Certified Entrepreneurial Communities

In Western North Carolina the rate of entrepreneurial startups is higher than the state average. In 2007 Advantage West, a regional economic development agency, created the Certified Entrepreneurial Community (CEC) program. After mentoring individual entrepreneurs, Advantage West wanted a program that would help entire communities foster a climate of entrepreneurism. CEC developed the first program of its kind in the country to certify communities as “entrepreneur ready”.

Haywood County was the first to receive the designation in 2008. Haywood has a long history of recognizing the value of entrepreneurship. In 1985 the county developed the first small business incubator in North Carolina. Haywood Community College was the first in the country to implement a REAL program, Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning, which provides hands-on entrepreneurship education. The school was also the first community in the state to create a two-year entrepreneurial degree program.

Youth engagement is an integral part of the CEC program. Advantage West along with Western Carolina University, Appalachian State University and local technology company , DigitalChalk created a collegiate competition, Juicy Ideas, to encourage the innovative talents of young people and retain them in the region. The program has since become a national competition supported by Google.

The CEC certificate guarantees that a community has the resources in place to support entrepreneurship. The five step certification process includes:

· Assurance that the community is committed to the process
· Assessment of the community’s current entrepreneurial landscape
· Creation of a comprehensive strategy for entrepreneurial growth
· Commitment of the community’s entrepreneurial resources
· Identification and nurturing of the community’s most promising entrepreneurial talents

The certification process typically takes 18 months to two years. The application is reviewed by a committee made up of leaders from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the N.C. Small Business and Technology Development Council, Banking and Finance Executive, Venture Capitalist, as well as two entrepreneurial companies and Advantage West Board Directors.

Since the program began six Western North Carolina counties, along with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, have become CEC certified communities. To learn more about the program visit http://www.awcec.com/.