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Hope Mills unveils three‑phase 'Elevate Hope Mills' program to boost small businesses and resident financial literacy
Summary
At its July 1 meeting, the Hope Mills Board heard a three‑phase program proposal — a community resource fair, a fall financial empowerment series, and a six‑week business accelerator — intended to increase visibility, resources, and contract-readiness for local small businesses.
Crystal McLean presented the "Elevate Hope Mills" initiative at the July 1 Board of Commissioners meeting, describing a three‑phase plan to link local businesses and residents with resources and contracts. "It's a three‑prong approach," McLean said, outlining a community resource fair planned for August 2025, a fall 2025 three‑session financial empowerment series for residents, and a six‑week business growth accelerator for local entrepreneurs.
McLean said the community resource fair will include a vendor passport to drive foot traffic to local tables, health and wellness booths, participation from local banks and nonprofits, and sponsored swag bags with information about participating businesses. The financial series will cover budgeting, debt reduction and investing; McLean described deliverables for participating households such as a completed budget and a household debt management plan. The accelerator cohort is designed to help participating businesses build growth plans, marketing funnels and access to government contracts.
Shalika Lock of the Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce told the board the chamber will support marketing and recruitment of both vendors and residents, and emphasized the chamber's role to "educate, advocate, and empower" local businesses. Multiple commissioners praised the presentation and said the program aligns with the town's strategic plan and recent parks and events that have highlighted local entrepreneurship.
McLean also cited results from prior cohorts elsewhere: "we're at eight $1.8 8 million in contracts that have been procured," she said, presenting that as evidence that a targeted accelerator can lead to contract awards for participating small businesses. Town staff and the chamber will coordinate marketing and partner outreach; McLean said additional program details and names/tags for the initiative remain under discussion.
Next steps noted at the meeting include promotional outreach, vendor recruitment for the August resource fair, and scheduling for the fall financial workshops and the business accelerator. The board did not take a formal vote on the initiative at the meeting; presenters were thanked and commissioners said they looked forward to operational details and continued collaboration.
