Over the past 18 months, our team at the CLT Alliance Foundation has been working tirelessly to support business leaders throughout the Charlotte Region. Whether it’s helping entrepreneurs figure out start-up challenges and grow their business to $1 million in revenues or creating social capital for black executives to reach the C-Suite, our organization is committed to Helping Leaders Navigate Possibility.
Our new impact report shares the story of our initiatives and the results they’ve created, telling the stories of just a few of the individuals who have benefited from our work. We encourage you to read the report and see what we’ve done, but here are a few highlights.
Since 2023, Charlotte Region business leaders have been able to access resources, support and build social capital through five new initiatives.
- RISE: an AI-powered digital resource hub that helps businesses and their leaders navigate a robust directory of tools and resources.
- African American Leadership Academy of Charlotte: a proven Executive development program that leverages a Korn Ferry, research-based curriculum and cohort program for Black executives across public, private and nonprofit sectors.
- Small Business Growth Fund: the Small Business Growth Fund provides up to $40 million in accessible, competitive loans to Charlotte small businesses.
- Catch Your Breath: a 6-month program supporting entrepreneurs’ well-being through financial education, relaxation workshops, and a cohort experience.
- Office Hours: Charlotte leaders have been able to meet with our team of Business Navigators to receive technical assistance and coaching. These free one-on-one sessions are personalized for each participant to help them get unstuck.
Our work has achieved notable outcomes already:
- 39% average revenue growth for Scale Up CLT participants.
- 21% of businesses reached $1 million in revenue, 5x higher than national averages.
- 3200+ unique users saved time by accessing the RISE directory of resources.
- Supported 209 business owners through the Catch Your Breath program, addressing mental health and well-being concerns that entrepreneurs face
- 75+ businesses completed office hours, receiving technical assistance and coaching to focus on critical areas of their business.
Beyond the numbers, we also share the stories of business leaders like Eric Craft and Damita Rhodie, who participated in AALAC and Catch Your Breath, respectively. Their stories, and the experiences of the thousands of businesses who depend on our work, underscore the importance of our work and the impact that we’re able to achieve with the right resources.
This is just the beginning of our story, and we look forward to including you in the next chapter. Read the report here and get involved to help Charlotte business leaders Navigate Possibility.