November 15, 2010 Presenter: Malinda Todd and Arlene Childers

Non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization Active since early 1985 Presence in 94 of North Carolina’s 100 counties including: 50 K-12 Schools 57 Post-Secondary Educational Institutions 40 Community-Based and Econ. Dev. Org. Including: - Small Business Centers - Incubators - Cooperative Extension (4-H) NC REAL

REAL Entrepreneurship is an entrepreneurship education program that helps youth and adults grow through hands-on entrepreneurship education. REAL teaches individuals entrepreneurial and business skills that help build community and economic development.

ApplicationExperience ExpansionReflection Experiential Learning Cycle “Tell me, and I forget, Show me, and I remember, Involve me, and I understand.”

 Who is the target market for you business?  What marketing strategies will you use to reach your market?

 Funded by N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund  Includes counties in the northeastern NC that are historically tobacco dependent  Regional partner is Upper Coastal Plain Council of Government  Education partners are Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash, Halifax and Martin Community Colleges  Outreach partners include the Cooperative Extension Agencies for the region

 Develop REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Course  Train REAL facilitators in the Ag- Entrepreneurship Course  Recruit current and aspiring farmers to take part in the course  Teach and support farmers in business planning and entrepreneurship  Follow-up with farmers to evaluate progess

 Created an advisory team of experts in agriculture and entrepreneurship education  Worked with team to select which areas needed specialized curriculum  Worked with team to collect reliable, well- regarded resources  REAL facilitators and staff developed curriculum with advice of team  Curriculum tested in Spring of 2010

 Met with Cooperative Extension Agents in the region to present the project and solicit advice  Provided reports to regional Entrepreneurial Network  Met with Community College Small Business Center Directors to set up courses through the colleges  Small Business Centers also helped promote the program and provide support to students

 Worked with Cooperative Extension to hold Ag- Entrepreneurship Expos throughout the region  Marketed through Farmers Market networks  Held Expos to provide information about small business resources, marketing advice and provided a preview for 8-week course  Provided scholarships for tobacco affected farmers

 9 Units including entrepreneurial assessment, feasibility, financials, marketing, operations, and the overall business plan  Some activities were adapted from the REAL Curriculum  All new activities were developed for site feasibility, marketing, financials– including enterprise budgets  Developed to be a hour course, but activities could be incorporate into a longer course

 Trained 46 REAL Facilitators across the state, 9 in Upper Coastal Plain Region  78 Individuals attended Ag-Entrepreneurship Expos  18 Individuals participated in 8-week business planning course  At least three 8-week courses are planned for the winter in the region  Secured funding from Appalachian Regional Commission to expand to Western NC

 Foothills Connect Business and Technology Center on the other end of the state is replicating their program connecting farmers to restaurants. They plan to use the REAL program for their participants  Rural Advancement Foundation International provides support and grants to farmers throughout the state. They will now encourage their clients to attend classes in their areas.  Local restaurateur is encouraging his suppliers to attend the class

 Expos worked, but not enough  Farmers Markets  Libraries  Farm Bureau  Farm Credit  Churches  Health clinics  Farming Supply Stores  Auctions  MORE!

 Connected students to Community Colleges’ Small Business Centers and other college resources  Used curriculum advisory board to create a list of recommended materials and tools– helped deal with information overload  Encouraged every class to bring in an expert speaker that is relevant to the class  When possible, connected students to local markets

 Held Expos at the Cooperative Extension Offices and the Farmers’ Markets  Carried out sample activity at the Expos to introduce the class  Carried out communication by mail and phone— did not assume internet capabilities  Brought in local speakers

 With help of advisory team, adapted current activities to have farm examples  Developed new activities to fit the special needs of farm businesses– especially financials and marketing  Focused on making all activities experiential and non-intimidating  Sample REAL Activity: Selling at the Farmers’ Market

Look for as many partners as possible, sometimes in unlikely places Recruitment, Recruitment, Recruitment Connect Students to Resources Create a welcoming, non-intimidating program through careful choice of location, curriculum, activities and speakers Create activities that are relevant and fun

Arlene Childers Assistant Director NC REAL Enterprises 4168 Oak Hollow Dr. Morganton, NC phone: Malinda Todd Associate Director NC REAL Enterprises 3739 National Dr., Suite 110 Raleigh, NC Phone: x126