WILKESBORO, N.C. – August 28, 2025 – Wilkes Community College (WCC) will host the Wilkes Entrepreneur Pitch Night on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The event, held at the WCC-Window World Hall, is open to new and existing business owners across Wilkes County.

The pitch night will offer participants the chance to win one of three $1,000 entrepreneurship stipends to help launch or expand their businesses. Funding for the grants is provided by Weave: The Social Fabric Project.

The Wilkes Entrepreneur Pitch Night is more than just a competition; it’s an initiative that strengthens the community. By providing essential funding through grants, the event directly addresses community-expressed needs, such as access to capital for local entrepreneurs. This effort is supported by Weave: The Social Fabric Project, an organization dedicated to building community relationships and trust. Through this collaboration, Weave is not only investing in local businesses but also fostering a greater sense of belonging and support among our residents.

To be eligible for the competition, participants must:

  • Be a resident of Wilkes County.
  • Plan to open or expand a business in the area.
  • Complete two Small Business Center seminars by November 24, 2025.
  • Complete two hours of one-on-one counseling with the Small Business Center.
  • Create a pitch deck for their business idea.

“We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for our local entrepreneurs and support their growth with essential funding,” said Laurie Brintle-Jarvis, Director of the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center.

The event will also serve as the final meeting of the year for the Wilkes Entrepreneur Network (WEN). For more information or to register, contact Laurie Brintle-Jarvis at lsbrintle336@wilkescc.edu or call 336-838-6166.

 About the Wilkes Entrepreneur Network (WEN)

The Wilkes Entrepreneur Network is a collaboration between the Wilkes Small Business Center and the Wilkes Economic Development Corporation to support local entrepreneurs. WEN was originally founded by Gary Daemer, Founder and CEO of Infusion Points.

About the WEAVE Project of Wilkes

Weave: The Social Fabric Project, a project of the Aspen Institute, tackles the problem of broken social trust. Weave connects, supports, and invests in local leaders stepping up to weave a new, inclusive social fabric where they live. Weave and the Weaver Awards are community relationship and trust-building programs.

Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC has a proud history of meeting the educational, cultural, and workforce needs of our community. As we look to the future, Wilkes Community College provides programs, resources, and services that create quality educational, economic development, and cultural opportunities. WCC aspires to be an effective, learner-centered institution and a dynamic learning organization, preparing students for success in a changing world.

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