Join us every second Tuesday to learn about resources in Durham County for small businesses and entrepreneurs. This informal roundtable will allow business owners (and those who aspire!) to connect with others and provide a network of support. 

This month City of Durham's Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) will discuss how they are working to impact small businesses. Topics include:

• Neighborhood Revitalization project and how it benefits small businesses in the targeted areas;
• OEWD's outreach and technical assistance programs;
• How OEWD is working to be more inclusive and accessible to Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs;
• Loans available through the Durham Small Business Opportunity Fund managed by the Carolina Small Business Development Fund.

Speakers:

Andre Pettigrew has been the Director of the City of Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) for over five years. Throughout this time, he has been a champion for the City’s strategic goal of Shared Economic Prosperity. Using insights from his decades-long economic development career in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and Denver, Pettigrew hopes to better prepare Durham’s women- and minority- owned businesses to participate in the entrepreneurial economy. 

Gary Christopher Dickey has been working at the City of Durham OEWD for the past 17 years. Drawing from his unique blend of experience and expertise in banking and social economic development, he has served in various roles managing, directing and coordinating economic development functions of the City. He currently works with local businesses and area partners to finance business improvements and neighborhood revitalization efforts in Durham.

Victoria Gonzalez has worked at the City of Durham OEWD for the past year. During this time, she has served as her department’s communication and outreach expert, helping to coordinate technical assistance programs like Momentum 360. She also hopes to advance the OEWD’s connection to Durham’s Hispanic entrepreneurs by helping implement the City’s Language Access Plan (LAP) and spearheading OEWD’s first technical assistance program specifically for Hispanic Entrepreneurs.