Welcome to the LaunchJOCO Program! LaunchJOCO is a county-wide collaborative initiative that supports and fosters entrepreneurs and small businesses across Johnston County by providing business education, funding resource opportunities, networking, and business mentorships.
Applications will be screened for LaunchNOW or LaunchNEXT to see which program best suits the current stage of your business. If your business qualifies for LaunchNEXT, you will be asked to provide additional information.
The LaunchJOCO team is looking forward to learning more about your business.
LaunchJOCO Program Overview:
LaunchNOW: Do you have a business concept that you may or may not have executed yet? LaunchNOW partners with the Johnston Community College Small Business Center to assist with building your business framework. Meet with a professional business counselor and attend free courses while testing for value proposition and feasibility. Topics to be covered include Financial and Corporate Structures, Sales and Marketing, Basic Bookkeeping, Understanding Your Tax Responsibility, and more. This program is ideal for entrepreneurs who are considering startup or in the early stages of opening. After completing LaunchNOW with the Small Business Center, you will be invited to reapply for the 2025 LaunchNEXT Program.
LaunchNEXT: Are you an established business that is now generating income and looking to strengthen and grow in scale? LaunchNEXT is here to help you level up your business and network. If selected, participants are required to commit to a 14-week (once a week) Business Training/Entrepreneurship Academy Education Course, as well as 6 months of mentoring (approximately 2-4 hrs/month) one-on-one with a local business professional. Upon successful completion of LaunchNEXT, participants will be eligible to apply for grants based on participation and performance in the program. Each class begins with dinner at 5:30 and class from 6-9 p.m. from January to April 2024 (every Tuesday except March 26). Each class will end with a homework assignment (approximately 2-3 hours) designed to assist you in the growth and strengthening of your business. Mentoring is from May to October culminating in a graduation celebration in November.