Friday, September 02, 2005

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Minority contractors will be able to learn the skills they need to succeed at the HUB Contractors Business Academy set to begin in October at University of North Carolina Wilmington.

According to Cheryl Sutton, coordinator of the Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Office at UNCW, this academy will teach essential business skills for managing a competitive construction business. Experts in accounting, cash flow management, employee relations, law and project scheduling will instruct the classes.

Businesses owned by blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans, American Indians, white females and socio-economic disadvantaged groups or individuals are included in the HUB designation.

The academy, which will be held on the campus of UNCW, will run for 16 consecutive weeks, beginning Oct. 4. This session of the academy will be operated by UNCW in partnership with the UNC Office of the President, the N.C. Department of Transportation, Rodgers Builders, Barnhill Contracting Company, City of Wilmington, Carolinas Associated General Contractors, Ken Weeden and Associates, Partners for Economic Inclusion, and Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center. It will be the fourth such academy in North Carolina.

Class size will be limited to 25 students. “We want to keep classes small so each contractor can get the most possible attention and instruction,” said Sutton. Because registrations will be taken on a first come, first served basis interested persons are encouraged to register early. The deadline for registration is Sept. 22.

The cost of the academy is being subsidized by the university and the aforementioned organizations to keep tuition low. Tuition is $250 per person and includes dinner at each class. Classes will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in Cameron Hall 104. There will be no classes the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. A completion ceremony and reception will be hosted by the university on Feb. 7, 2006.

To register or to request additional information about the academy, please contact Cheryl Sutton, UNCW HUB Coordinator, at 910/962-7597 or suttoncd@uncw.edu; or Vernetta Mitchell, Rodgers Builders, at 704/537-6044 or VMitchell@RodgersBuilders.com.



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