Program helps jobless workers become entrepreneurs

Posted on 20/9/5/21

SOURCE: ARCHDALE-TRINITY NEWS

The program is offered aspart of a U.S. Department of Labor national demonstration programcalled Project GATE or Growing America Through Entrepreneurship. GATEtargets dislocated workers from rural counties for assistance instarting and running a business.

North Carolina is one of four statesoffering assistance through GATE from 2009 through 2011, and RCC is oneof eight community colleges hosting GATE sites.

Jim Judge, the new GATEcounselor at RCC, said his office has been inundated with inquiriesabout the program, which offers free business training, free counselingand access to business loans. Judge said an important component oftheprogram is that unemployed workers can still receive their unemploymentbenefits while getting their businesses off the ground.

Judge has over20 years of business experience working for Fortune 100, smallbusinesses and new start-ups. He successfully ran his own smallbusiness for over 10 years, and coached or mentored dozens of smallbusinesses in the Piedmont Triad and surrounding communities for thepast five years. He has developed many business models and consults onthe use of technology to help businesses of all sizes run costeffectively. And he co-founded a nonprofit mentoring organization tohelp local business owners and entrepreneurs grow.

Judge noted thatGATE is not a part of the federal stimulus program. "It is timelybecause of the economic climate,, but it was already in the works," hesaid. "We're on the forefront of this recovery." GATE operates as ascholarship program, with up to 750 scholarships likely to be awardedin North Carolina.

According to Judge, Randolph Community College'sGATE program emphasizes three key partners: JobLink, the EmploymentSecurity Commission and the RCC Small Business Center. Judge's officeis located within the JobLink Career Center on RCC's Asheboro Campus. 

"Nancy Landis (JobLink director) and her team have embraced theprogram and are very enthusiastic about it," said Judge. Interestedworkers don't even have to wait for an appointment. "They canself-administer a 10-minute orientation video on JobLink computers,click on a link and immediately apply," he said.

Judge will also be atthe Employment Security Commission office on S. Fayetteville Street inAsheboro once a week to meet with people and help them apply. Twenty-minute orientation meetings are currently scheduled every Mondayfrom 9 to 10 a.m. at the ESC office.

Judge said two-thirds of theapplications received so far have flowed from the ESC. "I am workingclosely with Ikel Williams and his team on counseling people," he said.Since the GATE position reports under RCC's Small Business Centerdirected by Victor Dau, applicants can draw on the strength of theseminars, classes and services offered by the College. "We're fortunateto have such strong small business resources already in place thatallow me to hit the ground running," Judge said.

Those receiving a GATEscholarship will be eligible for a new, three-hour seminar titled "FromLosing My Job to Owning My Job," the North Carolina REALEntrepreneurship course. They will also be eligible for vocationalcourses related to the particular business they are starting and freeongoing coaching and confidential counseling from the Small BusinessCenter. This may include developing a business plan, financialcounseling or credit repair and help on other issues specific to thebusiness.

GATE applicants must be rural dislocated workers (lost a jobthrough no fault of their own due to a business closing or layoff) andbe eligible for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program. Applicantsmust also be 18 or older and eligible to work in the United States.

InNorth Carolina, Project GATE is being offered as a cooperative ventureofthe N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Community College System'sSmall Business Center Network, the Employment Security Commission ofNorth Carolina, North Carolina REAL Enterprises, local JobLink CareerCenters and the Rural Center.

Interested individuals may contact Judgeat 633-0306 or jmjudge@randolph.edu, or go to www.randolph.edu andclick on the GATE Program Quick Link. Those interested can also visitthe local JobLink Career Center at RCC's Asheboro Campus. A JobLinkcenter also is at Community Outreach of Archdale-Trinity in Archdale.

Applications are available online at www.ncprojectgate'.org.

SOURCE: ARCHDALE-TRINITY NEWS