Thrive Hiring Grant Program
The Thrive Hiring Grant is an incentive program developed as a part of the Thrive initiative funded by the CARES Act of 2020. The grant is provided to mid-sized Charlotte businesses that are hiring multiple employees as a strategy to boost job creation and to help put displaced Charlotte residents back to work. The grant has been reactivated with remaining funds.
Open For Business Directory
The City of Charlotte Small business network is more than 10,000 strong.
Add your small business to the Open for Business directory to have your information displayed on the Open for Business website and receive notifications when new access to capital opportunities and resources are available.
Charlotte Business News
To keep up with business in Charlotte, read our blog.
OFB Success Story: Road to Hire
In 2013, Road to Hire began helping Charlotte high school seniors, college students, and young professionals gain valuable education and experience to land jobs in the tech field. In the midst of the pandemic, through the Workforce Partner Support Grant, Road 2 Hire was able to fund a technology training cohort for 50 residents who were economically impacted by COVID-19.
OFB: RevTech Labs
Founded in 2012, RevTech Labs provides technology startup companies a community of mentors and connections to grow their businesses. When they began experiencing a significant decrease in revenue due to COVID-19, they looked to outside funding to continue offering its services to entrepreneurs working toward growth and success.
OFB Success Story: The Academy of Goal Achievers
With a mission of developing youth leaders to impact communities while preparing youth and families for post-secondary success, The Academy of Goal Achievers (TAGA) was forced to find new and innovative ways to deliver services during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
OFB Success Story: Global Vocational Training Center
The Global Vocational Training Center (GVTC) is passionate about empowering a distressed community. With a focus on creating pathways to employment for adolescents and adults through skills training and life learning opportunities, GVTC was determined to still help those in need despite their own financial challenges due to COVID-19.
OFB Success Story: City Startup Labs
City Startup Labs (CSL) works hard to close the entrepreneurial divide for young black men and women in the Charlotte community who are often marginalized and don’t have resources to start their own businesses.
OFB Success Story: IMEK Studios
Kevin Taylor, owner of IMEK Studios in Charlotte shares the value of community involvement, especially as a business owner, and how he remained focused on community when he had to pivot during the pandemic.
Latest News
Find out about recent news and media coverage
Guidelines on Opening Businesses Post-Pandemic: What to Avoid
How to Start a Small Business in North Carolina
3 Ways Restaurants Can Adapt in a Post-Coronavirus World
4 Small Business Marketing Techniques for the Holidays
How Charlotte SMEs Can Improve Holiday Sales
Partner Resources
City of Charlotte partners and supporting agencies have resources to help small business owners get back to business.
Mecklenburg County Small Business Toolkit
The COVID-19 Business Toolkit features printable signs, in both English and Spanish, for small businesses to display for their customers.
Count on Me NC
Count On Me NC is a public health initiative that empowers guests and businesses to help keep everyone safe from COVID-19.
Welcome to the Open for Business Website
The City of Charlotte is supporting small businesses through COVID-19 recovery.
The Open for Business platform is a resource for Charlotte small business owners to help them withstand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing access to capital and other resources, the program is intended to help businesses survive the recovery phase of the pandemic and help prepare businesses to thrive in a post-pandemic future.
