NCGrowth’s mission is to create good jobs and equitable opportunities for people in rural communities and economically challenged areas. NCGrowth directly benefits communities in NC with the goal of completing about 30 projects a year in addition to creating and retaining over 100 jobs annually. Within our work, we build bridges in and between communities and create partnerships with a multitude of organizations. Part of our mission is to influence national and state policy; we do this through speaking at federal conferences and workshops on rural economic development, providing perspective to the state’s Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts, and advising numerous state, federal and non-profit entities. NCGrowth also connects with a national audience through conferences and research.
NCGrowth works on a range of projects for businesses that include inventory systems, business plans, marketing strategies, lean manufacturing, process improvement, and more. NCGrowth also supports local, regional and tribal government on their economic development priorities.
American Eel Farm is the only live eel farm in the US. It is located outside of Trenton, NC in Jones County. They’ve been in business for 10 years, primarily selling live bait and glass eels. AEF is launching a new product, smoked eel, which will be sold as Blue Ridge Smokery. NCGrowth is helping with the marketing and distribution strategy for the new product. Blue Ridge Smokery will primarily target marketing and distribution channels in Europe, as well as look at the local food movement in the US. This project was referred by Matt Livingston of the ENC Council of Governments. It’s being completed in collaboration with the SBTDC at East Carolina University. Analyst from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Jaime Avila is working on the project.
Food scientist and entrepreneur Michael Lloyd created Num Num Sauce – a low sodium, but highly flavorable condiment. The 10-year old company is based in Durham and currently sells in about 60 Whole Foods and Fresh Markets in the Southeast. NCGrowth is working with Num Num Sauce on a marketing strategy and will implement a customer and analysis. Analyst from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Gabriel Rizo Patron is working on the project.
TS Designs is a triple bottom line, B-corp screen printing operation in Burlington, NC.
Founded in 1977, TS Designs began as a small, manual screen printing operation. It only took a few years for the company to become fully automated, printing shirts for big brands like Nike, Tommy, Polo, GAP, etc. However, after the 1993 implementation of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), TS Designs watched as customer after customer transitioned accounts to Mexico in order to take advantage of lower costs.
Instead of calling it quits, TS Designs transitioned to a new business model and aligned themselves with a then-fringe group: The Green Movement. It was a period of steady progression, exciting new developments and lessons learned as the company leaders continually pushed the boundaries on what was possible in printing technology and what it meant to source from local supply chains.
Today, TS Designs still sells largely to local, environmentally and socially-conscious businesses and organizations that make up The Green Movement, but also prints for any organization looking for a locally-made, better quality product with a better environmental and social impact. Eric Henry, CEO and President, continues with a spirit of innovation as the company expands its line of in-house apparel brands.*
TS Designs engaged NCGrowth as they aim to address supply chain issues and explore growth opportunities. Analyst from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Andre Sakai worked on the project
MG3 Farms is a sustainable, hydroponic operation in Prospect, NC. They produce about 10,000 heads of lettuce per week for restaurants and distributors in the Sandhills and the Triangle. MG3 is family-owned and operated. NCGrowth is assisting them with a marketing strategy, focusing on primarily targeting wholesalers, food aggregators, and larger institutions. MG3 Farms was referred to us by UNC-Pembroke’s entrepreneurship incubator. Amanda Bravo, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA student analyst, worked on the project.
Graham and Sons is a spray-free, hand grown vegetable farm in Maxton, NC. A family-run business, they have historically provided vegetables for the community through a highway farm stand. NCGrowth is assisting with a marketing strategy and recommendations for a community supported agriculture program. The marketing strategy will focus on directing to consumer sales, improving their farm stand, and making recommendations for agriculture resources in the area. NCGrowth met David Graham, owner of the business, at a business resource fair we supported in Halifax County. Amanda Bravo, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA student analyst worked on the project.
This company refurbishes and manufacturers pallets in Dunn, NC. This family business has grown substantially over the last 10 years. NCGrowth is assisting with a lean manufacturing project, as well as a financial analysis as they expand operations. By conducting on the floor interviews and time studies, NCGrowth will recommend how the plant flow could be more efficient. Unified Pallets has several revenue streams and a better understanding of their margins in each subcategory will be important as they grow. NCGrowth will make recommendations based on this analysis. Unified Pallets came to us via Nick Dula, Economic Developer for Harnett County. NCSU Industrial Engineering graduate student Varun Nair and UNC MBA student Jay O’Neal worked on these projects.
This company in Pembroke NC provides non-medical homecare to the elderly. This year, Lilies of Hope won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Pembroke. In the last two years, they’ve grown the company and now have close to 30 employees. They are seeking assistance in a marketing strategy for recruiting quality employees as well as new clients. The marketing strategy will focus on their brand and messaging, advertising options, and identifying target customers. Lilies of Hope was referred to NCGrowth by UNC-Pembroke’s entrepreneurship incubator. Cristina Balitaan, UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA student analyst, worked on the project.
Outside the Box manufactures badge reel buttons in Lillington, NC. Former ER nurse and entrepreneur, Donna Bowden, started the company about 10 years ago. They’ve grown out of their downtown building and are expanding to a new facility this summer. NCGrowth is helping with the layout of the new building and streamlining processes following lean manufacturing principles. In addition, NCGrowth is providing business development recommendations, especially focusing on product profit margins. Outside the Box came to NCGrowth via Nick Dula, Economic Developer for Harnett County. NCSU Industrial Engineering graduate student Varun Nair and UNC MBA student Jay O’Neal worked on these projects.
NCGrowth’s mission is to create good jobs and equitable opportunities for people in rural communities and economically challenged areas.[kislideshow kirotate="true"][kislideshowslide kiimageurl="http://www.ncgrowth.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DonnaBowden.jpg" ]Donna Bowden of Outside the Box with NCGrowth team and Nick Dula with Harnett County Economic Development[/kislideshowslide][kislideshowslide kiimageurl="http://www.ncgrowth.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AmericanEelFarm.jpg" ]Rick Allyn and Dave Duha of American Eel Farm give NCGrowth a tour of their facilities and talk about growing eels[/kislideshowslide][kislideshowslide kiimageurl="http://www.ncgrowth.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GrahamandSonsProduce.jpg" ]Mark Little and John Quinterno with NCGrowth get a tour of Graham and Sons Produce with David Graham[/kislideshowslide][kislideshowslide kiimageurl="http://www.ncgrowth.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/NumNumSauceFounder.jpg" ]Gabriel Rizo Patron with NCGrowth and Michael Lloyd, founder of Num Num Sauce talk strategy[/kislideshowslide][/kislideshow]
NCGrowth directly benefits communities in NC with the goal of completing about 30 projects a year in addition to creating and retaining over 100 jobs annually.Learn more about projects with communities