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Staff report

If you have been haboring that creative business idea, but don’t know how to get it off the ground, Richmond Community College is launching a series of workshops next week that may help.

Beginning on Tuesday, RCC will begin a series aimed at helping aspiring entrepreneurs research and write business plans.

The assistance is free, but seating will be limited.

Sessions will go from May 2 to May 29 from 2 until 5 pm at the Cole Auditorium. Participants meet twice a week. Those who complete the course will receive a certificate that can be used for continuing education units and/or proof to potential lenders of their newly acquired understanding of business practices.

The workshops are part of the NC Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) series.

“Scotland and Richmond counties have plenty of room for more diverse businesses,” said Natasha Khachaturov, a counselor with N.C. Project Growing America Through Entrepreneurship. “The NC REAL program is a great resource that provides education to anyone interested in becoming entrepreneurs.”

Larry Allred, who started his business two years ago, said REAL program, was instrumental in helping him getting started.

“There was a lot of information I didn’t know, and they gave me a direction to go in and resources to access,”said Allfred, who runs a barber and beauty shop. “People don’t realize what it takes to run a business. When you work for someone else, you don’t see all of the work that goes on behind closed doors just to keep the business going. Being in GATE and the REAL program gave me access to business professionals who were busy, but who took the time to help me get my business started on the right foot.”

Small Business Center Director Deborah Hardison and GATE counselor Natasha Khachaturov will lead the team of professionals from Richmond and Scotland counties who are offering their services to students. They are: Dr. Loren Cornish and Dr. Douglas Glass, professors of business at St. Andrew’s University; William Purcell II, attorney at law; Jim McMillan of Dunbar Insurance Agency; Larry Allred Jr. of All n One Barber & Beauty LLC; Will Carpenter of BB&T bank, April Gonzalez of the Small Business Association’s North Carolina District Office; and Rayshonia Manuael of the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development’s Women’s Business Center in Fayetteville.

The N.C. Project Growing America Through Entrepreneurship, which operates through the Small Business Center at Richmond Community College, named the group of community leaders, entrepreneurs and small business professionals to serve as the support team for the series.

Anyone interested in joining the class can contact Natasha Khachaturov at nlkhachaturov@richmondcc.edu or Deborah Hardison at sbc@richmondcc.edu or by calling 910-410-1687. Registration is free.