Notice:
Thank you for your interest in the Charlotte Small Business Ecosystem Grant program! Due to widespread enthusiasm and participation in this program, we have stopped accepting new applications as of June 12, 2023. We encourage you to keep an eye on our website for more grant opportunities, sign up for our Digital Learning Academy, and connect with a member of our Business Solutions Team for more information about available capital and technical assistance.
Charlotte Small Business Ecosystem Grants
Thanks to a grant from the City of Charlotte, Carolina Small Business Development Fund is proud to offer the Charlotte Small Business Ecosystem Grant for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
ABOUT THE
PROGRAM.
The landscape for small business owners is changing rapidly, and CSBDF is providing Charlotte-based business owners with customized technical assistance courses and a grant to help entrepreneurs adapt, grow, and thrive.
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NOTICE: This program is closed as of June 2023.
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For questions, email: cocgrant@carolinasmallbusiness.org
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The process is simple:
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Complete the personalized business needs assessment and receive a $25 gift card*.
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Complete at least one (1) of the recommended technical assistance courses through CSBDF's Digital Learning Academy.
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Upon completing steps 1 and 2, eligible businesses will be entered into the grant lottery**. Businesses selected from the grant lottery will be announced on August 1, 2023. ​
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As an added bonus: if you complete the exit survey, you'll receive a $50 gift card*.
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*Gift cards are awarded to the first 200 businesses that complete the business needs assessment and/or the exit survey.
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**Up to 50 businesses will be selected from the lottery. Per program guidelines, the grant must be used to reimburse the selected business for an eligible business tool expense or service and will not exceed a value of $500. Eligible reimbursable expenses include but are not limited to QuickBooks subscriptions, marketing services, access to a CPA or other professional accounting services, and professional memberships. ​
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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
In order to be eligible for the grant lottery, the applicant must:
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Be located in the City of Charlotte
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Complete the business needs assessment ​
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Complete at least one (1) of the recommended virtual technical assistance courses
DOCUMENTATION
Businesses who have completed the business needs assessment and the required technical assistance component are entered into the grant lottery. Up to 50 businesses will be selected for the lottery. Remember: the grant stipend is reimbursement for services up to $500 in value rendered to the business.
If selected, the business must provide:
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A voided business check
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A completed W-9 form
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And the receipt for services rendered​​
ABOUT THE GRANT
The grant reimburses selected businesses for services rendered to their business and will not exceed $500 in value.
Eligible reimbursements include:
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QuickBooks subscriptions
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Access to a CPA or other professional accounting services
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Marketing, website, and/or other digital services
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Printing
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Professional or trade association memberships
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
CSBDF offers technical assistance courses on a variety of topics in English and Spanish, including but not limited to:
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Business and financial management
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Disaster risk management
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Marketing and advertising
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Leadership and soft skill development
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Basics of entrepreneurship
READY TO APPLY?
Here's what to do: complete the business needs assessment in the link below and take one of your recommended technical assistance courses. Once you complete the technical assistance portion, you will be entered into the grant lottery.
Only businesses located in the City of Charlotte are eligible for the grant lottery.
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NOTICE: This program is closed as of June 2023.