ENTREPRENEURS WANTED

Are you an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for business development services, education, resources and funding opportunities? ​LaunchJOCO is a county-wide collaborative initiative supporting and developing entrepreneurs and small businesses across Johnston County.

LaunchJOCO PROGRAMS

LaunchNOW

Do you have a business concept that you may or may not have executed yet?  LaunchNOW partners with the Johnston Community College Small Business Center to assist with building your business framework. Meet with a professional business counselor and attend free courses while testing for value proposition and feasibility. Topics to be covered include Financial and Corporate Structures, Sales and Marketing, Basic Bookkeeping, Understanding Your Tax Responsibility, and more. This program is ideal for entrepreneurs who are considering startup or in the early stages of opening. After completing LaunchNOW with the Small Business Center, you will be invited to reapply for the 2025 Launch NEXT Program.

LaunchNEXT
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Are you an established business that is now generating income and looking to strengthen and grow in scale?  LaunchNEXT is here to help you level up your business and network. If selected, participants are required to commit to a 14-week (once a week) Business Training/Entrepreneurship Academy Education Course, as well as 6 months of mentoring (approximately 2-4 hrs/month) one-on-one with a local business professional. Upon successful completion of NEXT, participants will be eligible to apply for grants based on participation and performance in the program. Each class begins with dinner at 5:30 and class from 6-9 p.m. from January to April 2024 (every Tuesday except March 26). Each class will end with a homework assignment (approximately 2-3 hours) designed to assist you in the growth and strengthening of your business.  Mentoring is from May to October culminating in a graduation celebration in November.

Launch joco checklist

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PREGUNTAS FRECUENTES

Launch Spanish checklist

READY TO JOIN LaunchJOCO?

APPLY NOW

GET INVOLVED - BE A MENTOR

If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, community leader, or someone who wants to give to those in the early stages of business, then being a LaunchJOCO Mentor is for you! Having a successful mentor relationship can play a critical role in the future success of our students and can be extremely fulfilling for the mentor. The expectation is that you are available to meet with your student at least 4 hours a month from May through November 2024. Learn more and apply for this mentorship opportunity by applying here. ​

LaunchJOCO Mentor Application

2024 CALENDAR

Orientation and Live Plan Log In 
January 25 - 6 p.m.-8 p.m. - Johnston Community College Workforce Development Center, Room 2024 

CLASS SCHEDULE
​*all classes are held at Johnston Community College Workforce Development Center, Room 2024, 135 Best Wood Drive, Clayton, NC 27520
​from 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. (includes dinner)
January 30 - Entrepreneurship Foundations: Mission and Vision
February 6 - Value Proposition and Canvas
February 13 - Market and Competitive Research Pt 1 
February 20 - Market and Competitive Research Pt 2
February 27 - Pricing Models and Strategies
March 5 - Location and Facilities
March 12 - Intro to Financials
March 19 - Mentor Match Night 
March 26 - NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK 
April 2 - Credit Class and Mentor Notifications
April 9 - Financial Forecasting Pt 1 
April 16 - Financial Forecasting Pt 2
April 23 - Schedule/Milestones/Pitch

End of Education Social/Celebration TBD
April 30 - 5:30-8:30p.m. 

Mentoring 
April 25 - Mentor Orientation
May 1-Oct 31 - (minimum 4 hours/month)
​
EMBARK
November 19 - Class of 2024 Graduation/Pitch Presentation and Class of 2025 Reveal

2025 CALENDAR

August 1 - September 8 - Applications Open
August 6 - Live Info Session (6:30 - 8:00) Triangle East Chamber Conference Room
August 20 - Live Info Session (6:30 - 8:00) JCC Workforce Development Center Discovery Room
August 22 - Live Info Session (6:30 - 8:00) Benson Chamber of Commerce

September 9 - Application Review: Clayton Chamber of Commerce
September 30 & October 1 (if needed) - Interviews (8:30 am - 5 / 9am -noon ) JCC Workforce Development Center Discovery Room

November 19 - Launch 2024 Graduation/ Launch 2025 Kickoff: The Clayton Center

January 23 -  Orientation & Live Plan Log In (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm) JCC WFD Room 2024
January 28 - Entrepreneurship Foundations: Mission and Vision (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
February 4 - Value Proposition and Canvas: (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
February 11 - Market and Competitive Research Pt.1 (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
February 18 - Market and Competitive Research Pt.2 (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
February 25 - Pricing Models and Strategies (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
March 4 - Location and Facilities (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
March 11 - Intro to Financials (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
March 18 -  Financial Forecasting Pt. 1 (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
March 25 - Financial Forecasting Pt. 2 (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm ) JCC WFD Room 2024
April 1 - Mentor Match Night (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm) JCC WFD Room 2024 & Add'l Room
April 8 -  Credit/Lending & Mentor Monitoring (5:30 pm - 9:00 pm) JCC WFD Room 2024
April 10 - Mentor Orientation (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
April 16 - SPRING BREAK
April 22 - Schedule/Milestones/Pitch JCC WFD 2024
April 29 -  End of Education Social/Celebration (TBD)

May 1-October 31 -  Mentoring (min 2-4 hours/month)

November 18 - Launch 2025 Graduation/Class Reveal 2026 (6:00 pm ) The Clayton Center

LaunchBEYOND 2025 SERIES

Dates, times an location posted soon. 

LaunchJOCO Class of 2024

2024 LaunchJOCO

​PRESENTED BY

SILVER SPONSOR
Johnston County Alumnae Chapter
​Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

EMBARK REGISTRATION SPONSOR
Carolina Small Business Development Fund
EMBARK BEVERAGE SPONSOR
First Flight Federal Credit Union
EMBARK SELFIE PHOTO BOOTH SPONSOR
High Point Bookkeeping, LLC
PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT SPONSOR
Small Business Center of JCC
WEEKLY DINNER SPONSOR
Chefella's Catering and Event Planning 
Rush Hour Karting 
STUDENT SPONSOR
Johnston County Economic Development
EMBARK DIPLOMA SPONSORS
Black Castle IT
​MedicalTraining.me

A CLAYTON CHAMBER FOUNDATION INITIATIVE

​Our network of local partners in Johnston County provides a broad network of support and resources for our entrepreneurs.

Get in Touch With Us