Wells Fargo will continue its generous support of Wake Tech’s commitment to small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs. The financial institution and the college have been partners in the Wake Tech/Wells Fargo Center for Entrepreneurship for six years. Now Wells Fargo has given Wake Tech President Dr. Stephen Scott a check for $30,000 to support four new initiatives at the center, in coordination with the Wake Tech Small Business Center.

These initiatives are designed to give small business owners tools for success:

• Veterans Small Business Week: Executive leadership skills sessions for veterans running small businesses, networking opportunities, and the launch of a Veterans Speaker Series.

• Global Entrepreneurship Week: Seminars and conferences to help small business owners and entrepreneurs conduct business online and internationally.

• Inventors Day: Valuable knowledge, information, and connections provided by nationally- recognized inventors.

• Business Plan Pitch Competition: Contest judged by a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders.

“Wells Fargo has been a generous and tremendously valuable partner in our entrepreneurship efforts,” Dr. Scott said, “and we’re thrilled to have this additional support. These new initiatives will expand our support for small business in ways that will have significant impact locally.”

Katie Gailes, Wake Tech’s Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives, is overjoyed to have support for the new projects: “With these very creative initiatives we can target specific areas of need.” she says, “This allows us to expand the services we provide to Triangle small businesses and entrepreneurs.”

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms, 63 percent of net new private-sector jobs, and 48.5 percent of private-sector employment. Small businesses and new entrepreneurs continue to anchor our economy as the primary drivers in employment growth.

Wake Tech and Wells Fargo Bank began their partnership in 2010 to support aspiring and current business owners through course offerings, programs, scholarships, special initiatives, and events and activities. The Wake Tech/Wells Fargo Center for Entrepreneurship mission is to contribute to the entrepreneurial culture and economy in the Triangle area and help produce an energized and creative workforce that will boost economic development throughout the community.