Carolina Encouragement Center
‘Supporting Entrepreneurs through training and encouragement’
Proven Methods To Secure Procurement Contracts
- 214 W. Mill Street
Kingstree, SC 29556
- Office: (803) 238-4542
- gwashington@cecsc.org
- gawcpi1962@gmail.com
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 $47 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
- Babcock Center Svc
- Prudential
- AT&T
- Carolina Panorama Newspaper
- Clemmons Law Firm
- Eau Claire Cooperative Health
CEC Supporters (Con’t.)
- Precepts Staffing
- SC Jobs Economic Development Authority
- Workforce Investment Act
- Allstate/The Bowman Agency LLC
- SC Dept. of Education
- Allen University
- Fort Jackson
- First Class Construction
- Central City Reality
- Sharper Development Solutions
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;
Up-Coming Event
Schedule of CEC Sessions
February
How to Prepare a Capability Statement Grant Writing and You—Part I
March
Contracts through Internet Sources -Grant Writing and You Part II
April
Contracts for Construction Companies-How to write a Business Plan to get the money
May
Young Entrepreneurs Business Training Advertising and Sales Promotion
June
Bankruptcy, Cash Flow, and Funding Sources Creating Manager Leaders
July
Contract Sourcing for Service Providers and Retail Secrets for Success
August
How to Put Together a Professional Bid Proposal Generational Wealth for Winners
September
Business Essentials for Start-Ups The Will of Success and Collaboration
October
How to Land a Job in this Economy Selling to the Government with Success
November
Strategy Incentives for Small Business to Land Contracts