NCGrowth
Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise

Procurement Strategies

Community leaders discussing a project

What’s at Stake for Minority-Owned Businesses in North Carolina

Oct 1, 2026 • News & Media • 2 min read

North Carolina’s small business landscape changed dramatically this summer when the state’s 2026 Appropriations Act eliminated the Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses, or HUB office, ending a long-running source of training, consultation and procurement support for businesses owned by women, minorities and service-disabled veterans. For many entrepreneurs, the change came with little warning. In an interview with The Charlotte Post, Nicole Outlaw, NCGrowth's Assistant Director of Engagement said the closure “certainly came as a surprise” and raised significant concerns for the businesses that had been working to position themselves for government contracts through HUB certification.
A winding road curves over an elevated bridge, surrounded by a vibrant autumn forest with trees in shades of red, orange, and yellow.

EXTRA, EXTRA…WESTERN NC NEWS

Oct 1, 2026 • News & Media • 4 min read

Some of the most promising projects in Western North Carolina begin with a simple conversation: a business owner, community leader, or local partner saying, “We’ve got an idea, but we’re not quite sure how to make it happen.” That is often where NCGrowth’s work begins. This quarter, NCGrowth is partnering with businesses and communities across the region on projects that support small-business growth, strengthen local planning, and help communities move ideas toward implementation. From financial strategy and wholesale expansion to downtown reuse planning and retail market analysis, the work reflects a common goal: helping Western North Carolina build stronger local economies with solutions shaped by local needs. NCGrowth is also working with a cohort of regional businesses preparing for post-Helene opportunities, with a focus on recovery, resilience, and long-term growth.
NCGrowth Hosts National Webinar on Purposeful Purchasing with IEDC and NGIN

NCGrowth Hosts National Webinar on Purposeful Purchasing with IEDC and NGIN

Jan 5, 2026 • News & Media • 2 min read

Alyse Polly, formerly of NCGrowth and now at UC Berkeley, moderated a conversation with Deborah Diamond of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Swati Ghosh of the New Growth Innovation Network, and Dell Gines of the International Economic Development Council on how anchor institutions can turn everyday spending into engines of inclusive growth. Diamond outlined how universities and hospitals shape local prosperity through employment, procurement, and construction, and described tools that quantify both direct impacts and ripple effects across jobs, income, and GDP. Ghosh emphasized inclusive procurement as a practical pathway for small and diverse businesses to build wealth—especially in smaller cities where a handful of large buyers dominate demand—while Gines framed anchors as catalysts in a broader, modern approach to economic development that centers communities, small firms, and shared prosperity.
Purposeful Procurement: Growing Local Economies
Oct 26, 2026

Purposeful Procurement: Growing Local Economies

Public institutions spend more than $1.3 trillion annually—a powerful lever for advancing equity and driving local economic growth. This webinar explores strategies from NCGrowth’s "Guide for Building Inclusive Economic Opportunity Through Strategic Purchasing," offering actionable insights for expanding supplier diversity and engaging historically underutilized businesses. Join NCGrowth for a conversation on how anchor institutions can use procurement to strengthen communities, foster innovation, and create sustainable economic opportunity.

Hampton Roads, VA

Supporting Businesses in Hampton Roads, VA

Oct 4, 2023 • News & Media • 1 min read

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) has pioneered the Native Edge Institute, one-day, in-person events that provide both established and aspiring business owners with critical business training. Through an collaborative partnership between NCGrowth and NCAIED, we have been able to expand these events to new locations across the U.S. This video highlights a recent Native Edge Institute hosted in Norfolk, VA which connected participants to resources available in their region, along with one-on-one business counseling, coaching, and matchmaking services.