Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/77707
CEED Promotes Partners in Progress by ERINN CRIDER Running a small business is difficult and time consuming, but rewarding. Many times, the biggest challenges are unnecessary, but unavoidable for those who lack experience and information. This is not a death sentence. Help is available for small business owners, and they can find it at the Center of Economic Empowerment and Development. CEED, which is an organization designed to help support local small-business owners, is kicking off a new program Partners in Progress. Laura Solano, the CEED business consultant described the program's purpose, "it's not only a networking meeting, it's a mentoring group … and also we offer information, something of interest for small business owners. It's an opportunity to network with other business owners and to get your information about what's going on out there and what resources are available for small- business owners." In this time of economic hardship, it is undeniable and unavoidable that businesses have suffered all over the country, particularly small businesses. This does not mean; however, that growth must stop. It is the entrepreneurs who charge ahead with their brilliant ideas and business confidence that revitalize economies. "We want to bring information to our small-business owners. There are programs out there that might not be promoted as much as we wanted to so we try to put together three great speakers and offer the programs that the community is looking for, especially small-business owners," Solano explains. The Partners in Progress program meets once a month, and for the kick off — Mentoring Roundtable — three speakers who will provide valuable Small business owners find support as well as educational and networking opportunities. information for small-business owners searching for success. "I have a representative from Work Force Development. She will speak about the Adult Experience Program. Jess Hunt is the Family Chamber President and CEO, and he's going to talk about how to go from a home-based business to brick and mortar, and the regional representative for the Small Business Association is coming to talk about the 504 Loan Program," says Solano. The 504 Loan Program, has $7.5 billion in financing available would-be owners. Perhaps the most valuable resource these meetings provide is the oppertunities to network. Deals and partnerships can propel businesses into new success and open doors for opportunity, but they cannot be made without relationships. Solano expresses the importance of networking further by saying, "Networking is a very essential part of business. It must be a constant activity, trying to establish that it is an everyday thing just like a marketing strategy, and everyday taking care of your business." non-members as an introductory price if they join CEED on that day, it is free for members. To register or for more information, contact Laura Solano at lsolano@ncceed.org or call 323-3377. The meeting is on Aug. 16, at 116 Person St. at the Marquis Market. The meeting will be held at the Marquis Market in downtown Fayetteville. There is a $30 fee for those who attend, but it is reduced to $20 for ERINN CRIDER, Contributing Writer, COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. Johnny Orr and Johnny Folsom 4 Slated to Perform at Fayetteville After 5 a STAFF REPORT After taking a break for the month of July, Fayetteville After 5 returns on Aug. 16 to start the second half of the summer concert season. Come down to Festival Park, and enjoy and evening of entertainment with friends and family. Because of the excessive heat during the month of July, the concert series took a month off and is ready to start things back up again for this favorite, pre-weekend event. This month, the sound is mellow and down home, perfect for relaxing on a late- summer evening. There are two headliners, both from Raleigh. He's opened for Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band (twice), Gretchen Wilson, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, Jason Michael Carroll, Phil Vassar, Josh Gracin, Josh Thompson, Jeff Bates and Josh Turner. He's been in Subway commercials, Goodies Powder commercials and placed in various national- level talent contests. He and his band were the back up band for Jamie Tate's "I'll Give My All" video. And on Aug. 16, Johnny Orr is scheduled to perform at Fayetteville After 5. Orr has been performing in the Raleigh area since the mid 80s. He made it to the final round of Nashville Star in 2007 and in 2008 he was on CMT's Big Break. His music has been compared to the likes of Keith Johnny Orr WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Johnny Folsom 4 It's worth the trip downtown to see these favorites as the season closes. "Opening acts begin at around 5:30 p.m. Headlining acts usually begin at 7 or 7:30 p.m., with the sounds of the summer carrying until around 10:30 pm. No outside food or beverages are allowed within the park. Just bring a chair or blanket to sit on. There are food and beverage vendors at the concert. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. Find out more at www.faydogwoodfestival.com. Urban, the Zac Brown Band, Edwin McCain and includes covers from the '70s through the '90s. Currently, the band consists of fellow musicians Gino Lattarulo Jack Getz, Nathan Sheppard, Bill Eagen, and Chad Lister. The Johnny Folsom 4 will also perform at Fayetteville After 5. Known for its Johnny Cash-like sound, Johnny Folsom 4 consists of David Burney, Randy Benefi eld, David Gresham and Tom Mills. The fi nal Fayetteville After 5 concert is scheduled for Sept. 20 and will feature The Tams and Liquid Pleasure. Both The Tams and Liquid Pleasure have performed at Fayetteville After 5 in the past and draw large crowds. AUGUST 8-14, 2012 UCW 11