SouthPark Small Business Forward Grant
presented by
Small Business and the SouthPark experience
SouthPark’s small business community is a key component of the neighborhood’s success and continued growth, especially as a thriving retail destination. Comprising more than 30 percent of SouthPark’s visitor-facing storefronts, locally owned small businesses drive innovation and diversity that will continue to differentiate SouthPark from other major retail hubs nationally and popular neighborhoods locally.
Stated plainly: SouthPark would not be what it is today without its small businesses and their teams.
SouthPark Community Partners' Small Business Forward Grant
SCP knows that supporting our community’s small businesses is imperative to our mission of driving economic vitality and creating memorable experiences. As expressed in the SouthPark Forward 2035 Vision Plan, SouthPark must continue to intentionally evolve to become a more urban, walkable, mixed-use district.
In partnership with Bank of America, SouthPark Community Partners' Small Business Forward Program will grant $20,000 to a small business owner who’s working to advance the mission and principles of the SouthPark Forward 2035 Vision Plan. Bank of America will also offer bi-monthly coaching, financial education and access to business resources to support the awardees' business growth.
Applicants must showcase how this grant money would:
- Drive SouthPark to become a more walkable, energetic community where people connect and businesses thrive.
- Bring some or all of SouthPark’s guiding principles – welcoming, accessible, experiential, connected, beloved, enduring – to life.
- Create a public benefit that fosters community and/or is open to all.
- Be leveraged to bring proposed ideas and/or initiatives to fruition within 12 months of award delivery.
A grant selection committee composed of SouthPark and Charlotte leaders will determine the winner of this grant. Selection will focus on the alignment of the proposal to the SouthPark Forward vision and guiding principles, as well as feasibility and impact of the proposed ideas. Feedback will be provided upon request to applicants who are not selected in order to help improve their proposals for future grant opportunities.
Eligibility
To qualify, you must be the business owner and your business must be:
- Located in the SouthPark Municipal Service District (MSD-6)
- A small business as dictated by the U.S. Small Business Administration – check their standards here
- A for-profit business of any legal structure that's been in operations for 2+ years
- Independently owned and operated
- Able to provide a valid business license
Application deadline: August 31, 2026 at 11:59 P.M.
Award selection: October 2026
Questions? Email Regina Jimenez at regina@southparkclt.org.
Bank of America's Small Business Resources
Bank of America is proud to support SouthPark's small business community through banking services, trusted advisors, and reliable information. Whether you’re launching a new business or running an established one, their insights and resources can help you prosper and grow.
About Our 2025 Small Business Forward Grant Recipient
Last year's inaugural grant recipient was Babysitters of Charlotte. Their proposal focused on the below elements to help make SouthPark more welcoming and accessible:
- Pop-Up Play & Connect Series: Interactive, family-friendly experiences designed to create safe, welcoming pop-up childcare stations and kid zones during community events.
- Date Night Drop-Offs: Free childcare opportunities so parents can explore all that SouthPark has to offer while their children are nearby and well cared for.
Trina Boyd is the Founder and President of Babysitters of Charlotte. Her and her team are committed to providing quality, dependable childcare that supports families from all walks of life.