The economy was still reeling from the 2008 financial crisis when Tara Wiggins, freshly graduated from UNC Dental School and working in a residency, decided to take a huge leap and open a new dental practice in the small town of Holly Springs, not far from Raleigh.
Entrepreneurship wasn’t anything new for Wiggins. Growing up, she’d watched her father work on his own business — a courier service. But it also wasn’t something she’d planned for herself.
Starting a Business From Scratch
“I had no desire to open a practice at all when I was in dental school,” Wiggins said. “And just, one day, I was like, ‘Why not?’”
As she navigated the steps of business creation, Wiggins talked herself out of the idea from time to time. But opportunities kept presenting themselves. She secured a loan. She found a supportive landlord, who told her that she reminded him of his own mom.
“He remembered his mom starting off her business, looking for opportunity and trying to find somebody that would give her a chance to start a business, and she did,” Wiggins said.
A UNC Dental School classmate, Jenine Giles, also signed on to be her business partner. The two opened Main Street Family Dentistry in 2010. Their thriving practice now has more than 15,000 active patients; some 500 have been with the practice from the beginning.
“I had no desire to open a practice at all when I was in dental school. And just, one day, I was like, ‘Why not?’”
Dr. Tara Wiggins
Purchasing a Building
About six years after opening, their landlord offered to sell them the building, Wiggins said. But they weren’t ready at the time.
“We were nervous,” Wiggins admits, to committing to such a large purchase.
Eventually, they got comfortable with the idea. And to help cover the cost, their banker at First Citizens Bank, Jennifer Champion, connected them to the NC Rural Center’s Loan Participation Program, which partners with local lenders across North Carolina. The program works with small- and medium-sized businesses that often lack the collateral or cash equity to meet credit requirements for traditional business loans. They purchased the building in 2024.
“[Champion] and our landlord have been big advocates for us in being able to purchase this building because we know that’s the ultimate goal of long-term investment,” Wiggins said. “You have your practice, which is great. But you can also have the real estate that goes with it, and that just takes it to another level. To have people just believe in you is important.”
“You have your practice, which is great. But you can also have the real estate that goes with it, and that just takes it to another level. To have people just believe in you is important.”
Dr. Tara Wiggins
Creating a Legacy
Now, Wiggins and Giles aren’t just building a successful business, but also a legacy for the community and their own families. For Wiggins, in particular, she’s proud of the message that it sends to her three young daughters about the possibilities for their own futures.
“To be able to do it or know somebody that does it, that’s really big,” Wiggins said. “I hope my kids can look back and say, ‘It’s not a farfetched idea.’ For them, this is obtainable.”
Wiggins has some ideas about her own future, which might include getting into real estate or academia, she said. Buying the building with the help of the loan program has given the business a bit more flexibility. And, whatever happens, she’s thankful for where she’s at now.
“It’s by the grace of God that I am where I am at today,” Wiggins said. “Nothing but blessings and favor has put me here.”