This document discusses efforts to develop entrepreneurship and innovation in rural southeastern North Carolina. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) and its partners are working to address high poverty and job loss in the region. UNCP provides education programs and its Small Business Center helps local businesses. The Carolina Commerce and Technology Center provides facilities and training. The Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship offers entrepreneurship programs and business support. UNCP is also developing agricultural biotechnology projects including a honey bee project with COMtech and mass production of beneficial nematodes to control insect pests.

1. Developing Entrepreneurship and
Innovation in Rural Southeastern
North Carolina
Dr. Michael Menefee & Dr. Len Holmes
University of North Carolina at Pembroke

2. North Carolina

3. The UNCP Area
Total population in Robeson County = 134,168

4. Economic Issues
• Highest poverty rate (31%) in North Carolina
• 8,708 manufacturing jobs lost in less than
twenty years
• Manufacturing jobs fell from 31% of all jobs
to 15% of all jobs in less than twenty years
• Increases in unemployment and bankruptcies
• Decreases in household income and business
tax revenue

5. Agents of Change:
University of North Carolina-Pembroke
UNC Pembroke provides educational and
development programs for students and the community

6. Agents of Change:
Small Business Technology & Development
Center
• Provide management counseling and educational
services to small and mid-sized businesses.
• Help start-up and established businesses meet today's
challenges and plan for the future.
• Offers specialize market development assistance for:
– Government procurements
– International business
– Technology development and
commercialization

7. Agents of Change:
Carolina Commerce and Technology Center (COMtech)
• Facilities for new and existing businesses
• Economic incentives through the state and county
• Training program on site through Robeson
Community College
• Business park for small business leasing

8. Agents of Change:
Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship
• Educational Programs for UNCP students
– Certificate, Minor, BSBA Concentration
– MBA Track, Music Business, Interdisciplinary Studies
• Research
• Business consulting
• Entrepreneurship Summits
• Meetings and engagements
• Future Plans
– Angel Funds
– Incubator

9. Innovations in
Agricultural Biotechnology
Dr. Len Holmes & Dr. Michael Menefee
University of North Carolina at Pembroke

10. UNCP Biotechnology Research and Training Center
Mission:
Provides leadership, education and
advocacy to make Southeast North
Carolina the best place to live, work and
visit.
Theory-into-Practice environment for:
• education and training
• research
• technology development and transfer
• regional economic transformation

11. Goals of the UNCP Biotechnology Center
• Increase the number of higher-paying biotechnology jobs
• Increase the pipeline for underrepresented populations in biotechnology
• Offer entrepreneurs technology, business support and connection to capital sources
Laboratory space includes:
→ Bench-to-Pilot Scale Fermentation Suite
→ Microbiology /Molecular Genetics Laboratory
→ Biochemistry and Preparative Lab
→ Visiting Researcher space

12. Selected Agricultural Biotechnology Projects
 UNCP-COMtech Honey Bee Project
 Mass Production of Biological Nematode Insecticides

13. UNCP-COMtech Honey Bee Project
• Principal Investigator: Dr. Charles Harrington, Professor of Business Administration
•Maintain and culture honey bees
• Education and promote beekeeping
• Sale of bees to area farmers
• Involve faculty and staff at UNC Pembroke
• Established 20 acre Honey Bee Park with COMtech Partner
Future projects include:
• Sale of UNCP Honey
• Investigations into prevention and treatment
of honey bee disease
GIS map of hive groups

14. Hive Management Techniques
 Population management
 Integrated pest control
 Honey flow management and product quality control
 Queen rearing
 Seasonal hive management

15. Mass Production of Beneficial Nematodes
Question: What are beneficial nematodes?
Answer: Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that that occur naturally
in soil and are parasitic to insect pest that have a larval or pupal
stage of life.
Question: How do beneficial nematodes work?
Answer: The beneficial nematode penetrates into the body of the insect pest
and proliferates, killing the insect host.
Question: Is the agricultural use of beneficial nematodes regulated by the
federal government?
Answer: Beneficial nematodes are exempt from federal regulation (USDA, EPA)
because they pose no threat nor are they harmful to animals or
humans.
Question: How are beneficial nematodes applied?
Answer: Nematode product cultures are simply mixed with water and applied
using a sprayer or watering can.

17. Product Description
• “Brave-Guard” is an effective insecticide for gardens, greenhouses and
agricultural crops
• Sold as a live nematode culture packed in proprietary medium
• Available in packs for treating garden to acres size plantings
• Simple to store, prepare and apply
• Organic and environmentally friendly
• Protects against:

18. Economic Potential
 Limited manufacturing supply, world-wide
 Integrated pest management and biocontrol use
 Marketed regionally because of UNCP location in the heart of North Carolina
agriculture
 National Internet marketing being developed in collaboration with
the UNCP Regional Center for Economic Development
 Intellectual Property protection being developed in collaboration with Dr. Michael
Menefee and the UNCP Thomas Center for Entrepreneurship
 With current production capacity, “Brave-Guard” can gross> $150,000 per year
 Challenge: Investment capital for labor, equipment maintenance and supplies
 Production labor is approximately 20% of gross

19. Ms. Ashley “Nicole” Norris – Biotechnology Student
Mr. Floyd Inman – Lead Microbiologist & Research Supv.