Maurion Jamison
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — The Small Business Development Center, in partnership with Winthrop University, is working to help South Carolina entrepreneurs turn their ideas into real businesses.

The center offers free counseling, training workshops and access to resources for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs across the state.

Its mission is to guide individuals through each stage of building and growing a business.

According to director Tom George, starting a business requires more than passion. He says business owners must take on a wide range of responsibilities beyond their original interests.

“The thing you love to do the most, you will do the least, because if you are owning a bakery, the last thing you will do is baking,” George said.

“What you will end up doing is trying to sell and trying to find customers and understanding different aspects of owning a business; whether it’s accounting, understanding your numbers, whether it’s operations and employees or…understand marketing, social media and things like that,” George said.

The center helps participants develop skills in business planning, marketing strategies and financial management, which can provide a strong foundation for long term success.

For some students, the experience becomes a pathway to future careers.

Jurnii Lucas, a student studying elementary education, is working to turn his passion for fitness into a business.

Lucas leads fitness classes and training sessions through the YMCA while building his personal brand. He says the work is meaningful and motivating.

“It (the gym) is my safe space and my sanctuary,” Lucas said. “It really elevates my day.”

The center also hosts workshops and networking events to connect entrepreneurs with industry professionals and community resources.

Officials say the goal is to continue supporting local economic growth by empowering more entrepreneurs across the region.