As part of our ‘Partner Spotlight’ series, we introduce our 2020 ECOSYSTEM partner, Mountain BizWorks. Mountain BizWorks creates economic opportunity for the people of the mountains and foothills of North Carolina. Their work helps small businesses start, grow, and create jobs through loans, classes, and coaching.
Describe your organization in 25 words or less.
Mountain BizWorks’ works to build a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial community in Western North Carolina by helping small businesses start, grow, and thrive.
How does your organization support entrepreneurs?
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Catalyst-Cohort-4-Oscar-Molina-photo-credit-scaled.jpg)
Mountain BizWorks provides tailored small business lending and peer learning programs to emerging and established small businesses in Western North Carolina.
How has the NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM grant helped your organization?
NC IDEA has helped connect and align organizations across the state, so we can all be more effective in making North Carolina the best state to start a business. Specifically, NC IDEA grants have supported Mountain BizWorks’ ScaleUp program, which is built for existing entrepreneurs with a significant growth opportunity.
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mountain-Raise-2022-Credit-Oscar-Molina-scaled.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mountain-Raise-2022-Credit-Oscar-Molina-scaled.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mountain-Raise-2022-Credit-Oscar-Molina-scaled.jpg)
What problem is your organization trying to solve?
For over 30 years, Mountain BizWorks has been making business loans ranging from $1,000 to $500,000 to small businesses in Western North Carolina who may find it difficult to secure funding from banks and other traditional sources. We are committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity. We say “yes” to those who often hear “no.” This combination of lending and learning enables a vibrant entrepreneurial economy in our region.
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jenny-Forero-Latino-Entrepreneurship-Program.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jenny-Forero-Latino-Entrepreneurship-Program.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jenny-Forero-Latino-Entrepreneurship-Program.jpg)
Who benefits from your organization’s work?
Mountain BizWorks focuses on working with entrepreneurs unable to access financing from banks and other traditional sources, as well as low-income, people of color, women, rural, and immigrant entrepreneurs.
Published July 17, 2024
Submission Provided by: Lindsey Solomon
(Communications Manager)
As part of our ‘Partner Spotlight’ series, we introduce our 2020 ECOSYSTEM partner, Mountain BizWorks. Mountain BizWorks creates economic opportunity for the people of the mountains and foothills of North Carolina. Their work helps small businesses start, grow, and create jobs through loans, classes, and coaching.
Describe your organization in 25 words or less.
Mountain BizWorks’ works to build a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial community in Western North Carolina by helping small businesses start, grow, and thrive.
How does your organization support entrepreneurs?
Mountain BizWorks provides tailored small business lending and peer learning programs to emerging and established small businesses in Western North Carolina.
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Catalyst-Cohort-4-Oscar-Molina-photo-credit-scaled.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Catalyst-Cohort-4-Oscar-Molina-photo-credit-scaled.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Catalyst-Cohort-4-Oscar-Molina-photo-credit-scaled.jpg)
How has the NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM grant helped your organization?
NC IDEA has helped connect and align organizations across the state, so we can all be more effective in making North Carolina the best state to start a business. Specifically, NC IDEA grants have supported Mountain BizWorks’ ScaleUp program, which is built for existing entrepreneurs with a significant growth opportunity.
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mountain-Raise-2022-Credit-Oscar-Molina-scaled.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mountain-Raise-2022-Credit-Oscar-Molina-scaled.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mountain-Raise-2022-Credit-Oscar-Molina-scaled.jpg)
What problem is your organization trying to solve?
For over 30 years, Mountain BizWorks has been making business loans ranging from $1,000 to $500,000 to small businesses in Western North Carolina who may find it difficult to secure funding from banks and other traditional sources. We are committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity. We say “yes” to those who often hear “no.” This combination of lending and learning enables a vibrant entrepreneurial economy in our region.
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jenny-Forero-Latino-Entrepreneurship-Program.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jenny-Forero-Latino-Entrepreneurship-Program.jpg)
![](https://ncidea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jenny-Forero-Latino-Entrepreneurship-Program.jpg)
Who benefits from your organization’s work?
Mountain BizWorks focuses on working with entrepreneurs unable to access financing from banks and other traditional sources, as well as low-income, people of color, women, rural, and immigrant entrepreneurs.
Published July 17, 2024
Submission Provided by: Lindsey Solomon
(Communications Manager)