South Carolina State University News January 11, 2016 SC State SBDC to host healthy food business competition A competition sponsored by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of the SC State University Region will help grow small businesses while increasing access to healthy food to those who live in underserved communities in South Carolina. The business plan challenge, Feeding Innovation Orangeburg, is designed to support entrepreneurs interested in developing or expanding healthy food businesses in underserved areas of the state, also called food desert. Participants selected will attend the eight-week entrepreneurial course, NxLevel, which is widely recognized as the go-to program for educating entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners. At the culmination of the course, participants will pitch their business idea to a panel of judges. The winner, whose plan must include strategies to serve communities in Orangeburg County, will be awarded seed capital in the amount of $12,500 to help cultivate the business. The S.C. Community Loan Fund, which is partnering with the SC State Region SBDC, will award the grant. The SC State Region SBDC views the competition as an innovative means to address the prevalence of obesity-related problems from which many South Carolinians suffer and to enhance the area's economic development. "Feeding Innovation Orangeburg will help develop the business sector in Orangeburg, creating better livelihoods, and the idea of getting locally grown, healthy foods to individuals and families in Orangeburg County, who has little to no access to such food is just a good thing to do," said Jim Johnson Jr., region director of the SC State SBDC. Participation is limited to 10 business owners. Business plans will presented in late April. All interested participants should complete an application<http://scsu.edu/files/Feeding%20Innovation%20Application%20(002).pdf>, available at www.scsu.edu<http://scsu.edu/www.scsu.edu>, and email it to Anna Hamilton Lewin at anna@sccommunityloanfund.org<mailto:anna@sccommunityloanfund.org> by Jan. 28. The SC State University Region Small Business Development Center provides no-cost guidance and training to assist small business owners and potential owners in starting and growing a successful business. The center operating at SC State serves Orangeburg, Bamberg, Calhoun, Allendale, Barnwell, Hampton and Colleton counties. For more information on Feeding Innovation Orangeburg or on the SC State Region SBDC, contact Jim Johnson Jr. at (803) 533-3964 or jjohns47@scsu.edu<mailto:jjohns47@scsu.edu>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.