By Kristen George

COLUMBIA—As part of its efforts to encourage microenterprise development in underserved rural areas of the state, the S.C. Women’s Business Center has formed a new umbrella entity called the S.C. Community Enterprise Center.

The SCWBC will still be in existence but will now become a subsidiary under the new enterprise organization, which will focus on helping entrepreneurs in rural areas who have never had access to the training programs the SCWBC sponsors in South Carolina’s three metro areas of Greenville, Columbia and Charleston. The new moniker will clarify that all entrepreneurs, not just women, can benefit from the center’s programs.

The SCCEC is currently working with four different communities in the state to identify factors that might inhibit the success of microenterprises in each community, as well as implementing training programs and workshops in those communities.

“If you’re a small business owner, you can’t just close up shop and drive to Columbia or Charleston for a seminar. We’re working on ways to bring these seminars to the smaller communities,” said SCWBC Executive Director Haidee Stith. “We not only want people to start a business, but to be able to grow a business that will be valuable to the communities that house them and also will help the business owners gain wealth.”

Statewide, 86% of businesses qualify as microenterprises, defined as a business with less than $50,000 in startup capital and no more than five employees.

The SCCEC is able to assist local organizations and initiatives around the state that aim to work with small business owners and entrepreneurs in rural communities. It already has agreements and partnerships with initiatives in several communities, including the city of Darlington, Colleton County and lower Orangeburg/upper Dorchester counties. In addition, it is working with individuals in Barnwell and Winnsboro, as well as Chesterfield, Andrews, Marion, Little Rock and Dillon.

In Colleton County, retirees, small business owners and representatives from agencies around the county have formed the Colleton County Improvement Collaborative. Currently, this collaborative offers training classes and provides small business owners and entrepreneurs with access to various business resources and data. The organization has been in existence for about five years and has been working with the Women’s Business Center for about a year. The SCWBC provides resources, advisements and connections with other similar local organizations statewide.

“Our goal is to focus on people who are left behind,” said Jo Ann Boone, a CCIC board member. “Nobody was teaching skills to people who are trying to do things on a small scale; they had to travel an hour in order to attend a training session. We wanted to develop a center to provide this training within our county.”

CCIC’s partnership with the Women’s Business Center provides it with additional support resources. The SCWBC has assigned a consultant to work with the organization on fundraising, implementing training and improving its resource center. In addition, SCWBC provides the organization with the opportunity to network with similar organizations from around the state.

“We are so thankful to have the Women’s Business Center,” Boone said. “We are getting a statewide focus on ways to improve our center.”