March 17, 2017
VINES Website Launched to Boost Entrepreneurial Support
Pitt County VINES, the Vertically Integrated Network for Entrepreneurial Success, has launched a website, developed by Igoe Creative. VINES is comprised of many local organizations and institutions that have a stake in the entrepreneurial viability of Pitt County. Representatives from ECU, Pitt Community College, Pitt County Development Commission, Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce, Uptown Greenville, City of Greenville, IMAF East, and the NC Biotechnology Center, among others, have been a part of the VINES effort.
VINES began meeting in 2012 after a consultant report identified entrepreneurial support as an area of improvement for the community. The report, conducted by Biggins, Lacy Shapiro, one of the largest site selection advisory firms in North America, analyzed Pitt County’s readiness for life science industrial recruitment. While the report encouraged Pitt County to pursue this industry, there were suggestions that could improve its competitive position. One suggestion was enhancing the entrepreneurial “ecosystem” in eastern NC, as it was deemed to be underdeveloped. The report noted that growing the number of start-up companies and boosting the viability of existing small business in Pitt County should become a priority. VINES is working to build this ecosystem and a business climate that embraces entrepreneurs.
VINES’ efforts have led to ideas for increased mutual support and the implementation of new services by several organizations. To capture all of the services and resources, a website was designed to aggregate data into a user-friendly portal. The Pitt County Development Commission funded the website with money directly set aside for entrepreneurial support.
Igoe Creative was selected to create the website which included working with the VINES team to develop a resource database and events calendar. Igoe is a full-service advertising agency offering creative and results-driven advertising, marketing social media and public relations services to clients on the local, national, and international level.
“We are honored to have worked with this group of organizations and institutions to create a website that offers resources to entrepreneurs at all levels, from start-up to established businesses,” noted Igoe Creative Vice President, Kitty Brann.
The website will also provide relevant news and local success stories. East Carolina University College of Business’s Miller School of Entrepreneurship will manage the site. “The Miller School of Entrepreneurship is excited to support this initiative in collaboration with local partners. We hope that VINES will become a model for entrepreneurial support across the region,” said Assistant Director of the Miller School, David Mayo.
The website’s address is http://vinesnc.com/. If you would like to contribute to the website’s content, visit the address and fill out the contact form.