About A.Y.D.E.N.       Education        Consulting       Networking      Resources

About A.Y.D.E.N                                                             

Assisting You to Develop an Entrepreneurial Network!  A.Y.D.E.N. is a program jointly initiated by the Ayden Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Ayden to enhance, increase, and support Entrepreneurship in the Ayden Area.  Our goal is to identify entrepreneurial spirit, activities, and ideas, to offer assistance through education, financing, as well as networking. 

A.Y.D.E.N. is targeted to entrepreneurs, small business owners, and citizens, who are interested in helping to grow a strong business community in Ayden. 

Education                                                                      

A.Y.D.E.N. teamed up with the Small Business Center at Pitt Community College.  Dr. George Sappenfield, Director, comes to Ayden to teach workshops and seminars for small business owners and entrepreneurs.  Topics covered are how to start a successful business, how to finance it, as well as marketing and other important issues around small business ownership.   Classes are offered right here in Ayden during evening hours, convenient for everybody to attend after work.     

Classes offered in Spring 2005 are

Taxes and book-keeping for small businesses
February 15th from 6:00pm - 9:00 pm
Ayden Community Building
Cost:  Non-Members $18 per class
          Chamber Members attend free of charge.
 

Marketing
March 22nd from  6:00pm - 9:00 pm
Ayden Community Building
Cost:  Non-Members $18 per class
          Chamber Members attend free of charge.

Look for more classes soon!

Consulting                                                                     

A.Y.D.E.N. also offers free consulting though the Small Business Center.  Dr. Sappenfield is available on Tuesday mornings, here in Ayden, to confidentially discuss your existing small business or your business idea. 

Networking                                                                    

Through A.Y.D.E.N. small business owners have the chance to meet others in a similar situation, with comparable problems, obstacles, and most important: experience how to solve and overcome those. 

Kathy, one of our workshop participants, says:  “If it had not been for the A.Y.D.E.N. program, I would have felt much more lost, confused, and I would not have solved some of my major problems.  Thank you for providing this valuable service to Ayden small business owners.

Resources                                                                      

Small Business owners are welcome to visit the Small Business Center at Pitt Community College.  They have books, magazines, and other media ready for you to use at no charge.  

Additionally, resources are available at he Ayden Chamber, such as statistics on market size, demographics, and transportation information.  As this program continues to grow, more and more feedback from participants will be collected and made accessible to business owners.