VGCC announces Small Business Summit and Expo; Warrenton businesswoman to keynote
The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center is planning its fourth annual Small Business Summit and Expo, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 11:30 a.m. until 4:45 p.m., at the Warren County Armory Civic Center in Warrenton.
Local partners helping to organize the event are the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County, the Warren County Economic Development Commission, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Warren County Center, and the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. In addition, CenturyLink is the presenting sponsor.
Business representatives and interested members of the community are invited to attend.
The summit, with the theme, “Weaving the Fabric of a Thriving Economy,” will feature guest speakers and interactive discussions, as well as an expo at which businesses and agencies will exhibit their products and services.
Kicking off the summit will be a keynote address by Susan E. Harris (pictured above), owner of Quilt Lizzy in Warrenton. Her interactive address is entitled, “Why Your Small Town is a Great Place to Do Business.”
A Raleigh native, Harris opened Quilt Lizzy in 2011, as a longarm sewing machine studio offering quilt supplies to complement her online business. The store soon became a destination quilt shop bringing people to Warrenton from across the state and beyond, adding 12 new customers each week, and offering workshops drawing over 40 people each month. This rapid growth led to Quilt Lizzy being voted 2014 Small Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County, and the need to expand. Harris is expanding her business with a two-story classroom building located on Market Street. Also in the works is a third downtown Warrenton location on South Main Street, which will house a longarm machine showroom.
After the keynote address and lunch, summit attendees can choose from among several breakout sessions, on topics such as emerging markets, agriculture, art as entrepreneurship, financing and grants, and marketing practices including social media. Attendees will have the opportunity to win numerous door prizes.
Lunch will be provided free of charge to the first 50 registered participants by CenturyLink. The deadline to register is Oct. 9. Register online here .
For more information, call VGCC Small Business Center Director Tanya Weary at (252) 738-3240 or e-mail her at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu .
