GOLDSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall will visit Goldsboro on Tuesday, June 24, for a special Small Business Roundtable aimed at empowering rural entrepreneurs and highlighting strong new business creation data in the region.

The event will take place at Wayne Community College in the Walnut Building, Room 104, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Secretary Marshall will be joined by local small business owners, economic developers, and business advocates from across Wayne County.

During the roundtable, Marshall will spotlight the Rural RISE NC initiative, a program designed to connect entrepreneurs in rural communities with the tools and support they need at the earliest stages of business development. She will also share recent data showing a surge in new business creation in the region, as well as insights from recent surveys of business founders in North Carolina.

Before the roundtable, Secretary Marshall will team up with Goldsboro Mayor Charles Gaylor and Wayne County Board of Commissioners Chair Barbara Aycock for a “Main Street Walk” to meet with local business owners and hear firsthand about their experiences and needs.

The walk is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. at Bicycle World (137 North Center Street), then continue to Goldsboro Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics (300 South Center Street), and Big Blue Couch Media (219 North John Street).

The event is part of an ongoing effort by the Secretary of State’s office to support North Carolina’s small business community, particularly in rural areas where access to early-stage support is critical to long-term success.