.com

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Economic development organizations manage downtown revitalization programs, promote local business development and advise on availability of business locations and local commercial opportunities.

Eden
• Economic and Tourism Development
308 E. Stadium Drive
(336) 623-2110, press “7”
ci.eden.nc.us/coe-businessdevelopment.htm

Reidsville
• Reidsville Downtown Corp.
230 W. Morehead St.
(336) 347-2307   
downtownreidsvillenc.com

COUNTY RESOURCES
 

Business registration
To register a new business in Rockingham County, contact the Register of Deeds at (336) 342-8820 for a Certificate of Assumed Name, or the Tax Department at (336) 342-8280 to determine if your business requires a Schedule B privilege license.

Economic development and tourism
The Rockingham County Partnership for Economic & Tourism Development provides a full range of services to recruit new businesses and industries, assist existing industries with retention and expansion, and promote tourism throughout Rockingham County.
371 N.C. 65, Wentworth, 27375
ncnorthstar.com
• New and existing business:
(336) 342-8138   
• Tourism: (336) 342-8138

Business counseling and training
Get advice on how to start a business, training with tools to help you operate your business, as well as ongoing business counseling with a qualified business coach.
• Rockingham County Business & Technology Center
240 Cherokee Camp Road, Suite 2
Reidsville, NC
(336) 342-7853
rockinghambusiness.org
• Rockingham Community College Small Business Center
rockinghamcc.edu
(336) 342-4261 (ext. 2316)

Technology support
Obtain assistance in information technology, e-business and communications infrastructure by contacting the Rockingham County Business & Technology Center at (336) 342-7853 or by visiting rockinghambusiness.org.

Food business support
Get assistance with determining the facility, equipment and food-handling requirements associated with starting a food business by contacting the Rockingham County Department of Environmental Health at (336) 342-8180.   

STATE RESOURCES

Small Business & Technology Development Center   
Provides management counseling to existing high-growth and start-up businesses.
• Triad SBTDC: (336) 334-7005 or sbtdc.org

Department of the Secretary of State
This agency provides forms, fee schedules and guidelines for nonprofit and for-profit businesses that wish to become incorporated in North Carolina or for incorporate businesses seeking assistance in filing annual report information.
•    SOS Corporations Division: (919) 807-2225 or sosnc.com
Department of Commerce
Determine if your business needs a license or permit in North Carolina, or get one-on-one counseling and referrals to other state agencies and business resources by visiting nccommerce.com.
• Business ServiCenter: (800) 228-8443
• Piedmont Triad Regional Office: (336) 668-0474   

Department of Revenue
If you have employees or if your business is required to collect sales tax, you must apply for tax withholding or sales and use tax by completing form NC-BR. Businesses that require a Privilege License for North Carolina are listed with the application form online. To obtain location information for a Department of Revenue Service center, visit dornc.state.nc.us/aboutus/field.html.
•    Withholding, Sales and Use: (877) 252-3052 or download form NC-BR at dornc.com/downloads/forms_fillin_ncbr.php?url=fillin/NCBR_webfill.pdf
•    Privilege license: (877) 308-9103 or download dornc.com/downloads/forms_triad.php?url=13202A.pdf

Employment Security Commission of N.C.
If you are hiring anyone, you must apply for an Unemployment Insurance Tax Account. Download the form and instructions at ncesc.com/business/downloads/downloadmain.asp or call (919) 707-1150

Industrial Commission
Businesses that employ three or more people are required to provide worker compensation coverage by calling
(800) 688-8349.
ic.nc.gov

Alcohol Law Enforcement
Businesses serving or selling alcohol must contact ALE at (336) 315-7070.   
N.C. State University-Industrial Extension Service
Provides business support focused on lean enterprise, quality initiatives such as ISO management systems and Six Sigma, energy audits, health and safety management, as well as the extensive resources available at the university.
ies.ncsu.edu
(336) 362-5170

FEDERAL RESOURCES

Internal Revenue Service
Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and organizations are required to file federal tax reports. Employers are typically responsible for three types of federal collections and payments:
1) Income tax withheld from employees wages
2) (FICA) Social Security Tax
3) (FUTA) Federal Unemployment Tax.
For information on federal tax regulations, call the IRS at (800) 829-4933.
irs.gov

Immigration and Naturalization Service
Every employer must have an eligibility Verification Form (I-9) completed and on file for each employee. Download the form at uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf. If you have questions, call (800) 375-5283.

Department of Labor
Minimum wage is currently $7.25, effective July 24, 2009. For additional information on covered employees, child labor, training, wages, tipped employees, polygraph testing, substance abuse, or hiring and firing, call (866) 487-9243.
dol.gov

Jobs: Reaching Out for Help

The following are resources that offer employment training, entrepreneurship and support business development in Rockingham County.

Rockingham Community College Small Business Center
N.C. 65
Bishopric Lifelong Learning Center, Room 203-B
Wentworth, NC
(336) 342-4261, ext. 2316
www.rockinghamcc.edu
Serves prospective and existing small-business owners by providing technical and managerial assistance through education, training and counseling. The SBC offers seminars, short courses and one-on-one, confidential counseling for new and existing business owners, and can connect them with other resources in the community and beyond.

Rockingham County JobLink Career Center
8340 N.C. 87
Reidsville, NC
(336) 634-5600
www.ncesc.com or https://secure.ncjoblinkmis.com
Provides access to supportive services to job seekers such as job referrals, job readiness workshops and training, skills assessment, interviewing skills, resume consultation and preparation, and referral services to partnering agencies. Provides access to the Employment Security Commission’s Job Bank and labor market information, job development assistance and entrepreneurial and small-business resources. Customers also have free access to fax, copier, Internet, telephone and word processing.
Also, JobsNOW is offering short-term training programs that lead to a Career Readiness Certificate, a self-paced, Internet-based training assessment that indicates a person’s job readiness to prospective employers. For more information call (336) 342-4261, ext. 2206.

Goodwill Industries Community Resource Centers
TriadGoodwill.org
1551 Freeway Drive
Reidsville, NC 27320
(336) 637-1010
FAX: (336) 637-1020
220 W. Kings Hwy, Suite H
Eden, NC  27288
(336) 623-3007
FAX:  (336) 623-3022

Community and Workforce Education Division
Rockingham Community College
P.O. Box 38
Wentworth, NC 27375
rockinghamcc.edu
(336) 342-4261, ext. 2588