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City outlines Start-Scale-Sustain pilot results and proposes Charlotte Main Street coordinating program
Summary
Staff briefed council on Start-Scale-Sustain (S3) pilot outcomes for five business-district organizations and proposed a Charlotte Main Street coordinating program to expand capacity-building citywide, with a 36-month cohort model and future funding from corridors and area-plan implementation dollars.
Corridors of Opportunity staff reported on the Start-Scale-Sustain (S3) ARPA pilot that funded five business-district organizations, noting governance and capacity gains: functioning boards, bylaws, branding, marketing campaigns and recurring six-month performance reports. Staff said the pilot helped organizations mature from volunteer-led groups to entities that can manage grants and solicit contractors.
Staff proposed creating a Charlotte Main Street coordinating program modeled on the Main Street four-point framework (design, promotion, organization, economic vitality) and offering a 36-month cohort, technical assistance, and performance metrics. Officials said program launch funding would come initially from corridors and area-plan implementation dollars with a future request for ongoing commitments.
Council members pressed for stricter accountability and standardized reporting (business canvassing, number of businesses surveyed, measurable performance metrics) and asked for a corridor-by-corridor breakdown of funding and expenditures. Staff committed to follow up with more detailed funding breakdowns, clarified selection (RFQ/RFP) processes and emphasized tailored support for organizations at different readiness stages.
