Making Business Better in Union County
On November 8th, 2022, voters in Union County approved a general obligation bond request for $32,725,000 to construct a new Center for Entrepreneurship for South Piedmont Community College. To learn more about the bond request, the proposed Center for Entrepreneurship and SPCC, the College has provided an FAQ below.
Q: What is the Center for Entrepreneurship?
A: The Center for Entrepreneurship will be a community resource center providing collaborative and innovative programming designed to support local small businesses and entrepreneurs in Union County.
The Center for Entrepreneurship would host the SPCC Small Business Center and offer classes, workshops and credential programs for community members looking to learn more about starting or growing a business. The Center would host business networking events, guest speaker seminars and business pitch competitions as opportunities for local business leaders and entrepreneurs to connect and engage with their peers.
Q: What Will Be Offered in the Center for Entrepreneurship?
A: The Center for Entrepreneurship will offer varied programming and events all tailored around growing and developing the business community and entrepreneurship in Union County. Exact programs and course lists are not yet available, but SPCC intends to offer programs that help students earn business and entrepreneurship degrees, certifications and badges.
Aside from traditional educational programming, the Center will offer a robust schedule of community events and non-credential-earning programs, such as individual lectures, seminars, personal development courses and networking events.
Small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs will be able to access the SPCC Small Business Center and all available resources related to the Small Business Center, which is currently housed in the Tyson Family Center for Technology (3509 Old Charlotte Highway, Monroe, NC 28110)
Q: Why does Union County Need a Center for Entrepreneurship?
A: In North Carolina over the past two years, new business creations have risen sharply as people look to establish themselves and start new businesses in light of the pandemic. In fact, over 300,000 new businesses were established in the state in 2020 and 2021 alone.
These new businesses are historically shown to be the primary job creators in the state and are likely to need additional support and resources as they establish and grow their businesses.
We’ve found that most resources that support business owners and entrepreneurs are fragmented, disconnected from other organizations or prohibitively expensive. SPCC believes that creating a Center for Entrepreneurship that leverages the community college’s resources, in partnership with organizations like the Small Business Center, Union County Chamber of Commerce, Wingate University and others, can fill a very urgent need for Union County small businesses and entrepreneurs.
The Center for Entrepreneurship is designed to help more business owners and entrepreneurs learn, connect, compete, launch and grow their businesses sustainably. This business growth and development will benefit all residents of Union County with higher tax revenues, better-paying jobs, more opportunities to dine and shop, and the ability to create an overall more prosperous community.
Q: Who will benefit from the Center for Entrepreneurship?
A: We believe all residents of Union County stand to benefit from this new community center.
Students who attend the programming and events at the new center will gain knowledge, skills and experience in business and entrepreneurship. Students who attend and complete courses and programs at the Center for Entrepreneurship will receive high-quality education to further their business goals.
Entrepreneurs and business owners who participate in events and programs (such as the 53 Ideas Pitch Competition) and receive support from the Small Business Center will be better able to succeed in establishing and growing their businesses.
The general population of Union County will benefit from having a robust and well-supported business community, better-paying jobs, opportunities for growth and recreation and overall quality of life.
Q: Where will the Center for Entrepreneurship be located?
A: The Center for Entrepreneurship will be located in Waxhaw, NC on a parcel to be developed near the Waxhaw Parkway.
Q: SPCC offers business courses and has a small business center. Why does it need the Center for Entrepreneurship?
A: The Center for Entrepreneurship provides a central location that combines all of our existing resources, including the Small Business Center and experiential, hands-on business education, into a community resource center that benefits the whole community.
By creating an educational home for business owners and entrepreneurs, the Center for Entrepreneurship will create opportunities for new resources, partnerships and collaboration that better serve the needs of business owners.
Q: Would the Center for Entrepreneurship be available to non-SPCC students?
A: Yes! This new facility would offer resources and support for business owners and entrepreneurs through the Small Business Center and would be open to the public.
There are also plans to offer community events and networking opportunities, though plans are still being developed.
Q: Was the Bond Question Passed on Election Day?
A: Yes! The Community College Bond question received 46,826 votes (55.66%) in favor of passage, according to the unofficial results found on the NC State Board of Election website.
To read the college’s statement on the bond passage, click here.
Q: What was on the ballot?
A: On the general election ballot this November, voters could weigh in on two bond questions. The bond question relating to the Center for Entrepreneurship is named “Union County Community College Bonds”
The bond language read:
SHALL the order authorizing $32,725,000 of bonds plus interest to pay the capital costs of providing for the construction, renovation, improvement, equipping and furnishing of facilities for South Piedmont Community College and the acquisition of land or rights-of-way, if necessary, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds be approved?
Q: What will the bonds pay for?
A: Now passed, the bonds will pay for the construction of South Piedmont Community College’s Center for Entrepreneurship. The funds would be used solely for the construction of this facility. The college already owns the land rights where it plans to build the Center for Entrepreneurship, thanks to a generous donation from the late L. Carlton Tyson and his family.
The Center for Entrepreneurship will be a collaborative, innovative hub of learning and support designed to help businesses and entrepreneurs in Union County. See the FAQ Section “About the Center for Entrepreneurship” to learn more about the proposed community center.
Q: Why was this question on the ballot?
A: South Piedmont Community College completed a rigorous process to procure funding for constructing a Center for Entrepreneurship. This process included in-depth conversations with state and local elected officials, efforts to secure funding privately and grant opportunities.
None of those options were viable for the timely completion of the project. After consultation with the Union County Board of County Commissioners, it was decided that the bond measure was the best option for constructing the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Q: With the bond’s passage, what is the implication on my annual taxes?
A: The difference in property tax rates will be eighty-five hundredths (0.85) of one penny with payment not starting until 2024.
In real dollars, your property tax would increase by 0.85 cents per $100 in value. This translates to an additional $8.50 on a $100,000 home annually. You can click here to view the image in full size.
Q: Tell Me About South Piedmont Community College
A: South Piedmont Community College sits at the crossroads of where you are and where you want to be. It is a college with heart and opportunity; it helps residents of Anson County and Union County gain knowledge, improve skills and expand possibilities no matter their starting point. Through accessible, affordable, high-quality programming, SPCC empowers its students to complete their education and achieve their goals.
South Piedmont Community College serves nearly 10,000 students annually across Anson County and Union County and was founded in 1999. Learn more about the college’s history here.
We have more than three dozen degree programs and non-credit programs to meet all of your educational needs. You can view our full course catalog and schedule here.
Q: What business education does SPCC currently offer?
A: We offer multiple degree programs and certifications for business administration, accounting and finance, and multiple business skills. You can view our degree and credential programs here.
We also support local businesses and business leaders with leadership courses, customized training and work-based learning programs. View our programs here.
Q: What is the Small Business Center? Why is the SBC at SPCC?
A: The Small Business Center at South Piedmont Community College is part of a statewide network that supports you as a hopeful entrepreneur or current small business owner. It offers free seminars, resource information, referrals and confidential counseling to help your small business thrive.
The North Carolina Small Business Center Network is a program of the North Carolina Community College System that provides small business counseling and supportthrough all 58 colleges in the NC community college system.
Learn more about the SPCC Small Business Center here.
Q: Has there been any news coverage about the bond or the Center for Entrepreneurship?
A: Yes! The events have been covered in the stories linked below:
October 19: WBZD “The Fun Wednesday Morning Show” (Starting at 1:10)
October 17: WBTV “On Your Side Tonight with Jamie Boll”
October 6: Union County Weekly “SPCC Informs Voters about Bond Project”
Q: How can I stay informed about the Center for Entrepreneurship and the bond initiative?
A: To those who are interested in learning more about the Center for Entrepreneurship or would like to stay up-to-date about informational sessions, progress updates or future programs and services, you can sign up below to receive update emails.
