JEFF ELDER
jelder@charlotteobserver.com

Somewhere in Charlotte is the next Mark Cuban, or Michael Dell. (You've heard of the computers?) All they're waiting for to make it big is a little more umph.

Ding-dong. Umph delivery.

Charlotte just landed an "accelerator program" for The Entrepreneurs' Organization, the outfit that helped Cuban and Dell break on through to the other side.

The program, funded in part by Mercedes-Benz Financial, helps youngish folks who've started a biz and cleared about $250,000 in annual sales. The goal? To reach the magic $1 million mark. "The area in between is where the biggest risk is," says Dean Lindal, global veep of EO, who is based in Victoria, British Columbia. (EO itself is based in D.C.)

Biz lawyer Michael J. Miller of Charlotte sez he "stormed the gates" to insist a program come here, and Lindal sez that was the right move: "Charlotte, right now, is leading the way for young entrepreneurs." Other cities landing an EO accelerator program include Minneapolis, Detroit and New Orleans.

If you've started a business that fits the above description, you can apply for this educational and networking program.

E-mail Miller for info at mmiller@tbladvisors.com.

And remember the Insider when you've made it big. (I just wanna be your pool man.)