A prevailing economic theory is that the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a surge of business startups in North Carolina as employees opted to work for themselves or pursue an entrepreneurial dream.

For example, there were between 60,000 and 61,000 new businesses established during the period of January through April in both 2021 and 2022, according to the state.

By comparison, there were 39,000 business created between January and April 2020 — the latter two months likely affected significantly by the unnerving first six weeks of the pandemic.

However, as the pandemic has evolved into a public-health endemic in recent months, two questions arose.

First, would there be the same startup interest?

Or would uncertainty about job security, particularly in the banking, manufacturing and technology sectors amid sluggish consumer demand, stoke increased willingness to carve a new path?

The preliminary answer from the N.C. Secretary of State’s office is that about the same number of North Carolinians are still scratching that startup itch.

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Business has been booming in the state over the last few years, and NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall visited Burke County to get the skinny from local entrepreneurs Tuesday morning.

Western Piedmont Community College hosted the presentation at the Foothills Higher Education Center on South Sterling Street that saw Marshall share information gathered from new business owners over the last several years.

Following the presentation, Marshall led business leaders from Burke and Caldwell counties in a roundtable discussion about their concerns and ways the state could help business owners make it past the three-year hump that often sees the demise of a new business.

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At the two-day WeSpeak WNC Workforce Conference at the Cherokee Convention Center, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said small businesses needed to be raised up and supported by community resources.

Per the conference website, the event was designed as “an opportunity for WNC businesses in the retail, hospitality, accommodation, tourism and entertainment sectors to connect with each other, with potential employees, and to resources available for them in our region.”

In a presentation before a few dozen people at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27, Marshall cited statistics of record new business creation.

In 2021, the stats showed that there were around 178,000 new businesses formed, up from 126,000 in 2020 and 100,000 in 2019.

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Secretary of State Elaine Marshall visited Coastal Carolina Community College Tuesday and hosted a roundtable for small business owners, economic developers, and small business advocates.

The college helped Brian Vinciguerra get his business off the ground seven years ago.

Vinciguerra, the owner of Cracked It! Escape Games, told us, “We came to the small business center, got a little bit of education and opened 45 days from the time we did our first escape room to the time we opened in business.”

The Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center is a valuable tool for small business owners just like Vinciguerra.

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Charitable giving in North Carolina took a hit during the COVID pandemic – but Secretary of State Elaine Marshall announced Monday the state's latest annual charitable giving report shows a big rebound.

Even with rising gas prices, food prices and rent, North Carolinians opened their wallets to in-state charities to the tune of $47.5 million dollars from July 2021 to June 2022. That's one of the highest figures ever, and a big increase over the reported $34 million given in 2020-2021.

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North Carolina state leaders are warning people about counterfeit snacks laced with THC.

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall worked with multiple law enforcement agency across the state. She said the snacks were brands kids can easily pick up and eat without knowing what is actually in them.

The counterfeited snacks were seized from a variety of establishments, from vape shops to convenience stores and gas stations.

Law enforcement removed nearly $224,000 worth of THC infused gummies and snacks by counterfeited brands off store shelves.

The counterfeited brands ranged from Skittles and Cheetos to Lifesavers and Girl Scout cookies.

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North Carolina has again set a new record for number of businesses created in one year.

According to N.C. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall, new business creations in 2021 outpaced every other year on record.

New business creation filings for the calendar year 2021 grew 40% over 2020, for a total of 178,300 new businesses in the state.

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N.C. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall has been chosen to receive the 2020 John A. (Pete) Eberhart Ray of Light Award from Boundless Impact.

Marshall is being awarded for decades of work that advanced North Carolina’s global competitiveness and her profound impact on businesses, students, educators and communities throughout the state.

“Elected in 1996 as the first woman to hold a statewide office in North Carolina, Sec. Marshall has blazed many trails across our state and the world for decades,” said Cindy Thompson, executive director - Boundless Impact. “Sec. Marshall has worked tirelessly to make North Carolina one of the most attractive places in the United States to do business, as well as an inclusive place to work and live. Her servant leader’s heart and willingness to roll up her sleeves and contribute to any project she is passionate about has inspired me and many others to public service.”

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N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall has been chosen to receive the Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. Public Service Award from the North Carolina Bar Association. She is the 15th recipient of the award.

Marshall has served as the N.C. Secretary of State since 1997. When she was elected in 1996, she became the first woman elected to an executive branch office in North Carolina, and she is the first woman to receive this award.

“Service defines us as a nation and society, and it’s a tremendous honor to be recognized for this work,” Marshall said. “To see the list of people who have also received the award gives me chill bumps. I’mhumbled by the selection because there are many other outstanding women leaders in the professionwho also deserve recognition as well.”

The Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. Public Service Award honors an exceptional lawyer practicing in North Carolina who has contributed to the community with exemplary public service. It is presented in honor of Chief Justice Lake, who served on the state’s highest court for more than 12 years, including the years 2001-06 as chief justice.

Receiving this award is even more meaningful to Marshall because of her friendship with Chief Justice Lake.

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RALEIGH – Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall used her diplomatic experience and international partnerships to facilitate a collaboration between North Carolina State Government and the Taipai Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta to procure the donation of 100,000 surgical masks for North Carolina medical personnel. The donation was shipped directly from Taiwan to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety warehouse, where it was presented this afternoon.

“The fight against this global COVID-19 crisis takes all of us working together to protect our people and our health care and emergency response professionals on the frontlines every day,” said Sec. Marshall. “Thank you to Acting Director-General Daniel Hung and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office for helping facilitate this donation of critical supplies.”

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Raleigh, N.C. (May 6, 2020) – As cities and counties across North Carolina continue to stay at home and practice social distancing related to COVID-19, online purchasing has skyrocketed, forcing most of us to purchase everything from groceries to prescription drugs online. TheCenter for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) and NC Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall today announced the launch of a new online public awareness campaign for Verify Before You Buy. The key feature of the VerifyBeforeYouBuy.org site is a search tool where consumers can copy and paste in the URL or internet address of an online pharmacy site and find out immediately if it is legitimate. Over 50,000 North Carolina households have used this tool in the past, but it will be even more critical during COVID. CSIP and the N.C. Secretary of State’s partnership began in 2017, the first of its kind with a state government department, and includes a coalition of local health care, business, senior, and other non-profit organizations. The coalition website also provides tools and resources to educate and guide safe purchasing of medications online.

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RALEIGH -- The NC Department of the Secretary of State helped more than 5,200 businesses become reinstated in April, eliminating a potential barrier to qualify for federal COVID-19 stimulus packages. Under current North Carolina law, companies that need reinstatement may still conduct certain business activities, but generally face a tougher time with securing loans and other credit from financial institutions.

“Our job at the Secretary of State’s Office is to help North Carolina business. We learned stimulus loans would not be processed if a company wasn’t in good standing, so our staff worked overtime and on the weekend to make sure no business was denied stimulus loan money solely because it wasn’t current on its filings,” said Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. “We are aggressively working, during the COVID-19 crisis, to help North Carolina businesses survive and be ready for the recovery and revival of the economy that we are all eager for.”

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RALEIGH -- Emergency video notarizations are now temporarily authorized under state law for most notarial acts until August 1, 2020 as a result of the State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, a notarization had to be conducted with the notary and principal signer in close physical proximity. N.C. Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall advocated to the Governor and General Assembly for this additional flexibility for North Carolina’s 157,000 commissioned Notaries Public and those they serve.

“These emergency video notarizations will allow crucial business transactions, real estate transactions, medical documents, court documents, and all other important documents to be notarized in a healthy and expedient manner during this time of stay-at-home orders and social distancing,” said Sec. Marshall. “This added flexibility protects the health and safety of our citizens, and helps keep our economy moving.”

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RALEIGH – NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is cautioning investors that the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic will likely spark a surge of investment fraud.

“Sadly, scam artists will seek to exploit rising concerns about COVID-19 to draw people into investment traps,” Marshall said on Tuesday. “Fraudsters often use the days’ headlines in their pitches, so expect to see them prey on the fear surrounding the unfolding Coronavirus pandemic and recent economic developments to promote sham investments.”

The North American Securities Administrators Association, of which the NC Secretary of State’s Office is a member, is joining state regulators in offering tips to keep investors safe in these uncertain times.

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (March 27, 2020) – Truliant Federal Credit Union announced today that it has completed its first end-to-end electronic mortgage eClosing. It was performed in Winston-Salem by a Truliant employee who works at the company’s headquarters.

“Today marks another big step forward in North Carolina’s electronic mortgage closing initiative. We’re very excited to have Truliant on board as the first credit union in our State offering fully electronic mortgage closings,” said North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall.

She added: “This is truly a win-win-win for home buyers, the business sector and the government sector in making the mortgage closing process less time consuming, less stressful, and even more secure.”

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RALEIGH – NC Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall is urging consumers in North Carolina to keep a wary eye out for counterfeit products including hand sanitizer, gloves and face masks amid rising concerns about coronavirus.

“Sadly, scam artists will use our fear against us in situations such as this,” noted Secretary Marshall on Monday. “With many stores and online retailers currently sold out of hand sanitizer we know that counterfeiters may take advantage of this public health concern, so I ask consumers to use caution. Just as you aren’t likely to see legitimatehand sanitizer being sold from unusual places such as roadside stands, you should also be wary when you see a new vendor with low ratings selling these items online. Productsthat don’t meet safety standards may put you at greater risk than simply continuing tofollow experts’ recommendations for frequent thorough hand washing.”

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RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution adopted unanimously by the National Association of Secretaries of State this week that supports use of the .GOV domain by state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. The Secretary of State’s Office in North Carolina provides valuable information on business registration, business licensing, charitable solicitors, lobbyists, investment advisers, and other crucial data relied on by the financial industry. Other Secretaries of State across the nation are responsible for voter registration and elections.

“Websites for the North Carolina Secretary of State and other governmental entities across the state and nation are trusted sources of information,” said Marshall. “In this era of cyber threats, misinformation, and disinformation campaigns, the security and user-confidence that comes with the use of a .GOV domain by government organizations is important for our citizens and businesses.”

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Beyond the presidential and congressional elections next year, at the state level voters will choose a new governor, lieutenant governor, Council of State and all 170 members of the General Assembly. Republicans will try to maintain their majority in both the House and Senate and even return to a veto-proof supermajority, while Democrats aim to take control of either or both chambers.

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SALISBURY — To many, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is a champion for the cause of women in elected office. When Marshall was first elected in 1996, she became the first woman in North Carolina history to be elected to a statewide executive office.

It’s a responsibility she takes seriously, Marshall told Girls State participants Tuesday.

High school-age girls from across the state have gathered at Catawba College this week to learn the ins and outs of local, county and state government through the program’s rich-immersion experience.

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