Small-business owners have a new place to gather in west Charlotte to help fulfill their needs.
The city of Charlotte and local nonprofit Freedom Communities held a ribbon-cutting event on Sept. 17 to celebrate the opening of Freedom Business Collective. The space was designed as a resource for entrepreneurs, small-business owners and job seekers.
The hub sits in one of Charlotte's Corridors of Opportunity. It's located at 1525 Enderly Road, part of the Freedom Drive/Wilkinson Boulevard corridor.
The city's Corridors of Opportunity program, launched in 2020, provides funds for economic development projects in six historically under-invested, low-income areas. Freedom Communities was one of six nonprofits awarded a share of $3.9 million in November as part of the overall, $38.5 million initiative.
Erin Gillespie, executive program manager for Corridors of Opportunity, said in a statement that the creation of the Freedom Business Collective is vital to Charlotte becoming a more inclusive city.
"This hub represents our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and residents, ensuring that all corners of our city have the tools and resources needed to succeed," she added.
The space is equipped with offices, business coaching, networking opportunities, workshops and training programs personalized to the needs of people and businesses in west Charlotte.
Hannah Beavers, executive director at Freedom Communities, said the center's mission is to provide affordable workspace, foster deeper connections and create growth opportunities. Tenants of the space will receive a discount of up to a 65% on rent for up to the first year of use.
"The Freedom Business Collective is a testament to the power of community collaboration, and we are grateful for the city’s partnership in making this vision a reality," she said in a news release from the city of Charlotte.
The collective's partner organizations include Do Greater Charlotte, The Boost Pad and ASPIRE Community Capital. They will help provide support and programming to enable residents to access resources they need.
