SANFORD - Chatham County native Jon Spoon, of Pittsboro, joins Chatham's two main business development organizations - the Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center and Chatham Economic Development Corporation.

Spoon's new role of SBC Coordinator is a full-time, shared position between CCCC and the Chatham EDC. In addition to being responsible for all SBC activities in Chatham County, Spoon will also be providing start-up assistance and resources for local entrepreneurs through the EDC.

Spoon served as executive director of the N.C. Arts Incubator, in Siler City, for almost two years prior to starting this new position as of Sept. 22.

"Chatham County is going to be dynamic for the next few years," Spoon says. "It has the opportunity to determine its economic identity. I'm excited to be part of that process."

Spoon rotates his office hours throughout Chatham County to better support the growing small business community. "I'll be working on the overall economic viability of Chatham County," Spoon says. "To be effective, both SBC and EDC need to work in concert to develop the full economic landscape of Chatham County."

Spoon enjoys being in his new position. "I really enjoy the work, because the small business owners are very passionate, and have a deep-seated love for what they do," Spoon says.

Spoon takes over from Gary Kibler, who served as Chatham SBC Director from 2006 until his retirement in June.

For counseling service, seminars or further information, contact Spoon at the Chatham SBC at (919) 545-8013 or through the SBC website, www.chathamsbc.com. The help given by the SBC is free and confidential.

The Chatham SBC is part of CCCC's Small Business Center, which also includes the Lee County Small Business Center, directed by Mike Jones, (919) 718-7544, www.leesbc.com, and the Harnett Small Business Center, in Dunn, directed by Nancy Blackman, (910) 892-2884, www.harnettsbc.com.