SEPTEMBER 3
How Get Found on Google for Free

They are looking for your business -- but can they find you? It is important that a business’ information appears – and appears correctly – when people search online. Discover how to ensure your prospective and existing clients can easily find your business's website and location. Find out the best practices to encourage search engines such as Google to display your website in search results without paying for ads.
 
Getting found on Google means lots of good things for your business. It means building a stronger online presence, creating brand awareness for your business, and getting more customers in the door. Join us for this workshop and learn how to create or claim your local business listing using Google My Business. ​

This post was provided to us by Neil McTighe from the UNC-CH branch of the NC Small Business & Technology Development Center. 

The spread of the novel coronavirus has disrupted the lives of billions and had an enormous impact on businesses nationwide. Businesses have been forced to close their doors, lay off staff, transition to remote work, switch to online sales, and so much more.

Now that North Carolina has begun easing restrictions, the Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is here to help businesses adjust to the “new normal.”

The SBTDC is a business and technology extension program of the UNC System, administered by NC State University and operated in partnership with the US Small Business Administration. The SBTDC’s business counselors assist small and mid-sized businesses throughout North Carolina with 16 offices across the state.

This post originally appeared on the City of Burlington Blog Page, found here.

Over the past five months there has been a lot of turnover in the funding opportunities for businesses. Options like the Paycheck Protection Program have exhausted funds but new opportunities are coming up. Please go through this post and see some of the funding sources available to businesses here in Burlington, some are specific to our area and others are more widespread. Reach out to the Burlington Economic Development Department if you have any questions.
 
City of Burlington Microenterprise Loans 
Qualifying Burlington businesses with five employees or fewer can apply for forgivable loans of up to $7000.  Funds must be used for approved expenses related to COVID-19 impacts. The business owner or over half of employees of the business must have low- or moderate-income as defined by HUD to be eligible.   

Microenterprise Loans will be accepted and reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis by the City’s Economic Development Office until funds are exhausted. The application for this program can be found at this link, please select the Microenterprise Loan Application when on the site:  https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/BURLINGTON/Participant

• CDBG Microenterprise Loan Program Guidelines
• CDBG Microenterprise Loan Frequently Asked Questions

For more information about Microenterprise Loans, contact Blake Moyer via phone at 336-222-5081 or via email bmoyer@burlingtonnc.gov. 

Qualifying Burlington businesses with five employees or fewer can apply for forgivable loans of up to $7000. ​​Funds must be used for approved expenses related to COVID-19 impacts.

The business owner or over half of employees of the business must have low- or moderate-income as defined by HUD to be eligible. Non-profits are not eligible for this funding opportunity, only for-profit, private businesses operating in the City of  Burlington.
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Follow the link to the Burlington Economic Development website for more information. ​

 http://burlingtonnc.gov/757/Economic-Development