The Queen City is set to roll out the red carpet for its small business heroes this May, as Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles has officially designated the month to celebrate the hustle and resilience of local entrepreneurs. According to the City of Charlotte, the proclamation underscores the city's recognition of small businesses as the backbone of the community, "When we support small business, jobs are created and local communities preserve their unique culture," Lyles stated.
There's quite the lineup for Charlotte Small Business Month, kicking off on May 5, at The Market at 7th Street, where attendees can mix and mingle, sample local eats and groove to the beats spun up for the event, this year's Ninth Annual Small Business Month Kickoff, as per information shared by the Charlotte Economic Development, promises to be a vibrant start to a month dedicated to the tire of spirit that fuels the city's economic engine.
Other notable events slated for the month include the #31DaysofBiz, which will spotlight local business owners and partners on the City's social media, plus the Crowns of Enterprise Awards on May 8, and the Mayor’s International Community Awards (MICA) on May 27, celebrating the international firms and personalities bolstering Charlotte's global standing. "The City of Charlotte honors and celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that makes our community great and reaffirms our commitment to helping small businesses thrive and prosper," Lyles affirmed, as per the City of Charlotte.
Amid the festivities, the significance of small businesses to the Charlotte economy is palpable; per recent Charlotte Economic Development data, the county has witnessed a 24.5% increase in small businesses with less than 500 employees from 2012 to 2021, a figure that further soars when focusing on micro-enterprises of fewer than five employees, highlighting a considerable surge in entrepreneurial ventures over the past years, the growth in small business establishment in Mecklenburg County is nothing short of remarkable as captured in the raw numbers: in 2021 alone, 34,951 businesses employed legions under the 500 mark, with a stunning 56% of these businesses operating on an ultra-tight crew of sub-five employees.
