Beyond Open CLT

Beyond Open CLT Beyond Open helps to build economic mobility among diverse small business owners in Charlotte.

Calling all Beyond Open small business grantees! The program team, Foundation For The Carolinas, Wells Fargo, Women's Bu...
05/19/2025

Calling all Beyond Open small business grantees! The program team, Foundation For The Carolinas, Wells Fargo, Women's Business Center of Charlotte, Aspire Community Capital, Prospera USA and special guests look forward to celebrating your achievements and sharing available small business supports.

If you haven't already, check your email inbox and register today!

03/12/2025

We sat down with Andy Goh, the founder of , to learn about the impact of a Beyond Open grant on his business operations.

Andy is on a mission to bring companies' visions to life through high-quality podcast production and consulting. Based in Charlotte, GohJo Studios helps businesses craft compelling content that connects with their audience.

With a Beyond Open grant, Andy invested in new equipment and gear, allowing him to offer even higher-quality content to his clients. The grant also gives him the ability to go mobile, creating on-site podcasts and providing a more personalized service to his clients.

Hear more from Andy by visiting beyondopenclt.com/grantee-stories or the Grantee Stories link in our bio.

02/26/2025

Beyond Open grantee, Dr. Tammy Foster-Knight is the President and CEO of Optional Solutions , which provides high-quality healthcare equipment and personal safety gear. The business specializes in durable medical supplies and safety products for construction workers, ensuring both health and safety across industries.

With support from the Beyond Open small business grant program, Dr. Foster-Knight was able to purchase a cargo van, enhancing their ability to deliver products directly to clients. This investment has helped the business to establish new client relationships, hire additional staff, and increase their reach.

As Dr. Foster-Knight shares, "We’ve even started a new service to deliver blood samples, medical equipment, and other essential items to hospitals, clinics, and other medical services."

Hear the full grant story by visiting the link in our bio or beyondopenclt.com/grantee-stories

02/25/2025

Mary Jane Wilson is the owner and heart and soul behind Thoughtful Baking Co. . The business is reimagining comfort food with a fresh, local twist. From decadent desserts to savory pot pies and quiches, Thoughtful Baking Co. focuses on creating delicious meals using ingredients sourced from local farms.

Thanks to a Beyond Open grant, Thoughtful Baking Co. was able to invest in three smart refrigerators that function like vending machines, allowing their products to be sold in multiple locations outside of traditional farmers markets. Hear their full grant story by visiting the link in our bio or beyondopenclt.com/grantee-stories.

02/18/2025

A Beyond Open grantee, Howard Glover is the visionary founder and owner of Hard Grinderz . Howard is dedicated to empowering youth in Charlotte through mentorship, education, and non-traditional sports. Through after-school and summer programs, kids engage in hands-on activities, entrepreneurship workshops, and workforce development—all while receiving academic support and guidance from mentors.

With the support of a Beyond Open grant, Hard Grinderz was able to purchase a van, bridging a critical gap for families who struggle with transportation. According to Howard, the van has been a game-changer, enabling the program to offer reliable rides to and from activities, ensuring that more children have access to the life-changing opportunities Hard Grinderz provides.

Check out his to their full story by visiting the link in our bio or beyondopenclt.com/grantee-stories

02/12/2025

Meet Yazan AlHakim, owner of FASTSIGNS Independence , a full-service signage company that helps businesses make a bold statement with everything from business cards to company signs and more.

With a Beyond Open grant, Yazan was able to invest in a flatbed printer, which allows his team to print directly on materials, cutting both cost and production time.

His full story is available at beyondopenclt.com/grantee-stories

02/10/2025

Meet two-time grant recipient !

DiverseCity Services offers a dynamic, three-pronged approach: promoting diversity and inclusion within the construction industry, providing strategic planning for small businesses, and delivering educational programming and project management support for educational initiatives. Known as “the connectors,” Stephane and her team are dedicated to helping local businesses thrive with a solution-focused, results-driven mindset.

“The grant has freed up funds for us, allowing us to reinvest in the community and make a bigger difference." - Stephane Berwald Joyner

Check out their full story and others by visiting https://lnkd.in/gdfXUxAg.

02/05/2025

While our grantmaking has come to an end, the impact of Beyond Open grants among small business owners in Charlotte continues.

My Little Helper & Co. provides reliable, safe, and comfortable non-emergency medical and non-medical transportation services.

Check out Melessa Lawson's full story at beyondopenclt.com/granteestories.

All Beyond Open Round 3 applicants have been notified of their award status. Congratulations to all of the small busines...
11/18/2024

All Beyond Open Round 3 applicants have been notified of their award status.

Congratulations to all of the small businesses in our community that was awarded a grant in this final round! The program has selected 109 grantees in the third round, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $150,000 and totaling $5.8M in awards.

Across three rounds of grantmaking, Beyond Open has awarded a combined total of $16.3M in direct grants to 402 small businesses and select nonprofits, exceeding the program’s original commitment of $15M across three rounds.

Applicants who did not receive an award are encouraged to continue engagement with small business providers (including ASPIRE Community Capital, Women's Business Center of Charlotte, Prospera and others found on our website), to explore additional resources in the Beyond Open Small Business Resource Guide, and to utilize RISE–a digital suite of small business resources developed by the Charlotte Alliance Foundation. These resources were created to consolidate the many resources and funding opportunities available to diverse small business owners in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

Read the full announcement by visiting beyondopenclt.com or clicking the link in our bio.

We would like to introduce you to the owners of . Le’s Sandwiches & Cafe, founded by Tuan's parents, was the first authe...
10/31/2024

We would like to introduce you to the owners of . Le’s Sandwiches & Cafe, founded by Tuan's parents, was the first authentic Bahn Mi restaurant in Charlotte. Originally opened at the Asian Corner Mall, they strive to serve authentic and affordable Vietnamese food.

The Beyond Open grant was used to purchase industrial kitchen supplies.

"Charlotte needs more mom and pop shops-authentic restaurants. We wanted to bring that authenticity to Charlotte, let people have a taste of what Vietnam was.” - Tuan Nguyen

View their Beyond Open Grantee Story at beyondopenclt.com/grantee-stories or by visiting the link in our bio.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, magazine took a moment to speak with the owners of Chic Salon & Spa and Foundation For Th...
10/02/2024

This Hispanic Heritage Month, magazine took a moment to speak with the owners of Chic Salon & Spa and Foundation For The Carolinas Special Advisor for Civic Initiatives, Tracy Russ, to learn about the diverse small businesses that are being supported by Beyond Open. Our program, led by and supported by Fargo's Fund, is so proud of the many small business owners who are leveraging a Beyond Open grant to provide and grow their offerings.

Check out the inspiring story to learn more about the Foundation's commitment to help move the needle on economic mobility in Charlotte.

"...While Charlotte is no longer in last place, it still needs to work on its 38th ranking. Beyond Open may help the city and its small businesses do so. By concentrating resources in Charlotte, the program aims to create a more equitable distribution of capital and support. “We recognize that small businesses are catalysts for positive change in these communities,” Russ noted..."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/geristengel/2024/10/02/building-a-more-equitable-charlotte-for-small-businesses/

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220 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC
28202

Website

http://Beyondopenclt.com/grantee-stories, https://www.beyondopenclt.com/prepare#support, http

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