Durham, NC — As communities nationwide begin to pack up their Thanksgiving leftovers and gear up to celebrate Small Business Saturday, local entrepreneurs are reminded that success doesn’t begin with the holiday rush. To help small businesses thrive year-round, the Self-Help Business Train connects small business owners in two communities — Durham, North Carolina, and Chicago, Illinois— to the valuable resources and services they need to help their ventures thrive. The program offers personalized coaching on such topics as growth strategies, marketing, accounting/financial management, legal, capital readiness and other comprehensive training resources designed to strengthen the backbone of our local economy.
Small Business Saturday recognizes the vital role small businesses play in creating jobs and fostering community growth. But sustaining that momentum requires more than a single day of support—it demands knowledge, strategy, and access to capital. That’s why the Self-Help Business Train was created.
Through the Self-Help Business Train, entrepreneurs gain practical skills in critical areas, including:
- Accounting: Learn to manage cash flow, track expenses, and make informed financial decisions.
- Marketing: Discover strategies to attract and retain customers in an increasingly digital marketplace.
- Capital Readiness: Prepare to secure funding by understanding lender requirements and building strong financial profiles.
- Other key areas, including, growth strategies, social media, and legal resources
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community,” said Franja Meeks, Small Business Coaching Manager for Self-Help. “We want to ensure they have the tools to succeed not just on Small Business Saturday, but every day of the year.”
The program identified current small business loan borrowers as well as tenants and vendors working with the credit union.
Why It Matters
- 99.9% of U.S. firms are small businesses—over 36 million—and they employ ~46% of private-sector workers, equal to about 61 million Americans, according to the Small Business Administration.
- Between March 2023–2024, these businesses created 90% of all net new jobs, opening 1.1 million establishments and adding 1.2 million new positions.
- In North Carolina alone, 99.6% of all businesses are small, employing ≈1.7 million people and contributing ~74% of net employment gains in recent years.
Local small businessowners who received technical assistance and guidance over the past year came together for a meet and greet early this month to share resources, build relationships, and recognize the importance of small businesses to the local economy.
“The Business Train was one of the most incredible experiences I ever had,” said Sicily Sierra, co-founder and executive director of the Kind Kitchen Group, a Durham-based comprehensive, culinary education program for youths with integrated social-emotional learning. “It was not a cookie cutter experience. It was very personal. They took a step back to look our program and asked: what did WE need to be successful."
Keeping with the train analogy, Sierra adds, "The Self-Help Business Train became our welders. We knew we needed to build infrastructure and revenue to grow as a non-profit and they made sure the help we received was specific to our needs.”
“Connecting entrepreneurs to the resources, networks, and expertise they need to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build businesses empowers them to make a lasting impact in their communities,” explains La-Tasha Best-Gaddy, Founder, Infinity Bridges, Inc., which empowers entrepreneurs across North Carolina to confidently launch, grow, and scale their businesses, was involved with skilled building and resource development. Infinity Bridges was one of the groups offering technical guidance to participants. “The Business train offers many resource tracks for success, recognizing you may start a business one way, then it may shift and change and grow into something more.”
“The program is amazing. I have learned a lot,” says TaHara Cooper, executive director of The Lyrik Place, a Chicago-area nonprofit offering mentorship programs, emotional skill-building, and educational scholarships for youth empowerment. “I gained a lot of knowledge, but most importantly, I gained resources that not only helped me grow my business but also helped me to save money.”
“I hope others get the opportunity to join the program,” Cooper concludes.
Business owners can access this resource by contacting Franja Meeks, Small Business Coaching Manager or emailing [email protected]. Whether launching a new venture or scaling an existing one, this program is tailored to help small businesses build a sustainable future.
About The Self-Help Business Train
The Self-Help Business Train program helps small business owners find resources to grow and support their businesses. It was set up by a task force led by Small Business Coaching Manager Franja Meeks. The program offers business owners connections to valuable resources and services offering personalized coaching on such topics as growth strategies, marketing, accounting, and capital readiness.
About Self-Help
The Center for Community Self-Help is a family of nonprofit organizations with a collective mission to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity for all. Since its founding in 1980, Self-Help has grown to include two credit unions, a loan fund, and a research and policy affiliate that have helped expand economic opportunity for underserved communities nationwide. Together, these entities provide financing, technical support, consumer financial services, and advocacy for communities often left out of the economic mainstream.
Jenny Shields,
APR
Director of
Public and Media Relations
Center for
Community Self-Help
301 W.
Main Street
Durham, North
Carolina 27701