Public/private nonprofits.

• Position: Small Business Resource

N.C. Biotechnology Center

(919) 541-9366 * www.ncbiotech.org

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a private, nonprofit corporation established in 1981 as the United States' first statewide initiative in biotechnology. The center's primary focus is to strengthen the biotechnology research capabilities of the state's universities; assist biotechnology business development; educate the public about the science, issues, and application of biotechnology; encourage collaborations among the state's universities, industry, and government; and strengthen North Carolina's national and international leadership in biotechnology.

Regional offices:

Eastern IMC (252) 328-9981 (Greenville)

Greater Charlotte (704) 687-8563 (Charlotte)

Piedmont Triad (336] 725-6672 (Winston-Salem]

Southeastern NC (910) 763-5747 (Wilmington]

Western NC (828] 290-1432 (Candler]

N.C. Rural Economic Development Center

(919) 250-4314 * www.ncruralcenter.org

The Rural Center's mission is to develop, promote, and implement economic development strategies that improve the quality of life of North Carolinians in the state's 85 rural counties, with a special focus on individuals with low to moderate incomes and communities with limited resources. Key programs include capital access and microenterprise funding initiatives, entrepreneur and youth business counseling, and a leadership development institute.

Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)

(919) 549-7500 * www.cednc.org

The Council for Entrepreneurial Development provides education, mentoring and capital formation resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs through annual conferences, forums, workshops and programs on entrepreneurial management and finance.

Good Work

(919) 682-8473 * www.goodwork.org

Good Work helps start-up entrepreneurs, existing business owners, nonprofit organizations, and social entrepreneurs advance their financial and entrepreneurship literacy through individual coaching, group trainings and ongoing support. Good Work specializes in workforce development services; the arts, heritage, natural resources and good food; health, wellness, caregiving and human services; and community development.

North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic

Development (NCIMED)

(919) 956-8889 * www.ncimed.org

NCIMED--the only organization of its kind in the country--offers 30 years of experience helping clients harness the power of diversity to achieve business and economic objectives. They bring deep...