Small business owners received professional advice and insight from a variety of financial experts. Members were reminded of the BRT Business Resource Collaborative’s Business Resource Guide and received more information on how this guide can take their business to the next level. They also heard exclusive updates regarding New Bern Avenue’s Bus Rapid Transit system from Het Patel, City of Raleigh’s Senior Transit Planner. Attendees were excited to see pictures of the new bus system and hear about Wake Transit Plan’s four big moves which include providing Wake County residents with frequent and reliable transportation.
Guests at the workshop also enjoyed learning about grants that will help their business be successful. The City of Raleigh’s Small Business Development Coordinator, Ferdinand Rouse, encouraged small business owners to apply for Building Up-fit Grants, which are matching reimbursement grants awarded to owners looking to improve their small business owners, and broke down each process of the application process. Ferdinand ended his presentation by telling our members “The City of Raleigh wants to make sure that you know about this opportunity so you can be successful.” The next round of applications for the Building Up-fit Grant begins this Friday, Sept. 15.
Frank Del Villar of Carolina Impact Community Fund and Scott Wolford of the U.S. Small Business Administration also discussed counseling services available to small businesses and explained how their business’s financial opportunities can aid in our leader’s future success. Attendees at the workshop were interested to hear Frank discuss Kiva, a small business financial tool, which gives owners 0% interest loans that are community crowdfunded. There was also a panel with all the guest speakers where attendees were able to ask important questions about how to access financial opportunities specific to their industries.
Those who joined us left the workshop prepared to take advantage of the variety of financial resources discussed. Find more takeaways, quotes, and images of the event using our social hashtag #WakeBRT, and if you are a small business owner looking to prepare for your future success, then join us at our next workshop on Oct. 5 to learn about small business lending!
The Bus Rapid Transit Business Resource Collaborative is a project of the Raleigh Chamber Foundation and is generously funded by grants from the City of Raleigh and Capitol Broadcasting Co., Inc.
