For Immediate Release 7/6/2010

Contact: Garnet Bass, director of communications, 919-250-4314 

PILOT MOUNTAIN, N.C. -- The Rural Center’s Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship is offering an intensive daylong seminar Aug. 17 in Pilot Mountain. Energizing Entrepreneurship Express (E²) is designed to help rural leaders in central and western North Carolina promote entrepreneurship in their communities.

The upcoming seminar will be held at the Surry Community College's Pilot Center (612 E. Main St., Pilot Mountain). It will involve community-based teams of four to seven rural leaders who work to build support networks for entrepreneurs. Participants are expected to include professionals from economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and Small Business Centers at local community colleges.

The seminar is sponsored in partnership with Surry Community College, the Town of Pilot Mountain, the Piedmont Triad Partnership and the Triad-area Entrepreneurial Action Team.

Registration costs $40, including breakfast, lunch and the E² book. The optional networking dinner is an additional $10. Scholarships are available on a competitive basis by application.

To register or learn more, contact Barry Ryan at the Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship at (919) 250-4314 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The deadline for registration is Aug. 2.

The institute partners with the Rural Policy Research Institute’s Center for Rural Entrepreneurship to offer E² workshops. Nearly 300 North Carolinians have attended.

A similar session focusing on northeastern North Carolina is planned for the fall.