Beyond Open is a small business grant program led by Foundation For The Carolinas and made possible by support from Wells Fargo’s Open for Business Fund to help diverse (minority, woman, veteran, LGBTQ) small business owners grow businesses, build wealth, and expand economic mobility in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Donor Name: Foundation For The Carolinas
State: North Carolina
County: Mecklenburg County
City: Charlotte
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/28/2022
Size of the Grant: $250k
Details:
Types of Grants
- Build for Success Grants ($5k – $20k): Build for Success grants will generally help new and emerging businesses meet the needs of smaller capital assets that could make a big difference. Examples of capital assets that could be funded by Build for Success grants include:
- Grow for Prosperity Grants ($20k+ – $100k): Grow for Prosperity grants may be best suited for businesses that have established a foothold, reached a level of stability, and are ready to expand. A typical Grow for Prosperity grant could be used to purchase assets including:
- large inventory purchases.
- store, trade, office or building.
- store front beautification or new signage.
- store fixtures (display shelving, built-in seating and counters, lighting).
- resurfacing of parking lots.
- retail site upgrades, HVAC equipment, windows, roof replacement.
- new vehicles (car, truck, van, food service, delivery) or vehicle upgrades.
- special equipment, industrial or security, surveillance and surveillance.
- Make Bold Moves Grants ($100k+ – $250k+): Make Bold Moves Grants could be the best option for long-term businesses looking to transform their future through the acquisition of substantial capital assets. A typical Make Bold Moves grant could be used to:
- purchase a warehouse, other property, or substantial leasehold improvements.
- acquire state-of-the-art technology, buy larger equipment, replenish the vehicle fleet.
- switch to a renewable energy source through investments in equipment or technology.
- other significant capital investments.
Funding Information
- Build for Success Grants ($5k – $20k)
- Grow for Prosperity Grants ($20k+ – $100k)
- Make Bold Moves Grants ($100k+ – $250k+)
Eligibility Criteria
- Diverse business owners (minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ) in Charlotte-Mecklenburg are eligible to apply for Beyond Open small business grants.
- Priority and special encouragement will be given to companies located in, near, or with substantial business activity centered around one of the six Corridors of Opportunity:
- Corridor 1 – Albemarle Road/Central Avenue
- Corridor 2 – Ferry Beatties Ford/Rozzelles
- Corridor 3 – Freedom Drive/Wilkinson Blvd.
- Corridor 4 – Graham/North Tryon St.
- Corridor 5 – Sugar Creek Rd/I-85
- Corridor 6 – West Boulevard
- Small businesses from 1 employee (with the owner counting as an employee) to 499 employees are eligible and are encouraged to apply.
- If you are a franchise, you must be an independent and locally owned franchisor.
- If the entity applying for a grant is a nonprofit organization that has been recognized by the IRS as being tax-exempt under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code, the following eligibility requirements apply:
- Nonprofit must be currently registered and recognized 501c3 organization at time of application. Current and active IRS letter of 501c3 status will be requested. Start-up, pending, planned or provisional 501c3 status organizations are not eligible to apply for Beyond Open grants.
- Executive paid leadership (Executive Director, President or equivalent paid leader of the organization) must be BIPOC (Black, indigenous, person of color).
- Current Board of Directors must be majority BIPOC (Black, indigenous, people of color).
- All other eligibility requirements must also be met for nonprofit location within Mecklenburg County and employee count of no more than 499.
For more information, visit Foundation For The Carolinas.
