Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship

Self-Employment for Dislocated Workers

Whether driven by necessity, opportunity or the desire to fulfill a dream, self-employment has been on a steady increase in recent years. Today, more than 225,000 rural North Carolinians work for themselves.

By contrast, agriculture and traditional manufacturing are employing fewer rural residents. Many people have lost their jobs because of plant closings and layoffs, and this downward trend is expected to continue. For many, replacing lost jobs and wages has proved to be a challenge.

The Rural Center believes that some of these dislocated workers may be well-suited for self-employment. Some ran side businesses even while employed full time. Others learned the fundamentals of commerce while growing up in a family business. Still others have hobbies with earnings potential.

The Rural Center has joined with other agencies to help these individuals assess and strengthen their potential as entrepreneurs.

Project GATE: Growing America through Entrepreneurship

Rural North Carolinians who’ve lost their jobs through a layoff or plant closing may explore possibilities for self-employment through Project GATE, or Growing America Through Entrepreneurship. The project is a scholarship program that provides training and coaching to help rural dislocated workers interested in starting a business.

North Carolina is one of four states participating in the demonstration project, which will run from 2009 through 2011. In North Carolina, the demonstration is being led by the N.C. Department of Commerce in cooperation with the N.C. Community College System – Small Business Center Network, the N.C. Employment Security Commission, the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, North Carolina REAL Enterprises and local JobLink Career Centers. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Where GATE is offered

GATE is being offered to laid-off workers throughout rural North Carolina. There are two possible ways to participate.

• The GATE program is being offered through the Small Business Centers of eight community colleges: Edgecombe, Isothermal, Lenoir, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham and Western Piedmont. These colleges serve 13 rural counties.
• Dislocated workers from the remaining 72 rural counties are served through a “virtual site” operated by the Rural Center. This will include counseling by phone and online training programs combined with training and business counseling through the Small Business Center of other community colleges.

Project components

A limited number of GATE scholarships will be offered in each location based on an application process. Those selected for the scholarship will receive:

• Individual assessment of entrepreneurial skills
• Entrepreneurship training and counseling
• An introduction to other resource professionals who can help you throughout the life of your business
• Help applying for a microenterprise loan upon completion of a workable business plan

Apply now at http://www.ncprojectgate.org/.

History

Project GATE builds on the lessons learned in an earlier demonstration project called NOW, or New Opportunities for Workers. Funded by the N.C. Department of Commerce, NOW ran from 2004 to 2007 and served 933 dislocated workers with readiness assessments, business training and counseling. The Rural Center collaborated on the project with the N.C. Commission on Workforce Development, N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Employment and Training (now called Workforce Services), N.C. Community College System Small Business Center Network and North Carolina REAL Enterprises. At its height NOW operated at 22 community colleges.

For more information on Project GATE:

Project GATE fact sheet

Map of service area and providers

Project GATE website