Rocky Mount residents and businesses benefit from a collaborate environment made possible through formal partnerships between development-focused organizations, private citizens, and local government.
A&T University/NC Institute of Minority Economic Development 252.454.8233
NC Agriculture & Technical State University International Trade Center (ITC), in partnership with the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development, Inc. (NCIMED), provides technical assistance and education and training to new and existing businesses in Edgecombe, Wilson, Northampton and Halifax counties. Additional services provided by NCIMED include customized education and training for small business; specialized consulting for contractors; financial, managerial, and operational consulting; and access to capital through several loan programs and banking partnerships. For more information, contact our Business Development Specialist at 252.454.8233.
City of Rocky Mount Downtown Development Office 252.972.1267
The Downtown Development Office for the City of Rocky Mount is responsible for coordinating public-private efforts for the revitalization of the historic central city area through the City of Rocky Mount's Main Street Program. Services provided by the office include: providing listings of historic properties in the central city which are eligible for state and federal tax credits for rehabilitation; working with prospective businesses with information on financial and planning assistance for business startups; assisting businesses interested in locating in the central city with finding suitable properties and information concerning incentives; publishing and distributing a newsletter of activities, information, and available properties in the downtown, and providing staff support to the Central City Revitalization Panel in order to promote property development and resources for strengthening existing business development in the central city business district.
Eastern North Carolina Business & Entrepreneur Center 252.
Edgecombe Community College Small Business Center 252.823.5166
Edgecombe Community College's Small Business Center assists prospective and existing small businesses and their employees by providing free counseling, business planning, low- and no-cost seminars, customized training and free resources (books, videos, periodicals, business planning software). A sampling of the seminars regularly offered include Starting Your Own Business, Business Plan Development, Financing Your Business, Bookkeeping, and Marketing Your Business. The SBC also provides a referral service to other programs to include: REAL--intensive experiential training for prospective business owners; Focused Industrial Training--training and retraining of small numbers of industrial workers; New and Expanding Industry--training for any number of employees for new or expanding industries; Cooperative Education--earn while you learn training, unbeatable win/win for businesses and students alike. For more information, visit http://www.edgecombe.edu/resources/small-business-center/
Nash Community College Small Business Center 252.443.4011 ext 233
The Small Business Center at Nash Community College supports the development of new businesses and the growth of existing businesses in Nash County by being a community based provider of training, counseling, and resource information. The Small Business Center provides free, confidential counseling services for new and existing businesses. Available on an as needed basis, this service acts as a sounding board for ideas and concerns you may have about your business. The SBC maintains a resource center of professional materials including books, pamphlets, magazines, trade journals, as well as a wide variety of tapes and videos for your use. The continuing series of business seminars and workshops offer a wide variety of topics to help small businesses be successful. For additional information, visit
http://www.nashcc.edu/index.php/small-business-center-communitysidebar-408
NEER NorthEastern Entrepreneurial Roundtable 252.973.1201
The NorthEastern Entrepreneurial Roundtable is a private, non-profit organization composed of entrepreneurial companies; service professionals; investors and financial institutions as well as public and private sector non-profit organizations. NEER encourages the creation and development of high-growth companies in Northeastern North Carolina by promoting relationships among these companies and their people, investors and service professionals; by sponsoring educational programs and other activities focused on the unique needs of entrepreneurs and by offering public policy input for local and state government. NEER is a member-driven, member-focused organization founded in response to a need for more business guidance for entrepreneurs and innovators, as well as in recognition of the long term economic benefits of establishing successful high-growth business in Northeastern North Carolina. For additional information contact Tammy Hawkins, thawkins@rockymountchamber.org.
Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc 252.977.3730
Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. of Rocky Mount offers business support, employment training and business development services to individuals and industries throughout the Rocky Mount area. OIC Business Services creates quality employment, stimulates economic development and enhances the lives of people in our region by providing support services to start-up and emerging growth companies. Support services include operational and marketing support, employee recruitment and training, pick and ship operation and site location and development. OIC Business Services also offers a full array of warehouse support services to industry and commercial entities. OIC offers full service employment training and placement services for industry. We work with multiple governmental, community-based and private agencies to recruit, educate and place individuals who seek employment. OIC matches individuals with capability with businesses and industries that are looking for good employees.
Rocky Mount/Edgecombe Community Development Corporation 252.442.8364
The primary mission of the Rocky Mount/Edgecombe Community Development Corporation (RMECDC) Business Development & Resource Center is to provide one-on-one confidential counseling and technical assistance to low to moderate income small or minority business entrepreneurs. At the Center, you will find information about starting your own business, preparing a business plan, financial cash flow projections and a wealth of other information such as video tapes and self-help guides. The BDRC has a Computer Lab equipped with the latest software for business plan preparation and access to the Internet. The RMECDC Business and Resource Center also provides computer lab training classes, seminars and workshops to strengthen and promote the success of the small business community.
Small Business and Technology Development Center 800.258.0862
The SBTDC is a business development service of The University of North Carolina system. We provide management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. We help established firms, high-growth companies, and start-up businesses meet today’s challenges, manage change, and plan for the future. Our primary focus is management counseling, addressing issues including financing, marketing, human resources, operations, business planning, and feasibility assessment. But we also provide targeted, research-based educational products which are focused on change management, strategic performance, and leadership development for your management team, employees, and board members. All SBTDC services are confidential. Visit us at www.sbtdc.org or email us at info@sbtdc.org
SpringBoardNC www.springboardnc.com
Established in 2012, SpringBoardNC was created to foster and support entrepreneurship in Rocky Mount and the Twin County region. To learn more, visit http://www.springboardnc.com/.
Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments 252.446.0411
Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments Business Resource Center offers small business loans to startup and expanding businesses in the five-county region of Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Halifax and Northampton counties. The primary purpose of the loan programs is to create jobs and maintain employment, thereby, improving economic and community development in rural North Carolina. The commercial loan programs, in particular, the Intermediary Relending Program (funded by the US Department of Agriculture) and the Revolving Loan Fund Program (funded by the US Department of Commerce) offer loans of $25,000 to $150,000 at competitive market rates with terms of up to 20 years. For more information contact Arnold Goodfriend, Senior Loan Officer at the above number Ext. 237. Email address: agoodfriend@ucpcog.org.
Upper Coastal Plain SCORE 252.442.1173
SCORE provides professional guidance and information, accessible to all, to maximize the success of America's existing and emerging small businesses. SCORE is the most recognized and utilized supplier of counseling and mentoring services to America's small businesses. Our core values: Client Focus; Delivering Quality; Ethical Conduct; Professionalism; Contribution to the Community. UCP SCORE provides quarterly workshops on topics that are relevant to local small business owners. These are no-fee events designed to educate and inform. UCP SCORE provides a portal of business publications and articles screened for local North Carolina small business owners.
City of Rocky Mount Planning & Development 252.972.1113
INSPECTION SERVICES DIVISION: PERMIT APPLICATIONS
The city of Rocky Mount welcomes and desires to work with new and existing business to make the permitting and inspection process as smooth as possible. For your convenience the city provides on-line services at www.ci.rocky-mount.nc.us/planning/permits.
INSTRUCTION FOR APPLYING FOR A PERMIT:
Fill out the on-line application form. You may print the form and fax or mail it to us if you wish .
The following areas are better defined to assist you in completing the form:
- For building permits, please include the contractor’s estimate excluding the cost of electrical, plumbing, mechanical and insulation work. Separate permits are required for each of these.
- If your permit is for new construction or an addition, building plans will be required. Contact Inspection Services at 972-1113 for additional information.
Once we receive your application we will verify that the project complies with zoning, floodplain and NC State Building Code regulations. This generally takes 2-4 days to process. Of course you may bring the application form to us. We are located on second floor of the CRM Administrative Complex.
Owner/Applicant E-mail Address - If you are submitting this form on-line, enter your e-mail address in this area. Otherwise, sign the form and fax or mail it to the following: Fax: (252) 972.1590
Mail: Permit Clerk-Inspection Services
P.O. Box 1180
Rocky Mount, NC 27802-1180
The permit cannot be processed without payment. The form on the Internet is an application only. You will be contacted usually the next working day if your application is approved and you may come to Inspection Services, located on the second floor of City Hall, to obtain your permit and make payment. NO WORK MAY COMMENCE WITHOUT HAVING FIRST OBTAINED THE PERMIT. If you are a licensed contractor who is billed by the City, you will be contacted when your permit has been issued.
City of Rocky Mount Departments and Contact Information
Inspector offices hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Each inspector has voice mail so you may leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible.
We have a 24 hour inspection line that can be reached at 252.972.1350. Be sure to include the address of the inspection, the permit number, the contractor who is requesting the inspection, and the type of inspection requested. We operate on a next day inspection so request left on the 24 hour line will be handled the next working day. Failure to provide adequate information for the inspection request will void the request so please provide the above information at a minimum.