CEC Newsletter

Acknowledgements .

Grant Awards Recognition

Carolina Encouragement Center

SC House of Representatives

Sistercare,

CPI $850,000

The Honorable Joseph H. Neal

My Girl Fly $30,000

The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce

Allstate/The Bowman Agency LLC

Felons R Us $4,000 Allstate $7,468 Choice Connections $8,400 CH Williams $225,000 GC Dreher $5,400 Hamilton Electrical $48,685 Jackson and Associate $1,400 JMAC Contruction $500,000 McGee Trucking $40,000 Pollard Painting $12,572 Professional Graing $52,000 Random Drug Screen $1,887

Join us for our upcoming business seminars: Learn business principles to start and grow you business—Last Day to Register is May 20, 2014

CEC Partners and Collaborators

Peck $300,000

Invest in Your Health - Your Future Depends On It

SC Dept. of Education

The CEC Has:

SC Capitol Commission

Fort Jackson

U. S. Dept. of Commerce

First Class Construction

SC State Budget & Control Board

Central City Reality

U. S. Small Business Administration

Sharper Development Solutions

Columbia Metropolitan Airport

Babcock Center Svc

City of Columbia

Prudential

Mayor Stephen Benjamin

AT&T

Allen University

Carolina Panorama Newspaper

MBD Media, LLC Clemmons Law Firm Eau Claire Cooperative Health Precepts Staffing

Issue 1:: March, 2014

SC Jobs Economic Development Authority Workforce Investment Act

The Deciding Factor $1,775

Hosted over 40 professional seminars annually

can make decisions

Helped to secure 120 jobs

tomorrow. The right

Assisted more that 1,200 small businesses

greatly improve your

Over $11 million in awarded contracts

Brown Chapel Baptist

Contact Us At:

1811 Gervais St.

Church $ 250,000 Authorities building

Columbia, SC 29201

Care LLC $10,600

803-931-8881

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Visit us on line at: http://garyawash ington.com/

Carolina Encouragement Center 1811 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-931-8881 http://garyawashington.com/

easy foods, stop excising and neglect sleep. While all of these things save time and money in the short term they take a huge toll on both the mind and

today that will save you money and give you more energy choices over time odds of a long and healthy life. Small decisions about how you eat, move and sleep each day count more thank you think.

In today’s world when money is tight and time is limited, one of the

Carolina Encouragement Center

First Class Construction $24,000

save money and time we reach for cheap, quick, Choices count. You

body and end up cost you much more in the long run.

Foods that are cheap tend to be higher in sugar, salt and fat which leads to weigh gain. The CDC reports that 30 percent of adults in South Carolina are obese due to the food we eat and lack of exercise. Obesity is a problem that comes with a whole host of other issues to include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and depression.

The benefits of spending a little extra on healthier food options and taking time to exercise now are invaluable when you consider the healthcare costs of managing poor health later.

first things we remove from the top of our priority list is health. In an effort to

Make healthier choices today, your future depends on it!

What is Your Vision? what aspects of life we are dealing with.

1. What is the end result I am going for? What is the goal? What is the target?

In order to arrive someplace you have to know where you’re going. This is a basic and obvious statement that can be passed over and disregarded. But if you do that you’ll lose the power of God’s creative principle of the vision.

You can call them goals, a vision, purpose, a target, what I want to get done or anything else but the bottom line is this . . . I need to get something accomplished, I need to reach my destination If your goals are personal or related starting or growing your business, the questions are the same no matter

2. Whose help do I need to reach this target?

3. What resources do I need to reach my goal?

4. Starting from the end result I desire and working backwards, what steps do I need to take to reach my goal and

make my vision a reality?

3 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning. Lam. 3: 21-23

10 tips for Developing An Effective Press Release A press release is one of the easiest and costeffective ways to get your message out there.

If a reporter decides to run your release, your business receives space for free - and more credibility than just running an ad.”

1) Your press release should sound like news, not an ad. You need to make sure your news is newsworthy, so start thinking like a reporter.

2) You should only send your press release to the media related to the topic of your press release.

3) Keep your press release one page in length.

Most editors will only read the headline and the first line or two of your release.

4) Your header, contact information and release date should be at the top of your press release.

CEC’s Encouraging Words Mentors Matter

Do you Sometimes have a desire but done seem to

Kiesha Webb, Director

have enough courage to see it through?

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I

So often it can seem like we live in a "DIY" culture. Independence, initiative, and ambition are prime virtues, and you'd better highlight how you've displayed each of them in several places on your resume.

There can be, after all, only one "number one."

will uphold you with my righteous right hand

Help is at hand. We have all been there at one time or the other. We have great ideas and plans for

But we are fooling ourselves when we say that all our accomplishments are our own? Behind every successful person is a teacher, a coach, a mentor—someone who inspired, challenged, and instructed Everyone needs guidance at some point, and it's the people who learn to ask for it sooner that tend to succeed.

our business, our lives or even just to do great things for God. Yet somewhere along the way, it seems as if we don’t have enough courage to see these plans through. We know that we are not meant to live

The thing I get most excited about is the idea of mentorship.

I think part of that is, because in my own experience taken some of the risks and achieved some of the success I had been for the role that mentors played in my life. --To have a Paul come alongside Timothy or Peter and say, "Yeah, what you're doing is right, but I want to help you."

without God’s assistance but sometimes, in battle to become people of faith, we can sometimes forget this.

God wants to put courage into our desires to fulfill these dreams and desires. The story of Gideon in Judges 7:9-15 illustrates this point beautifully. This

I think in a world where everybody is willing to do it for a dollar and it's great, I know that people need to do that as consultants and that's important. But, it changes things when someone is saying, "I'm doing this for the Lord, because I see the potential in you."

story reminds me of how God understands our

7) You should tell a story and mention your business, product or service in the body of the release.

Gervias professional suites has lease space available and an eatery is planned o n site. We are centrally located in Columbia’s business district near the South Carolina State House and Congaree Vista. We maintain an affordable clean, safe professional environment for our tenets.

humanity and as a loving Father, He wants to help us overcome our weakness.

In this story God has shown Gideon the end result.

5) Use short sentences and double space your lines.

6) Your headline and first few sentences should grab the reader’s attention. Write like the news organizations you are targeting.

Lease Space Available

That should have been enough for Gideon to step out in faith and do what God told him, but God understands that Gideon is still afraid and he needs

Collaboration and Partnership

courage.

Gary A. Washington, President

God further encourages Gideon by telling him to go to the enemy’s camp and listen to the voice of victory.

I believe that God wants to do the same for us and

8) Proofread your release many times. Look for grammar and spelling mistakes.

give us courage when we need it, so that we are able to successfully fulfill all the plans He has for us. We

9) Follow up is not only recommended, it is vital. But don’t call every other day asking if your release will run. Call once to see if there is any interest.

are not to struggle unnecessarily because help is at hand. Our desires can come to pass and God is able to provide supernatural assistance to help fulfill that

10) Stick to the facts. Tell the truth. Avoid fluff, embellishments and exaggerations.

mission. We need to believe that this assistance is available to us today.

I pray that the Lord fills your heart with courage so that like Gideon, you will be able to fulfil God’s will for your life.

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Our Professional Suites Offer: Spacious suites with designer finishes Fourteen foot ceilings Plenty of free parking Clean breakroom Security Access System Carpet and Hardwood Floors Suite Identification Insignia Internet Access Bakery/deli onsite Elegant conference room Friendly Atmosphere High volume of potential clientele Handicap Accessable

Call to Lease Your Space Today 803-931-8881 CEC Business Seminars Offer CEC Seminars are designed to “promote and encourage a successful entrepreneurial attitude among small and minority owned businesses, and to develop an entrepreneurial spirit in the youth of the state through education, training and partnership ” Excellent Business Training Bidding Opportunities Networking Entrepreneur Manual of Principles “Just Business”

Free SAM, 8A, SCDOT and HUBZone Certification FREE 1 Hour Consultation with Instructor Lunch

Upcoming Seminars THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014 “Strengthen Your Profit Centers Through Marketing Venues" 8 AM – Noon “Growing Your Business Through Procurement” 1 PM - 5 PM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014 “Game Plan for Business Success ” 8 AM - Noon “How to Find and Submit Bids” 1 PM - 5 PM

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