City Announces S3 Grant Recipients to Revitalize Business in Corridors

Published on August 16, 2024

Local businesses in a shopping center within the Albemarle corridor.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 15, 2024) — The City of Charlotte announces the grant recipients of the Start-Scale-Sustain (S3) grant program, which aims to bolster the capacity of emerging business district organizations in historically underserved comminutes known as Corridors of Opportunity.

"We recognize the pivotal role that business district organizations play in fostering economic growth and community well-being," said Erin Gillespie, Executive Program Manager for Corridors of Opportunity. "By providing these grants, we're not only investing in the organizations themselves but also the countless entrepreneurs, employees and residents who rely on vibrant commercial centers for their livelihoods and daily needs."

Grant Recipients:

Name of Organization	Grant Award	Location	Mission of Organization
Charlotte East	$220,000	Albemarle Road/Central Avenue	Develops and strengthens social and economic capital in East Charlotte by elevating the collective voice of its people, neighborhoods, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and civic organizations. Charlotte East operates in three areas: community building, economic development, and public education support. Their vision is for East Charlotte to be a thriving destination and sustainable home to a diverse, connected community.
Historic West End Partners	$220,000	Beatties Ford Road/Rozzelles Ferry Road	Works to develop strategic partnerships with businesses, residents, institutions, property owners, and investors to support economic growth with the vision to make the Historic West End Corridor a thriving, vibrant destination for West End families and entrepreneurs.
QC Family Tree	$220,000	Freedom Drive	Provides affordable housing, advocates for development policies, and fosters cultural initiatives. As an emerging Business District Organization, QC Family Tree supports 30+ entrepreneurs and collaborates with 10+ corridor businesses.
Sugar Creek Business Association	$170,000	West Sugar Creek	Forges strategic collaborations and partnerships with stakeholders, internal and external, to enrich and develop a better quality of life for their community. Provides resources for property owners and businesses.
West Corridor Merchants Association	$170,000	West Boulevard and Wilkinson Boulevard	Empowers local businesses along West Boulevard and Wilkinson Boulevard by promoting economic growth, enhancing community engagement, and advocating for our members’ needs. We aim to build a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable business district through collaboration and dedicated support services.

This one-time grant opportunity, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will support the organizations through direct funding and technical assistance. Funds will be used for a range of activities that enhance organizational capacity, such as strategy planning, inventory, communications, business development and event programming.

The grant funding has been awarded based on program criteria to ensure equity and feasibility in the overall award amounts. Each recipient was selected through a rigorous evaluation process, assessing their commitment to community development and the potential impact of their proposed projects.

S3 is a two-year program; all grant projects must be implemented by 2026.