A Foundation for a Brighter Business Future

The Charlotte Region is a hub where small businesses flourish. With a vibrant community of over 61,000 small businesses, our region is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation that drives economic growth. The Small Business team assists entrepreneurs and employers with the goal of growing businesses and business leaders.

About the Small Business Team

We are committed to helping fellow entrepreneurs grow their businesses and careers. Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or business leader, the CLT Alliance opens doors. See how we can help you build social capital, forge connections, and access resources.
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The Place for Small Business Growth

Small businesses are the backbone of our regional communities, and we want to see them thrive. Looking to grow your small business in Charlotte? We’re here to support you. View the below initiatives to see how we can help your business thrive.

The CLT Alliance is proud to serve as a strategic partner to Elevate, the evolution and expansion of the previous Scale Up CLT business accelerator initiative.  Elevate, powered by EO Charlotte, is a three-year, cohort-based program designed to support entrepreneurs generating $500K to $2M in annual revenue. The program blends structured learning, hands-on application, and mentorship to empower and support businesses ready to scale.

Learn more by completing an initial interest form.

The Small Business Growth Fund is a local financing program designed to help entrepreneurs secure affordable funding to expand, stabilize, or take their next big step. The fund offers fixed-rate loans from community lenders and exists for business owners who are ready to grow but need a financial partner who understands their business and their potential. Companies located in Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union (NC) counties can check eligibility and apply at charlottegrowthfund.org.

Apply here

R.I.S.E. is a digital resource hub, empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Charlotte Region to better navigate the robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, and connect with other businesses, events and resources. Guiding entrepreneurs to the right help at the right time can increase small business readiness to pursue new business opportunities.  Explore what’s available for each stage of a company’s life cycle at rise.charlotteregion.com.

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