The Small Business Center Network began in 1983 with eight Small Business Centers established at community colleges around the state. Today a small business center is located at each of the 58 community colleges across the state. The centers have full-time expert staff to provide counseling and referrals to potential, new and existing small business owners, and offer free seminars and training classes. This service reinforces the mission of community colleges to support economic development through services to bsiness and industry. The Small Business Center Network is one of the largest state-sponsored assistance programs of its type in the country. During the past two years the SBCN experienced a 29 percent increase in the number of people receiving business counseling and 50,042 people participated in SBC workshops and seminars.         HOW TO START A BUSINESS? WHAT WE DO The Small Business Center Network supports the development of new businesses and the growth of existing businesses by being a community-based provider of training, counseling, and resource information. There is no fee for our services. The Small Business Center Provides: Confidential consultations, counseling and referrals - Direct and confidential conversation appropriate to your unique situation. We help you turn problems into opportunities by making suggestions and referring you to resources and professionals best qualified to serve your business. Business resources and information - The Small Business Center maintains current reference and resource materials on all phases of small business. These are available for your use during business hours. These include video and audio tapes, software, programs for business planning, books, magazines, and Internet access. Our resource center has computers available for your use. Small business networks and support- We receive help from chambers of commerce, volunteer consultants, business associations, economic development agencies, banks, accountants, lawyers, educational consultants and instructors, and others. We are also linked to several business networks on the Internet. Survive and Thrive In A Recession Discussion Held - Click for video Customized business seminars, training, workshops- Based on your needs, we will provide information targeted to your business situation. Continuing education- Employees of small businesses can take courses to train or upgrade skills in many areas, for example: cashiers, security, clerical skills, bookkeeping, technicians, communications skills, and leadership skills. Micro enterprise loans- We can provide you with information on funds for established or new businesses through a group-borrowing concept. The North Carolina "REAL" program- Union and Anson counties are official REAL sites (Rural Entrepreneurship Through Action Learning). This is a unique 16-week self-employment education course. Graduates of the REAL program have had an 87 percent business success rate for the past six years. REAL classes are held in Monroe at SPCC in the Fall and Spring.