Tag Archive for: business

The Future of Business: FCCF’s Annual Business Competition

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Sally Nichols, Social Media Coordinator

June 19, 2017

DUE WEST – On May 2, 2017, the Freshwater Coast Community Foundation (FCCF) and Erskine College were proud to host the second annual Business Plan Competition.

During this competition, students from various local high schools gathered at Erskine’s campus to present innovative entrepreneurial proposals in PowerPoint presentations to a panel of judges.

The preliminary round judges included Greg Graber, owner of GT Building in Due West; Paul Bell, CEO of The Renaissance in Due West; Lora Healey, former marketing executive at Capsugel in Greenwood; Jack Abraham, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Erskine College; and Harold Prince, member of the Abbeville County Council and general manager of Prince Motor Company in Abbeville.

The judges for the final round of the competition included Chanda Ferguson, owner of Uptown Girls in Abbeville; Mark Meyers, project manager and marketing coordinator for Abbeville First Bank; and Matt Wiggins, area manager of the Small Business Development Center in Greenwood.

Assisting in the competition was the Business Strategy class of Tracy McCurry, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Erskine College. This class not only helped plan and execute the event, they also participated in timekeeping, monitoring rooms, escorting competitors, and more.

In order for high school students to compete in this event, they had to first win their individual high school business plan competitions. The students presented their PowerPoint business proposals to their high school teachers, and, upon winning, submitted their PowerPoint proposals to Erskine College. The Business Strategy class then reviewed each proposal and ranked the high school competitors for the preliminary competition.

After the preliminary competition that morning in Reid Hall, the remaining participants were escorted to the final round held in Bowie Arts Center that afternoon. The final competition was followed by the awards ceremony.

The winner of the competition was Landon Gray with BGFT Apparel from Crescent High School in Iva. Landon plans to attend Wofford College where he will participate in the Entrepreneurial Launch Program to further expand his business. Following Gray was Hope Peeler in second place with The Red Elephant Café from Dixie High School in Due West. In third place was Payton Busbee from Abbeville high School with Bountiful Baskets, and Carson Burgin with Bubble Unlimited from Crescent High School.

All participating high schools were proudly represented by superb candidates who will surely change the future of business for good. The FCCF looks forward to the great things these young men and women will accomplish, and is hopeful for a bright future for all participants and their businesses.

Entrepreneurship Academy

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Lindsay Costner, Marketing Coordinator

June 2, 2016

MCCORMICK — On May 26, 2016, the Freshwater Coast Community Foundation (FCCF) partnered with McCormick County in hosting an Entrepreneurship Academy. This class was taught by professionals that were brought in to help provide information on starting a business and how to keep their business thriving.

Wilder Ferreira opened up the meeting with an introduction of the speakers, Matt Wiggins from the Greenwood Area Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and David Mueller from Community Works.  Charlotte Tallent, Executive Director for the McCormick County Chamber of Commerce, encouraged the participants to keep an open mind upon starting the class, and discussed how entrepreneurship projects will “bring opportunities to the community.”

Each participant discussed why they attended the course, and the common interest was overall the same. Participants were looking for more information and wanted to further the potential of the community.

Ferreira began the course by teaching leadership skills, problem-solving and the definition of an entrepreneur. A short lesson on accounting was also presented.

Wiggins informed the participants on the basics of starting their own business, and how to keep it going with publicity and marketing. To go along with Wiggins, Mueller taught how to finance your business, and discussed opportunities that Community Works offers for these new small businesses.

After the entrepreneurship academy, Sabrina Searles a local of McCormick County, says that she “got a lot of information on how to get things started.” This course helped her gather some new ideas for what she might want to do for her future business.  She is excited about starting her own business, and helping her hometown of McCormick plus the surrounding areas.

Multiple individuals said that they received helpful information that can apply to not only their new business/current business, but to other parts of their life.

Altogether, the entrepreneurship academy was a big success for the participants, and provided a networking opportunity. With the help of the Freshwater Coast Community Foundation, we hope to see many great businesses be started in our local areas and a community that can grow and thrive together.

Matt Wiggins informs the participants of the Entrepreneurship Academy on why you should start your own business and being fearless when it comes to the business you want to begin.

Matt Wiggins informs the participants of the Entrepreneurship Academy on why you should start your own business and being fearless when it comes to the business you want to begin.

FCCF Business Plan Competition

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Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

April 20, 2016

DUE WEST — On May 9, 2016, Erskine College and the Freshwater Coast Community Foundation (FCCF) are proud to host their first ever Business Plan Competition at Erskine College.

During this competition, students from various high schools will present innovative entrepreneurial ideas in a PowerPoint presentation to a panel of judges. These judges will consist of successful local businessmen and women.

The competition will take place from 9:00am to 2:30pm. The Business Strategy class of Erskine’s business professor Tracy McCurry will assist in the planning and executing of the event. These Erskine students will carry out various tasks, such as timekeeping, greeting, monitoring rooms, and escorting, among others.

In order for high school students to compete in this event, they must first compete and win in their high school competitions. The students present their PowerPoint business proposals to their high school teachers and then the winners submit the PowerPoints to Erskine College. The Erskine business class students will then review the slides and notes and rank the competitors for the preliminary competition.

The preliminary competition will take place in Reid Hall on the Erskine Campus, and then the participants and their teachers will be escorted to Erskine’s Bowie Arts Center for the final competition. Following the final competition will be a guest business speaker from the FCCF, and then at 2:30pm the awards ceremony will take place.

Both Erskine College and the FCCF are excited to be a part of this competition. The community is welcome to come observe the competition and learn more about business ideas and how they become successful. The FCCF looks forward to the competition and to working with the business department of Erskine College.

The business students of Erskine College that will plan, host, and execute the upcoming Freshwater Coast Community Foundation Business Plan Competition on the campus of Erskine College.

The business students of Erskine College that will plan, host, and execute the upcoming Freshwater Coast Community Foundation Business Plan Competition on the campus of Erskine College.

Upcoming Small Business Night

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Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

August 11, 2015

MCCORMICK — McCormick South Carolina County Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the first “McCormick Small Business Night” on August 20, 2015 at 6:00pm. This event will take place in the McCormick Middle School Cafeteria:  6979 SC HWY 28 South, McCormick, SC 29835.

This will be an evening dedicated to encouraging future business opportunities and to promoting small business growth in the community.

All business ideas are welcome at this meeting. The Freshwater Coast Community Foundation and the Small Business Development Center desire to help any feasible business ideas that come through this meeting and to listen to any community concerns or needs that that are brought up.

Whether someone desires to start a new ice cream parlor or has an idea to install a hotel, this business night wants to hear these ideas and encourage creativity and share knowledge of what it takes to start up a personal business.

Come celebrate the small businesses that already exist and learn more about the exciting things that are happening in McCormick County. Contact Charlotte Tallent or Heather McNally to RSVP or to learn more information regarding this event.

Complimentary sandwiches and ice cream will be provided, so your RSVP is necessary to ensure that there is enough food for everyone.

We look forward to hearing the community’s future business ideas and are excited about the progress that has already been made in McCormick County.

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The McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah building in the middle of McCormick, South Carolina.

 

 

Upcoming Small Business Night

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Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

July 28, 2015

MCCORMICK — McCormick South Carolina County Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the first “McCormick Small Business Night” on August 20, 2015 at 6:00pm. This event will take place in the McCormick Middle School Cafeteria:  6979 SC HWY 28 South, McCormick, SC 29835.

This will be an evening dedicated to encouraging future business opportunities and to promoting small business growth in the community.

All business ideas are welcome at this meeting. The Freshwater Coast Community Foundation and the Small Business Development Center desire to help any feasible business ideas that come through this meeting and to listen to any community concerns or needs that that are brought up.

Whether someone desires to start a new ice cream parlor or has an idea to install a hotel, this business night wants to hear these ideas and encourage creativity and share knowledge of what it takes to start up a personal business.

Come celebrate the small businesses that already exist and learn more about the exciting things that are happening in McCormick County. Contact Charlotte Tallent or Heather McNally to RSVP or to learn more information regarding this event.

Complimentary sandwiches and ice cream will be provided, so your RSVP is necessary to ensure that there is enough food for everyone.

We look forward to hearing the community’s future business ideas and are excited about the progress that has already been made in McCormick County.

mccormick_mack_quilt_tour_media

The McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah building in the middle of McCormick, South Carolina.

 

McCormick Chamber of Commerce Meeting

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Sally Caldwell, Communications Coordinator

July 8, 2015

MCCORMICK—Teaming with the McCormick Chamber of Commerce, the Freshwater Coast Community Foundation (FCCF) held a meeting last week to discuss the future of McCormick’s local business world, including a couple of exciting events that are in the making.

During the meeting, Heather McNally, program director for the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK), provided information regarding the Quilt Tour in McCormick. This information will be soon sent out to community in order to promote this fun and little-known display of art and history. The goal of this newsletter will be to feature local cultural assets regularly and unite the various initiatives in shared promotion efforts.

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Heather McNally, Charlotte Tallent, Joe McNinch, and Will Ferreira discuss upcoming events in McCormick and the progress of the town’s economy and community.

The next item on the agenda was discussion about the “Small Business Night” events that will take place over the course of the year. Will Ferreira, the Community Coordinator for the FCCF, explained the vision for these business nights and what he wants to see accomplished through them. The first business night will feature three guest speakers who will enlighten the budding business owners about putting McCormick on the map, the naturalism of McCormick, and tourism. The goal will be to encourage locals who have ideas about starting up small businesses and to maybe eventually even start these businesses.

Charlotte Tallent, Executive Director for McCormick County Chamber of Commerce, mentioned the constant stream of people that visit the nearby Hickory Knob State Park and suggested that the rest of McCormick use this publicity to the town’s advantage.

Although McCormick has many small businesses and opportunities, the Chamber of Commerce and the FCCF look forward to more growth of the town and more awareness in people outside of the town.