With a grant from the Citi Foundation, Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (BREC) and the Tech 20/20 Center for Entrepreneurial Growth (CEG) have partnered in the BREC Breakthrough Business Challenge program to assist both startups and existing businesses looking to expand. This two-part program includes a business plan competition and a strategic assistance program designed to find and support Western North Carolina’s next breakthrough business ventures.

Between now and Sept. 16, those seeking to start a company or grow an existing small business can apply to participate in the BREC Breakthrough Business Challenge, which is offered free of charge to selected companies.

If you’ve ever fallen far behind on paying your bills, you know what it’s like to dread whenever the phone rings: What if it’s another bill collector? Ignoring the call – like ignoring a toothache – is never a good idea. Sooner or later, you’re going to have to deal with the situation.

According to Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), “Our 2011 Financial Literacy Survey found that most people – 68 percent – pay their bills on time. However, 28 percent said they experience difficulty making timely bill payments.”

Ideally, you should contact your lender as soon as you realize you may have difficulty paying a bill. They would much rather work out a repayment plan than enter the costly and time-consuming collections process.

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Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts hosts event

“Xtreme Networking,” a regional networking event, was held last Friday at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. The event served as a networking conference for business owners, professionals, community leaders and nonprofits within Western North Carolina and North Georgia and offered them the opportunity to come together for the all-day event.

Karen Wiley, an Ellijay resident, attended the event to gain insight into networking as a future entrepreneur. After retiring from the Air Force after 21 years, Wiley decided to settle in Macon County and has been contemplating starting up a cycling business to fulfill her naturalist ambitions. According to Wiley, networking events like Xtreme Networking are so important for her because she is still trying to figure out what she wants to do. “I am still thinking about different options and what it is exactly that I want to do. I want to began building contacts and networking events are a great way to do that.”

On Friday, Aug. 19, the regional networking event, “Xtreme Networking,” will be coming to Franklin. Xtreme is an all day conference for business owners, professionals, community leaders and non-profits within Western North Carolina and Northern Georgia.

Held at the Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, the conference kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with registration, open networking and the Keynote Speaker, Dale Stewart on “Adaptive Leadership in Times of Change.” Stewart is the best-selling author of “On Your Own: A Family’s Guide to Disaster Preparedness” and his newest book “Rings of Survivability” is being published by McGraw Hill for a summer release.