GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — What better way to inspire future generations to start a small business than to invite them to come see what it’s like to operate one. That’s what Riverview Cafe in Plymouth is doing with students from East Carolina University’s Rise29 program.
With small towns like Plymouth, ECU hopes this internship program will help students understand the importance of small businesses and how they can make an economic impact in rural areas.
Tristyn Daughtry, Rise29 program manager at ECU, said this internship program helps students become familiar with the many assets of the communities they are assigned to, such as the natural assets of Washington County.
“So, first of all, you have a waterfront view that maybe isn’t even exploited and so the students are like, oh, there’s a building right there, they don’t have that type of restaurant , why not open it there”, Said my daughter.
Two to three students will be assigned to different businesses throughout the county where they will study how a business operates.
“They come and look at your business and take a deep dive into your finances, your marketing, your management,” said Lou Manring, owner of Riverview Cafe in Plymouth. “What they’re doing is they’re looking at maybe better ways to do it, different ways to do it and they’re offering us advice, which is great.”
Manring said his company was the first in the county to be chosen for Rise29. He said as a business owner it has been a learning experience for him.
“For example, I’m perplexed by Instagram, and they’ve been a big help in getting my name out there on social media in general,” Manring said. “They also completely redesigned our point-of-sale system
makes us more efficient and profitable.
Manring announced the Riverview Café Facebook Page to contact him if another Washington County company would like two interns to come during ECU’s next semester.
