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CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Small business owners have access to specialized training.
Mecklenburg is recruiting for two programs: Business Launchpad and Rise and Grow.
Business LaunchPad is a five-month program that provides participants with access to subject matter experts, business development resources, and in-kind professional services grants. The program targets small, minority and women-owned businesses interested in securing government, institutional and private contracting opportunities.
Rise and Grow is a business management program that empowers business owners with the knowledge and skills to grow, expand, and grow annual sales in excess of $125,000. The program helps local business owners develop a strategic growth plan. Participants will have access to professional mentors, peer networking and training with subject matter experts.
Devin McDaniel bought Derita’s Dairy Bar and Grill on West Sugar Creek Road and reopened it during the pandemic.
After two years, she says she is doing better than ever with a new growth plan she was able to create through the Get Up and Grow program.
“We’re Charlotte’s number one black-owned burger place,” McDaniel told WBTV. “We have ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches. Our burgers are our hero products.
McDaniel joined the Rise and Grow program through Mecklenburg County earlier this year.
“I learned how to make financial business plans, I learned how to build my website, work on menus, choose better prices, just scale my business to a higher level,” she said.
Program officer Janely Rosales says the key is to meet business owners where they are and offer these programs for free.
“[We] I want to make sure this is available to community members,” she said. We do this with your tax dollars, so make sure we’re providing you with these tools and this expertise.
McDaniel doesn’t take that knowledge for granted.
“You don’t want to earn more than 60 percent of one stream,” she said. “I learned that I can open a website. Now we deliver through GrubHub, DoorDash and Uber Eats. It’s helped me do different things.”
Applications for these programs are open until October 31 and classes begin in January.
Click here to apply for the Business LaunchPad program.
Click here to apply for the Rise and Grow Program.
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