City of Charleston Opens Doors for Small Business Owners at Expo
In an effort to bolster economic growth and provide avenues for expansion, the city of Charleston is organizing a small business opportunity expo. The focus of this expo is to support and promote under-represented, disadvantaged, veteran, minority, and women-owned businesses.
Empowering Small Businesses
The expo aims to bridge the gap between small enterprises and larger corporates by offering valuable insight and resources. Ruth Jordan, the Minority and Women-Owned Business Office Manager, emphasizes the city’s commitment to these often-underserved sectors. She voiced her excitement at the opportunity to assist these businesses in scaling and expansion.
More Than Just an Expo
The small business opportunity expo is scheduled to take place at the Gaillard Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. The event will feature workshops covering various topics, including digital marketing, legal basics, and access to capital. Bilingual sessions will also be available to cater to a diverse group of attendees. Registration is not mandatory, but the city encourages online registration to keep track of the attendees.
Wide-Scale Participation
With already over 500 individuals registered for the event and nearly 150 volunteers and exhibitors slated to attend, the expo will be bustling with business minds from across the state. The exhibitors’ list includes city leaders, Mayor William Cogswell, municipal partners, nonprofit resource partners, as well as local business owners.
A Platform for Opportunity
Businesses attending the expo will receive exposure to various organizations and municipal partners, such as contractors, government agencies, schools, and housing authorities. These bodies will present their services and inform small business owners of existing and upcoming opportunities. The notion is to display the scope of association and business growth that these institutions can offer to the attending small businesses.
Community Impact
Jordan manages to encapsulate the significance of the expo by stating, “Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community…here at the City of Charleston, we want to ensure that all businesses are successful.” The only expense required from attendees is a nominal $5 parking fee. Aside from this, the event is free and open to anyone interested.
Anticipated Announcement
To heighten the enthusiasm, the City of Charleston is expected to make a significant and unprecedented announcement at around 3:30 p.m. during the expo. While details of the announcement remain under wraps, it has generated anticipation among the registered attendees.
In conclusion, this expo not only solidifies the City of Charleston’s commitment to fostering growth among small businesses but also sets a precedent for other cities to follow suit. A thriving business community is the backbone of any city, and through initiatives like this, Charleston aims to strengthen its economic structure.
Source: HERE News Network
