East Carolina SCORE, headquartered in the Mid East Commission/Job Link building on John Small Avenue in Washington, has opened a Pitt County office on the Pitt Community College campus in Winterville.

SCORE provides free and confidential advice for small businesses from the idea phase to start-up.

East Carolina SCORE partners with the local colleges and chambers of commerce to help educate entrepreneurs and promote the formation and growth of small business.

Workshops on how to start a new business, writing a business plan, financing a a new business and marketing a business are offered through Pitt, Beaufort and Martin community colleges. These workshops are free but require registration.

SCORE, founded in 1964, is headquartered in Herndon, Va., and Washington, D.C., and has 389 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with 10,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors.

SCORE has helped more than 7.9 million small businesses, including Vermont Teddy Bear, Vera Bradley Designs, My Tutor and Me LLC, and Jelly Belly Candy.

SCORE has a vision to be the most recognized and utilized supplier of counseling and other services to the small businesses of America. The services begin with needs — to start a business; to put together a business plan; or the need to expand, improve and grow a business.

Counselors help evaluate business opportunities and challenges, and can assemble a team from different disciplines to give advice on topics ranging from financing and marketing to operations.

SCORE's volunteers are retired and working business managers who have enjoyed success and want to help others succeed, with the benefit of their skills, knowledge and experience. SCORE counselors have worked for major corporations and/or owned businesses.

Prospective business owners, owners faced with a need to change, successful businesses looking to expand, or experienced business persons interested in helping others succeed may call 974-1848 or send an e-mail to score@mideastcom.org.

An application is available by calling SCORE and providing name, phone number and address.

More information on the East Carolina SCORE chapter and the services offered can be found on the chapter's Web site:www.eastcarolinascore.org