The City of Charlotte is pleased to accept proposals for the Corridors of Opportunity Business Opportunity Hub Grant. The city will award up to $2.76 million in grant funds to eligible non-profit organizations, or higher education institutions that are currently providing workforce and/or small business support and looking to expand programs to create access to resources within the Corridors of Opportunity.

Funds may be used for the expansion of programs, services, and physical space within one of the Corridors of Opportunity. Physical space should serve as a place to connect entrepreneurs and residents to resources and opportunities.

The minimum grant awarded is $200,000 per organization. Awardees will be selected in September, 2023. Funds must be expended by December 31st, 2026.

Note: Applicants planning to serve the West Boulevard Corridor please consider the following: 

As part of this grant opportunity, the city is seeking an organization to implement the City of Charlotte Smart Cities Digital Access Learning Lab Program within the Wingate Community Center. The Wingate Community Center is a city-owned building located in the West Boulevard Corridor at 2701 Mayfair Avenue. 

The Wingate Learning Lab Program would meet one or more of the following Wingate neighborhood goals:

• Afterschool programming, computer or tech-related

• Tutoring programs

• Computer classes

• Senior programming related to digital literacy or jobs

• Workforce development/job placement services

• Telehealth services or workstations

•  Financial literacy services, i.e., online banking training or other trainings

Additional support is available for implementing the Wingate Learning Lab project idea located in the West Boulevard Corridor. Organizations may request a minimum of $302,000 to cover building renovation and upfit, new security system, FF&E, and broadband internet provided by Spectrum.​

• The city-owned property will be renovated to modern ADA standards by the General Services department

• In addition to the $302,000 allocated for building renovations, additional funds may be requested by organizations planning to incorporate the Wingate Community Center as part of their project proposal 

• The Wingate neighborhood association must be able to co-tenant

• This is an optional opportunity and not required by grant applicants looking to serve the West Boulevard Corridor 

Applicants planning to serve the West Boulevard Corridor may choose one of two options:

• Option A: Implement the Wingate Learning Lab program

• Option B: Implement an Opportunity Hub program located somewhere else on the West Blvd corridor (the Wingate Learning Lab additional funding would not be available for this option)

Proposal Requirements:

You will be asked to submit the following information to help us better understand your proposed project/program/service:

• Detailed scope of work describing how the project/program/service will create access to workforce opportunities for Charlotte residents within one of the Corridors of Opportunity 

• Itemized budget

• Specific timeline for use of funds

• Detailed performance measures and outcomes (i.e. # of businesses served, #residents served, # of jobs created)

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the program the applicant must be a non-profit organization/501(c)3, academic organization, or Chamber of Commerce/501(c)6 whose main purpose is to provide workforce development resources, programs and services

• Organizations must be registered with SAM.gov and have a UEI number
  • Grant awards through the Business Opportunity Hub Grant program are federal funds
  • Organizations receiving federal funds must register with SAM.gov and provide a UEI number with expiration date
  • Organizations that expend $750,000 or more in federal funds in one year (total from all sources) are required to obtain a Single Audit

For more details on the Eligibility Requirements, please see our FAQ here. 

You will be asked to provide/describe the following:

Organization description:

• Must be located within Mecklenburg County (Headquarters or Local Office) and either 1) planning to expand programs to serve one of the Corridors of Opportunity OR 2) expand current services within a Corridor of Opportunity (organizations can apply to serve two adjacent corridors in close proximity)

• Must provide documentation that the organization has served the Charlotte community for at least two years (i.e. annual reports or similar supporting documents) and provided workforce programming for at least two years

• Organization mission/vision statement

• Documents supporting organization designation

  • 501(c)3 letter

  • 501(c)6 letter

• Annual Audit (with two-year comparative financials), if applicable

• Federal Tax Returns for the previous two years

Application Process:

The application will be open June 26th, 2023 at 12pm until August 9th, 2023 at 5pm. Grants will be awarded in September, 2023. Please direct all questions to Taylor@scherm.co.

An in-person Q&A will be held on Tuesday, July 11th at 9 am at the Government Center (Room 280). Also, a second Q&A will be held virtually on Friday, July 14th at 9am. Applicants must attend at least one Q&A session in order to apply. Please complete this form to RSVP for a Q&A session and leave your questions so our team can accurately prepare. Q&A questions submitted by Thursday, July 6th will be given first priority.

Please find the zoom link to the virtual Q&A below:

Zoom link for virtual Q&A option on July 14th at 9am:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5589756162

Applicants who could not attend one of the Q&A sessions may watch the recorded video to meet the application requirement. Submit a signed Acknowledgement Form with your application to verify you have watched the Q&A recording and understand the terms of the grant.

Watch the Q&A Video 

Please list the anticipated number of individuals served by this funding: