Providing Resources For Every Small Business

The Chamber has evolved over the years, adapting to changes both in leadership and the economy. However, one thing has remained consistent-our mission to be the voice of the business community and provide members with the tools and resources needed to succeed. Those resources come in many different forms from access to information, people, and organizations to valuable educational opportunities. The GEM Program is one such example and stands for Growing Entrepreneurs Marion. The program, a collaborative effort of the Chamber, the City of Marion, the Marion Business Association, and McDowell Technical Community College, is a free, 8-session business course designed to help potential, existing, and seasoned entrepreneurs in understanding the dynamics of starting, owning, operating, a business. 

In addition to our own offerings such as the free marketing tools, the LINC leadership course, and educational classes, we search out and establish relationships and partnerships with local, regional, and national, business-focused organizations. We work earnestly to identify, create, and nurture these partnerships in order to expand the resource pool for our members. Some of the partners with which we work include: 

•  Small Business Administration (local office)                                            
• Carolina Small Business Association, SCORE
• Mountain Bizworks
• The Economic Develop Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC)
• North Carolina's Small Business Technology Center
• The Marion Business Association
• NC Rural Center
• VEDIC 
• McDowell Technical Community College's Small Business Center
• Isothermal Community College Small Business Center
• The Women's Business Center of North Carolina.

We've even partnered with Lenoir-Rhyne University to offer our members exclusive discounts to its Master's program for general MBAs to area-specific degrees such as accounting, innovation and change management, leadership development, nonprofit management, sustainable studies, and registered nursing. There are seven different MBA concentrations available completely online for those that don't have the time for driving to the Hickory or Asheville campuses. 

This program offers Chamber members and employees with tuition discounts and other benefits when enrolling in any of the University’s Master’s Degree or Adult Learner Bachelor’s Degree programs. Personalized, affordable, and designed for working professionals, courses are available in downtown Asheville and Hickory in the evenings, online, or from a distance. Start any semester and go at your own pace.

Another educational opportunity in the works is with McDowell Technical Community College's Continuing Education Department. We are exploring the idea of a curriculum specifically geared toward the hospitality and retail industry to help employers provide quality training for their staff on everything from customer service to management. The idea is to start small with one or two classes offered jointly by the Chamber and MTCC to gauge the greatest need in the community.