SCORE Charlotte is proud to announce the positive impact of its volunteer mentors who donate their time and expertise to help entrepreneurs start small businesses and achieve new levels of success in helping strengthen the local economy.
In fiscal year 2021, SCORE Charlotte provided 1,515 unique mentoring sessions, compared to 1,078 unique mentoring sessions the year prior. Total mentoring sessions were 2,695 compared to 1,778, an increase of nearly 30%, according to figures provided by the national SCORE organization.
When inexpensive or free local business workshops and on-line seminars are included, a total of 5,930 service hours were provided by SCORE Charlotte in FY2021, an increase of almost 30% over FY2020.
According to figures provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers, who were engaged by the SCORE Foundation, SCORE Charlotte’s volunteer mentors helped start up 451 new businesses, and helped create a total of 650 new jobs within the Charlotte Region last fiscal year.
Established in 1965, SCORE Charlotte’s 85 volunteers are successful real-world retired or semi-retired business professionals representing most business disciplines who provide free and confidential business advice to entrepreneurs in the Charlotte Region wanting to start a new business or re-open or grow an existing business.
“SCORE is the most effective source of small business mentoring in the U.S. and we are proud to be making a positive difference right here within the Charlotte Region,” Helen Ruth (HR) Harwell, Charlotte chapter president co-chair, said. “In addition to free remote mentoring, we offer a wealth of resources such as workshops and seminars that guide entrepreneurs in every phase of their small business journey.”
SCORE Charlotte serves clients in Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cleveland, Cabarrus, Stanly, Lincoln, Burke, Catawba, Caldwell, Alexander, Iredell, Rowan, Union and Anson counties in North Carolina and York, Chester, and Lancaster in South Carolina.
With increased demand for services, SCORE is actively recruiting volunteers. To learn more, request mentor services, or to volunteer, click here.
