City Resources
City Resources
Open for Business Mentorship Series
The Open for Business Mentorship Series, hosted by Mayor Lyles, served as a way for the city to bring critical information to our small businesses. Each week, the live webinars featured a variety of industry experts and local small business owners talking about the impacts of COVID-19 and how best to pivot.
Kickoff (Grant & Loan Programs)
PANELISTS:
- Levi Kinnard, SBA
- Natalie Williams, Women’s Business Center
- Ralphine Caldwell, LISC
Digital Marketing
PANELISTS:
- Corri Smith, Black Wednesday
- Scott Gerbereux, BooneOakley
- Carrie Barker, Girl Tribe
- James Whitner, Social Status
- Patrick Villafane, Hop Shop and Bohemian Wine Bar
Best Practices for Reopening
PANELISTS:
- Gibbie Harris, Mecklenburg County
- Fred Whitfield, CELC
- Greg & Subrina Collier, Uptown Yolk and Leah and Louise
- Chad Turner, ReadyCLT
Legal and Financial Protection 101
PANELISTS:
- Carolina Aponte, Owner, CPA, CAJA Holdings
- Larry Shaheen, Macintosh Law Firm
- Claudie Johnson, Self-Help
- Beth Hoving, BoA
- Kate Maynard, Robinson Bradshaw
- Manuel Rey, Fifth Third Bank
Business Resiliency
PANELISTS:
- Vanessa Matthews, Asfalis Advisors
- Sarah Olin, Accomplishment Coaching
- Damian Johnson, No Grease
- Joey Hewell and Scott Lindsley, NoDa Company Store
Facing Unemployment During Recovery
PANELISTS:
- Deanna Baumgardner, PHR, Founder and Owner of Employers Advantage
- Kenny Colbert, Employers Association
- Andrew Davila, Charlotte Works
- Giovy Buyers, Southern Blossom
Small Business Task Force
Mayor Vi Lyles and Charlotte City Council have assembled the Community Recovery Task Force to support families and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic and help plan for recovery. The task force will focus on three specific areas: Small Business, Housing, and the Airport. Task force objectives include:
Mayor Lyles and Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt will lead the task force and develop the final community report. Each Recovery task force area includes four city council members and seven sector leaders.
Each meeting is broadcast on the Gov Channel and Gov Channel online, and livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. A playlist of previous Task Force meetings is available on YouTube.
Workforce & Business Development Committee
The committee reviews and recommends policies to create a thriving economic climate where businesses are connected to highly skilled talent and technologies.
Each meeting is broadcast on the Gov Channel and Gov Channel online, and livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. A playlist of previous Task Force meetings is available on YouTube.
Additional Resources
Town Hall – Small Business Grants and Loans: Federal, State and Local Resources
Access to Capital Webinar
