Press Release

For Immediate Release

                                                                  
July 23, 2009                                                                                          

                              Wilkes EDC is Looking for a Few Good
                                             (Retired) Volunteers.

            Wilkes Economic Development Corp. has recently announced it is looking for retired business executives in Wilkes County who would be willing to serve as Service Corps of Retired Executives [SCORE] volunteers. In a press release issued early this week, the EDC stated that it has been in discussions with representatives from SCORE over the past few months as it explored the feasibility of establishing an office here in Wilkes County.  The EDC has been advised by SCORE that identifying "at least four to six" individuals willing to would volunteer their services would be the first step to establishing such a satellite office. Once identified, SCORE and the EDC would then arrange for those volunteers to receive SCORE training.

            SCORE volunteers provide invaluable assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses alike. According to the SCORE Website, SCORE is a "nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide." SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Founded in 1964, SCORE has over 11,000 volunteers serving in 370 chapters through the United States, and has assisted over 8.4 million small businesses.

            Currently, the SCORE office located nearest to Wilkes County is a satellite office located in Boone. The nearest chapter offices are located in either Asheville or Raleigh. For a Wilkes County business seeking assistance, meeting with a SCORE representative in Boone means taking three hours or more away from the business, something which many small business owners cannot afford to do. Although SCORE representatives do sometimes meet with clients here in Wilkes County, a satellite office here would offer SCORE assistance to entrepreneurs and existing small businesses in a location that would be more convenient to their needs.

            Any retired or currently working business executive or small business owner who would be willing to provide counseling or mentoring services to other small businesses or people looking to start their own businesses is urged to contact the Wilkes EDC at (336) 838-1501 for more information. Interested individuals may also email the EDC office at info@wilkesedc.com.