The Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center, Brunswick Community College Small Business Center and other centers across the state have been awarded a special allotment of discretionary funds to help small business owners with challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to an announcement Tuesday.

Reboot, Recover, Rebuild (R3) will provide small businesses with free in-depth counseling, coaching, information and resources in over 40 different subject areas, a news release stated.

The funding the state's 58 centers received was in the amount of $51,724 each, said April Scott, director of the BCC Small Business Center.

"The funds will cover areas of need for business owners and entrepreneurs that they otherwise may have financial struggled to cover or ignored," Scott said in an email Tuesday. "For instance, several current business owners are looking for legal advice on leasing and tax issues, or the guidance of an accountant with questions as it relates to the PPP funds. The dollars will go along way in the continued effort to support those that support our community...small businesses."

The amount was also confirmed by Jerry Coleman, CFCC's Small Business Center director.

"We are in a unique position to be able to offer a worthwhile program like R3 to help our local small businesses recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19,” Coleman said in the release. “R3 has added additional funds that will allow CFCC's Small Business Center to connect industry specific counselors with those in need."

The CFCC Small Business Center, as well as the BCC center, will partner with local subject matter experts to assist businesses in the area with the following:

• General business guidance
• Assessing the economic impact of the pandemic 
• Strategies for scaling business operations
• Break-even and cash flow analysis
• Marketing plans
• Review of financial obligations
• Communications with creditors
• Loan package preparation
• Business resilience strategies
• Referrals to relevant sources of assistance

According to the release, availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For additional information about R3 from BCC, call (910) 755-7306 or email [email protected].

To reach CFCC about the program, call (910) 362-7216 or email  at [email protected].