Minority Programs

Two of Business Link North Carolina's major partners are devoted to assisting minorities, as well as low-wealth communities.

N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development is a statewide nonprofit organization that seeks to create wealth and build the asset base among low-wealth sectors of the population. Programs include the Minority Business Enterprise Center, providing finance management and access to capital; strategic business consulting; and procurement opportunities; and the Women's Business Center of North Carolina, which provides tools and services to help women entrepreneurs succeed.
N.C. Community Development Initiative. The North Carolina Community Development Initiative is dedicated to increasing assets and creating wealth for communities and individuals in low-resource communities. Since its founding in 1994, the Institute has channeled more than $65 million to local Community Development Corporations, resulting in more than $358 million of completed local development projects. Programs include Initiative Capital (loans); Grants and Technical Assistance; 2010 Core Operating Investment Program's Request for Proposal Guidelines.
N.C. Department of Administration's Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses HUB advocates for minority, women and disabled-owned businesses in their efforts to conduct business with the State.

Other statewide not-for-profit programs that assist minorities include:

N.C. Minority Support Center. Assists with funding available through Community Development Credit Unions.
N.C. Center for Woman Business Owners. Created by the Women's Center of Fayetteville to enhance entrepreneurs' business skills.

American Indian/Native American Programs

American Indian Chamber of Commerce of North Carolina The chamber seeks to give existing American Indian businesses and new entrepreneurs a better chance of success by providing them with access to intra-member counseling, information sharing opportunities, and more awareness of other business development programs
N.C. Department of Administration's Commission of Indian Affairs Works with a variety of issues, including economic development.
N.C. Indian Economic Development Initiative, which provides economic development and business support for N.C. Indians, Indian-owned business and N.C. federal and state tribes and tribal organizations.

N.C. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The chamber advocates, promotes and facilitates the success of Hispanic businesses in collaboration with the Business Community at large.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE), also known as Talent Ideas and Enterprise, is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship.
North Carolina Chinese Business Association. This nonprofit business organization, seeks to represent, serve, and promote the common interests of our membership and the North Carolina Chinese business community, particularly in promoting entrepreneurial and corporate development related to science and technology.
N.C. Department of Commerce's International Trade Division. The division offers education and training programs, including "Export Ready," a two-day course that prepares companies to market internationally their products and services.