The Robeson Enterprise Community Development Corporation has concluded a phenomenal year of service to the community. The 2003 year saw the realization of RECDC's vision of opening and operating a culinary-focused small-business incubator. The RECDC relocated from its Lumberton location, which had served as its base of operations since 1998, to its current Office Complex, in the heart of Red Springs. The move has allowed the RECDC to expand its services and its positive economic impact on the entire Enterprise Community: numerous entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the RECDC's One Stop Entrepreneurial Empowerment Shop (OSEES)'s small business support services in the 12,000 square foot facility, and culinary students, aspiring chefs, and hungry residents will all benefit from the March, 2004 opening of Le Petit Café. With new, highly trained culinary staff, the imminent opening of Le Petit Café and major expansion of the kitchen incubator, and finalization of the Robeson Enterprise Culinary Institute among this year's plans, 2004 promises to be another year of exciting promise and realized potential for the RECDC and its Enterprise Communities!

Much of the first half of 2003 was devoted to the purchase and preliminary renovation of the RECDC's Red Springs facilities, which now serve as the Enterprise's offices and small business incubator, and of the upscale, Internet-connected Petit Café. Relocation began in April, 2003, and the RECDC began its small business incubator services immediately. Grant funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation made possible the hiring of Kitchen Manager Marilyn Petersen, who has been invaluable in overseeing the renovation, equipping, and planning of Le Petit Café. Needs assessments, bidding, consultations, and massive renovation of the Café lasted through much of 2003 and continues in early 2004, but the Café is on schedule to open in mid-March. In the meantime, the RECDC has assisted three small businesses on a full-time basis in the Incubator, and consulted with over 20 other entrepreneurs. The RECDC has assisted entrepreneurs in business plan development, key to the short and long-term success of any business. In addition, several small business owners have utilized OSEES "virtual office space" services, enabling them to maintain a business point of contact in Red Springs without tying up manpower on a full-time basis. These services, begun in the Red Springs Incubator in early 2003, continue and have expanded throughout the year.

The RECDC's primary focus of 2003 has been the completion of its upscale restaurant and culinary training facility, Le Petit Café. To this end, the RECDC has hired renowned Executive Chef Gary Kowal, and Sous Chef Melisa Hollen. Chefs Kowal and Hollen will oversee all aspects of food preparation at the Café, but perhaps more importantly, will mentor area culinary students and others interested in gaining vital work experience under the chefs' expert guidance. Chefs Kowal and Hollen, with nearly 40 years of experience as expert chefs between them, will ensure the success of the Café as a welcome addition to the dining options for area residents, as well as business travelers and tourists.

The staff of the RECDC is also overseeing renovation of the Office Complex and Small Business Incubator, which will soon offer area culinary entrepreneurs - - future restaurant owners, caterers, and recipe developers - - access to state of the art kitchen equipment. Kitchen Incubator clients will be able to use RECDC kitchen equipment, similar to that found in a large-scale restaurant, to prepare or process their culinary creations, which can then be sold in the large southeast North Carolina market.

In addition, the Small Business Incubator will sponsor small business development workshops, which will provide entrepreneurs with guidance in all areas of operating a small business successfully. In addition to helping area residents suffering from the loss of thousands of jobs in the textile industry, the RECDC's culinary-focused incubator will benefit area farmers, including tobacco farmers struggling with ever-shrinking quotas. The RECDC partners with Robeson County's Agricultural Extension Offices to ensure that area farmers profit from the RECDC's culinary programs from Day one.

The RECDC staff are proud of the Corporation's accomplishments in 2003, and are looking for an even more successful 2004! For more information about RECDC programs and accomplishments, feel free to contact us at 910-843-7601, or visit the website at www.recdc.org.

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