Public/private nonprofits.

• Position: Small Business Resource

North Carolina Biotechnology Center

919-541-9366 * 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 N.C. 252-328-9981 (Greenville)

Greater Charlotte '04-687-8563 (Charlotte]

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

Southeastern N.C. 910-763-5747 (Wilmington)

Western N.C. 828-290-1432 (Candler)

N.C. Rural Economic Development Center

919-250-4314 * 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

919-549-7500 * cednc.org

The CEO 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.

Veteran's Business Outreach Center

910-672-2683 * fsuvboc.com

The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training,

counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard 8 Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. Located at Fayetteville State University, the VBOC serves all of North Carolina.

North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development

919-956-8889 * 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 industry knowledge of how to help business owners turn barriers of...