Free training offered to small downtown businesses – The Stanly News & Press

The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Main Street and Rural Planning Center (the Center) provides training to downtown small business owners and managers who have businesses in one of the 72 designated NC Main Street communities. The Center will host regional workshops, entitled “Making your community and business a destination.” A workshop will be held in each of the state’s eight prosperity zones. The first two workshops will take place in the Western Region in Hendersonville on June 24 and in the Northwest Region in Morganton on June 25.

“Our state’s First in Talent strategic economic development plan prioritizes supporting our small businesses as critical drivers of our economy,” said NC Commerce Chief Deputy Secretary Jordan Whichard. “This workshop series is another tool that can help strengthen and prepare businesses for success.”

The 2024 Destination Marketing Training Workshop Series will lay the foundation for attracting customers who will be followed up and supported through the rest of the year through online action groups and Q&A sessions. In 2025, an advanced series will offer more in-depth information and support, highlighting companies that have successfully implemented training. Led by Jon Schallert of the Schallert Group, this one-day workshop aims to give small business owners a roadmap, strategies and tools for attracting consumers to their business.

Participants will learn:

• Schallert Group’s 14-step core strategy for identifying its unique goods and services and how to transform the business into a consumer destination.
• A foundation to build on for advanced destination marketing workshops to be held in 2025.

After the workshop, small businesses will receive:

• Monthly online training to increase customer traffic, sales and profits for small businesses, including Virtual Action Group calls.
• Access to the Destination University® private training library.

Small businesses that complete training in 2024 and 2025 will be eligible to be designated as an NC Certified Destination Business. They will receive a sticker for their business identifying them as such to their customers.

“The Division of Rural Economic Development is excited to launch this training series aimed at improving small businesses located in our inner city districts,” said Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development Kenny Flowers. “Everyone has a favorite small business that they frequent – ​​this training will help businesses understand how to expand their reach and attract more customers.”

Funding was secured through a state Outdoor Recreation, Travel and Tourism grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to expand the NC Main to Main Trail. The training is intended for small businesses in designated downtown NC Main Street communities. Workshops and training are free; however, prior registration is required on the NC Main Street Training website. (ncmainstreetandplanning.com).

The following training courses are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

• June 24, 2024 Hendersonville (Western Region)
• June 25, 2024 Morganton (Northwest Region)
• July 29, 2024 Edenton (North East Region)
• July 30, 2024 Goldsboro (Southeast Region)
• August 12, 2024 Lexington (Piedmont Triad Region)
• August 13, 2024 Wake Forest (North Central Region)
• September 23, 2024 Concord (Southwest Region)
• September 24, 2024 Laurinburg (Sandhills Region)

“This training will allow local small business owners and managers to understand what is needed to differentiate themselves from others so that consumers will drive hours to visit,” said Liz Parham, director of the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center. “Local staff, such as Main Street programs, municipal staff and local economic development staff in designated NC Main Street communities will also benefit from the training so they can actively support their local businesses through this proven method. »

The Main to Main Trail is a regional tourism economic development initiative developed by the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center to improve regional tourism and connectivity between designated Main Street communities in North Carolina. The NC Main to Main Trail leads visitors through state-designated Main Street communities, showcasing each city’s best downtown and outdoor experiences and providing links to the local Main Street program , Visit NC and local tourism websites.

The NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center is the State of North Carolina’s coordinating program for Main Street America. Main Street America has helped revitalize old and historic commercial districts for more than 44 years. It is the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and revitalization of communities across the country. The Center works in North Carolina’s regions, counties, cities, downtown districts, and designated Main Street communities to inspire placemaking through asset-based economic development strategies that achieve measurable results such as investment, business growth and employment.

For more information, visit the NC Main Street page here or contact Liz Parham, director of the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center, [email protected].