Carolina Encouragement Center

‘Supporting Entrepreneurs through training and encouragement’

Proven Methods To Secure Procurement Contracts

Kingstree, SC 29556

The Carolina Encouragement Center

‘Supporting Entrepreneurs through training and encouragement’

Meeting Small Business Needs

Established in 2011 as a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization to provide much-needed business training to increase procurement opportunities for small, women, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses

Secured more than $27 million in contracts, grants and loans for CEC class participants since its inception.

Receive bid opportunities through the participation of CEC classes

◦City, State, & Federal Government

◦Private Industry

◦Airports

◦Non-Profit Organizations

◦Universities & Colleges

◦Faith-Based Organizations, Grants

CEC Mission

A series of Professional Business Training Seminars that focus on every aspect of business principles necessary for success

Feature Listing

Expert Procurement Instructor(s) and Speakers
Excellent Business Training Materials
Representatives from Government, State, and Industry
Contract Opportunities
FREE SAM Packages for 8A, SCDOT & HUBZONE Certification
Networking
Unique to CEC Training Seminars is the contract opportunities provided to seminar participants
Entrepreneurial outreach and employment for youth

Contracts Awarded to CEC Seminar Participants

Allstate – $7,468
Choice Connections – $8,400
CH Williams – $225,000
GC Dreher – $5,400
Hamilton Electrical – $48,685
Jackson and Associates – $1,400
JMAC Construction – $500,000

McGee Trucking – $40,000
Pollard Painting – $12,572
Professional Grading – $52,000
Random Drug Screen – $1,887
The Deciding Factor – $1,775
First Class Construction – $24,000
Brown Chapel Baptist Church – $550,000
Authoritative Building Care, LLC – $10,600

Just Business

“Principles Based Strategies to Achieve Business Success.”

Anyone looking for inside information on how to establish and maintain a successful business will surely enjoy the keen, witty, entrepreneurial spirit of Gary and Michele Washington.

CEC Award Gala

What Seminar Participants Say…

“I was encouraged to focus and redouble my efforts on bidding welding projects, guided by [CEC’s] half-day business training class on how to do just that [and was awarded a $522,000 contract from SCDOT].“

— Lee Davis, Owner, Davis Welding Services

“Thank you Carolina Encouragement Center for the technical expertise provided in assisting us with putting of our proposal together. This [$22,800 with College of Charleston] contract will help sustain our company’s growth.”

— Henry Gee & Leroy Gee, Owners, Gee & Gee Upholstery & Furniture LLC

After meeting Mr. Washington indirectly, I was able to change my profession from housekeeping at the Hampton Inn Hotel to an Administrative Assistant at Capital Diabetic Supply, Inc.”.

–Higgins Bobcat & Concrete

“After meeting Mr. Washington indirectly, I was able to change my profession from housekeeping at the Hampton Inn Hotel to an Administrative Assistant at Capital Diabetic Supply, Inc.”.

— Vivian Brown – Happy Employee

CEC Class Photo

CEC Collaborators & Supporters

Honorable Joseph H. Neal, past member of the SC House of Representatives
The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
SC Capitol Commission
U. S. Dept. of Commerce
SC State Budget & Control Board
U. S. Small Business Administration

Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Stephen Benjamin, Past Mayor of the City of Columbia
Allen University
MBD Media, LLC
Sistercare
Benedict College

CEC Supporters (Con’t.)

Ways YOU Can Help…

Become a Collaborator (A Win-Win)
Attend and Send Staff to CEC Training Seminars
Advertise and Promote CEC Training Seminars
Notify CEC of Procurement Contract Opportunities
Provide Intern Training to CEC’s University & College Students (Free Labor to You)
Provide In-Kind Company Services
Provide any Job Opportunities for Employment from your Company

Collaborator Benefits

- Display of your company logo on a CEC Professional Banner visible to over 27,600 travelers daily;

-Public recognition at CEC workshops, on marketing materials, website, and at special events;

-Your marketing staff can provide an overview of your services to CEC seminar participants;

- A List of our CEC seminar participants.

- A representative from your company to serve as an advisor to the CEC;

- The CEC’s Annual Report containing the number of business owners trained, contracts and contract amounts awarded, business industry, and longevity of contracts;

- Placement of college interns from local Universities to work at your business (i.e. free labor). By providing on the job training you help to prepare young people for real world jobs and help them to fulfill their intern credit-hour requirement in order to graduate. Thus, you help to create a win-win for all parties;