First 2021 Accelerate Rural NC cohort begins

Thanks to a $150,000 NC IDEA grant, the Crisp Small Business Resource Center continued its successful Accelerate Rural NC program with 23 local and regional companies participating in the first 10-week cohort that started February 17, 2021.

The companies will seek to improve their e-commerce efforts and look to export their goods to China and other parts of the world. Cutting-edge software tools like Shopify, social media and even live-streaming commerce will be utilized to sell their products while broadcasting live on Facebook and/or Instagram.

“We believe that creating excitement and interest by showing the actual product live is a very compelling way to increase sales,” said Dennis Tracz, director, Accelerate Rural NC. “Rather than scrolling through static catalogs online, potential customers can see the product and ask questions of the host.”

Added Tracz, “By going live, we think farmers and oyster growers, in particular, can demonstrate their products’ authenticity directly to consumers.”

A total of four cohorts are planned for 2021.

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Grant expands Accelerate Rural NC

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• Miller School of Entrepreneurship