Marshall began her visit with a walk along Main Street in downtown Murfreesboro, where she met with local business owners. She later joined entrepreneurs and community leaders from Hertford, Northampton and Bertie counties in the R-CCC Community Room for a roundtable discussion.
“This initiative is crucial to narrowing the urban-rural divide and the success rate of all entities,” Marshall said. “State and federal governments have always been offering help, but people don’t know about it… We’re focusing on rural counties first, but this program really does support all 100 counties.”
Marshall emphasized the importance of small businesses in North Carolina’s economic growth, noting a surge in new business filings during the pandemic.
“The last five years, for all of us, has brought all kinds of changes, all kinds of challenges, all kinds of opportunities,” she said. “In 2020, after we went into the shutdown, all of a sudden, we experienced astronomical growth at the Secretary of State’s office. This was absolutely not what I was expecting during a pandemic… Our data shows that for the last four years, North Carolina has been on fire for new business.”
The event brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs from underserved rural communities to share their experiences, connect with resources and contribute to a broader conversation about strengthening the region’s small business landscape.
Local business owners in attendance at the roundtable discussion included:
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Calvin Baldwin – Baldwin Insurance (Murfreesboro)
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Dacia Jenkins – D’Luxe Beauty Bar LLC (Ahoskie)
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Dr. Lakeisha Walker – Bridges of Hope Life Transformational Services LLC (Ahoskie)
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Elicia & John Revelle – Revelle Realty (Murfreesboro)
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Guy Holley – Access Grant-ED (Ahoskie)
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Horace Robinson – Upper Cutz Barber Shop (Rich Square)
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Jamese Watson – T & J Keys 2 Care (Windsor)
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Melissa Keys – Sweets on Main (Ahoskie)
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Nicole Outlaw – Bertie Business Network (Bertie County)
Melissa Keys, who owns two businesses, ENC Industrial Supply and Sweets on Main, described being overwhelmed with the amount of information contained on the Secretary of State’s website. “You have to pick and choose what parts you want to do. As a new business starting out, it’s just so much information… I have to give credit to your [Secretary Marshall’s] office. Your staff walked me through the steps,” said Keys.
Guy Holley started Access Grant-ED in 2023. “I would say my biggest challenge is when I go to advertise, there is a lot of misinformation in the marketplace about grants… The other layer they don’t talk about is the importance of leveraging funding in a way that builds community. I’m working on my marketing and trying to be a stronger voice to help educate people,” he said.
R-CCC Small Business Center Director SaRatta Murphy noted the importance of this event, “This event marked a first-of-its-kind milestone for our Small Business Center, and we’re incredibly proud to bring this level of engagement and opportunity to our region. It’s a powerful step forward in elevating the voices of our rural small business community.”
Dr. Murray J. Williams, president of R-CCC, noted that the college remains committed to supporting local growth through workforce training, business counseling and hands-on support.
“Our region is defined by the spirit, resilience and ingenuity of its people, and nowhere is that more evident than in the entrepreneurs, innovators and small business owners who fuel our communities. Small businesses are the backbone of rural North Carolina, providing jobs, opportunities and a sense of pride in every town and neighborhood,” said Williams.
For more information about the R-CCC Small Business Center and upcoming events, call 252-862-1279.
(Photography credit: Diamond Smith, Dream Graphix)
Roanoke-Chowan Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System and located in Hertford County, is a public, two-year institution of higher education offering associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, college and career readiness, and customized business and industry training in a variety of delivery modes promoting public service, transfer, and workforce development for a diverse student body, leading them to contribute to the vitality of an increasingly global community. www.roanokechowan.edu #DiscoverRCCC “Where community and careers connect”
Media Contact: Melanie Temple, Director of Marketing & Recruitment/PIO, metemple7181@roanokechowan.edu, 252-862-1243
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