Business District Support Program Application Request

Request: The City of Charlotte’s Economic Development Department is seeking applications from qualified nonprofit organizations serving neighborhood business districts for the Business District Support Program (BDSP). The program provides operational funding, professional development and technical assistance to strengthen business district organizations, support small businesses and enhance the economic vitality of Charlotte’s commercial corridors.

Virtual Information Sessions

A virtual information session will be held at 3 pm on Nov. 16. Email Johnson Bray for additional questions or guidance.

Introduction and Background

The City of Charlotte’s Economic Development Department is accepting applications from qualified nonprofit organizations for a new Business District Support Program (BDSP). Business district organizations accepted into the program will receive operational funding, professional development and technical assistance to support small businesses, attract investment and improve the economic vitality of Charlotte’s commercial corridors.

BDSP follows the city's Start, Scale, Sustain (S3) initiative, which provided capacity-building grants to business district organizations through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. With S3 concluding at the end of 2026, BDSP will establish a performance-based framework for supporting neighborhood business districts through measurable outcomes, accountability standards and ongoing professional development.

BDSP also will complement Charlotte's developing Main Street Coordinating Program, which will provide business district organizations with additional training and a pathway toward national Main Street accreditation.

Who Is Eligible?

The program is open to nonprofit organizations that serve neighborhood business districts within Charlotte, including organizations outside the city's six Corridors of Opportunity.

Eligible applicants must:

• Have active nonprofit status and be in good standing with the IRS and North Carolina Secretary of State.
• Be headquartered in or primarily serve a designated neighborhood business district.
• Have operated in the district for at least 12 consecutive months.
• Serve businesses across multiple sectors, not a single industry.
• Not be affiliated with or operated under a Municipal Service District.
• Be eligible to directly receive and administer grant funds without fiscal sponsorship.
• Have no unresolved City grant corrective action plan.
• Comply with BDSP program standards, reporting, and grant obligations.

Program Funding and Benefits

The Business District Support Program will offer three tiers of annual funding based on each organization's demonstrated capacity, governance and program performance:

• Tier 1: Up to $125,000 annually for established organizations with strong governance, financial management and programming.
• Tier 2: Up to $100,000 annually for organizations with demonstrated operational capacity and active district programming.
• Tier 3: Up to $60,000 annually for emerging organizations building their organizational capacity.

In addition to funding, participating organizations will receive access to professional development workshops, consulting services and technical assistance in nonprofit management, business recruitment, financial management, marketing, event planning and other areas. Participating organizations will also receive assistance to develop long-term strategic plans for their commercial districts.

The program focuses on five core strategies: organization, business development, safety and cleanliness, placemaking and marketing and events.

Applications will be reviewed by the City of Charlotte Economic Development Department, with funding levels determined through an organizational assessment process. Initial grant disbursements are anticipated in the first quarter of calendar year 2027.