Building Stronger Businesses: How CLT Alliance Foundation Advocates for Small Business Growth
In Charlotte's bustling entrepreneurial scene, small businesses are not just the backbone of our community; they are the heartbeat of our region. The CLT Alliance Foundation, a beacon of support and opportunity, is at the forefront of supporting these enterprises. Committed to fostering economic growth, the Foundation is dedicated to equipping local businesses with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.
Empowering Businesses & Leaders
We understand that everyone has the opportunity for a great idea, but not everyone has the opportunity to make that idea a reality. We believe in leveling the playing field by providing access to crucial resources and professional development opportunities to critically build these entrepreneurs for a prosperous future. Through strategic partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and government agencies, we ensure every entrepreneur has the support they need to succeed.
Here are some of the ways we do this:
Charlotte Small Business Growth Fund
The Charlotte Small Business Growth Fund, a $40 million investment initiative, aims to bolster the growth of over 2,000 local businesses. Thanks to the generous contributions of Ally Charitable Foundation, Atrium Health, Bank of America, the City of Charlotte, and Truist Bank, this fund will be a catalyst for sustainable growth and economic resilience.
These loans offer competitive interest rates. Learn more here: https://charlottegrowthfund.org/
RISE - Regional Innovation & Support for Entrepreneurs
In today's digital age, access to information and resources is key to success. Our AI-powered digital resource hub, RISE, is a centralized platform that offers essential tools to help our business leaders start, run, and scale their businesses. RISE helps users navigate the complex ecosystem of resources, allowing them to engage with the small business community and discover resources, jobs, events, and more. It also offers a perpetually updated resource directory curated specifically for businesses in the Charlotte Region.
Are you ready to rise? Explore RISE today.
Scale Up CLT Program
Scale Up CLT targets ambitious business leaders ready to take their businesses to new heights. It is a business accelerator that offers scholarships and benefits exceeding $10,000 and is designed to propel growth. Eligible participants gain access to partial payment of EO Accelerator program dues, corporate connections, exclusive social capital opportunities, and mentorship/coaching support. This program is not just about scaling businesses; it's about cultivating a network of driven leaders poised for success.
If you are a minority or woman who owns a business between $250,000 and $999,999 in annual revenue, you can Scale Up today. Learn more about the 2023-2024 class here.
Catch Your Breath
Mental health and self-care are often misplaced priorities for business leaders. Through Catch Your Breath, we provide resources to help our business leaders prioritize their self-care and wellness. This initiative is geared towards building the “person” behind the business and involves community events, guided support and resources, a cohort model, and a wellness stipend, culminating with a wellness retreat.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to catch your breath, click here to learn more.
How You Can Support the Foundation
You, too, can be a part of this transformative journey. Your contributions to the CLT Alliance Foundation directly impact local business leaders.
At the heart of our efforts lies community. We can build a vibrant and inclusive business ecosystem where every business leader has the opportunity to thrive. Whether you're a business leader looking for support or a supporter looking to make a difference, the CLT Alliance Foundation welcomes you. Together, let’s empower small businesses and create a future where every business has the opportunity to succeed.
Visit the CLT Alliance Foundation today to learn more about how you can get involved and make a meaningful impact.
In Charlotte, our strength lies in our community. Let’s Navigate Possibility together.
Scale Up in the Spotlight | Giovani Gonzalez
I’m Giovani Gonzalez, founder of The Social Rook, a digital advertising agency that scales small businesses leveraging paid digital and traditional marketing channels.
After working with some of the largest brands in the world, we learned that exciting and fulfilling work lived within our small business partners. Growing a small business from 5-figures a month to 6-figures a month changes lives, and we get to see the real impact.
Some companies find success due to the demand for their products or services, while others may grow through an organic following in the community or on social media. When a business has proven what it is providing is desired, it may experience growth but is not sure how to leverage digital advertising to scale efficiently.
Our Rook-2-Royalty® system is designed to help businesses identify which platform provides the best return for their investment and then step on the gas. This approach generates increased revenue and profit that allows for confident exploration of other channels. Depending on the niche, in addition to other social, search, or programmatic platforms, we may add traditional media such as radio, billboards, direct mail, and TV.
The Social Rook’s core values help us instill a culture of caring whether our clients thrive.
- Keep it 100: honesty and transparency with projects, yourself, and others
- Blaze Trails, It’s Okay to Fail: be innovative and explore new solutions
- Hustle for the Win: go through or around obstacles until you find a win for our partners
- Hear and Acknowledge Others: consistent communication drives connection and productivity
Our ideal partners are brands who understand the importance of marketing and the potential impact of paid digital advertising. These brands are also primed for scaling and have the systems in place to take on new business and sales. We are passionate and genuine about helping small businesses scale.
Becoming an entrepreneur has always been my dream since I was a child. I grew up in a low-income community and knew I had to work hard to break the cycle for my family. I want to be an example to others who grew up in similar circumstances and show them we are capable of creating our own path.