On February 24 we hosted our annual Carolina Engagement Week Showcase event, gathering partners, clients, students and community and business leaders to connect and reflect on building the resilience of small businesses and communities. We are honored to do this work alongside businesses and organizations across the Carolinas, and beyond, several of whom shared their stories about what this support means to them.
NCGrowth’s 2025 Annual Report captures 13 years of bold, place-based work to build an economy where opportunity is not limited by geography, race, or income. From advancing inclusive procurement and rethinking economic distress metrics to supporting small businesses, Tribal nations, and rural communities across 25 states, the report highlights how actionable research, hands-on technical assistance, and cross-sector partnerships translate into real impact—new jobs, stronger local economies, and shared prosperity. Explore the stories, data, and outcomes that show what’s possible when economic development is rooted in equity and driven by community.
NCGrowth is now working on the ground in Tennessee, helping Eastern Eight CDC with the development of a new Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Eastern Eight is seeking to provide commercial lending services to small businesses and improve regional economic development efforts in eight counties in northeastern Tennessee. However, to be successful, Eastern Eight needs a broader and deeper understanding of local capital access challenges--that's where NCGrowth comes in!
On March 18, 2026, NCGrowth and U.S. Bank’s Business Access and Wealth Management team convened their third collaborative summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. Titled “Creating Pathways to Legacy,” this installment focused on defining what it means to build a resilient, enduring small business in today’s evolving economic landscape. More than 130 guests gathered to engage in substantive dialogue around three pillars: operational resilience, capital readiness, and legacy and succession preparedness.
Since 2024, U.S. Bank/NCGrowth’s ongoing collaboration has consistently centered on the urgency of succession planning and sustainable business development. A driving force behind this work is the “Silver Tsunami” — the anticipated wave of Baby Boomer retirements that threatens to erode payrolls, displace jobs, and diminish community wealth if businesses are not thoughtfully transitioned to the next generation of owners.
A Collective Approach to Economic Vitality
The summit placed collective planning at the center of its agenda, drawing together a diverse group of ecosystem partners and thought leaders to offer both strategic context and actionable resources.
Dr. Cody Morris, Ph.D., of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise opened with an economic overview, providing important context and market outlook for small and medium-sized enterprises navigating today’s environment. Representatives from Mecklenburg County’s Office of Economic Development and the City of Charlotte offered insights into the region’s growing economy, highlighting the significant transportation and infrastructure opportunities embedded in the Charlotte Future 2040 Plan.
Charlotte’s broader ecosystem was well represented, with contributions from Next Street, BEFCOR, Prospera, and the Charlotte Women’s Business Center. These partners shared practical guidance on how business owners can remain actively engaged with their communities as they grow and detailed the range of resources available — including small business lending, technical assistance, and advisory support.
Voices from the Field: Business Owners and Practitioners
The summit provided a valuable forum for business owners themselves to share their experiences. Representing industries spanning healthcare, technology, and finance, these entrepreneurs offered candid perspectives that grounded the day’s broader themes in lived reality.
Among the most compelling presentations was a conversation with Michael and Jason Stier of Focus CFO, a father-and-son team who shared an honest account of the challenges and rewards of transitioning a business from one generation to the next. Their story illustrated both the complexity and the possibility inherent in thoughtful succession planning.
U.S. Bank concluded the event by presenting its full suite of wraparound services; spanning wealth management, lending, retirement planning, and relationship banking — demonstrating the breadth of support available to business owners at every stage of their journey.
Key Takeaways
The summit affirmed a central truth: building regional economic vitality is a shared responsibility. Attendees left with firsthand knowledge of Charlotte’s local economy and a clearer picture of the resources available to support business expansion and successful exits.
Perhaps most powerfully, the day reinforced that sunsetting a career does not have to mean sunsetting a business. With access to knowledge, capital, and a supportive community, business owners can chart transitions that create lasting value; for themselves, for their employees, and for the Charlotte region at large.
A collaborative initiative of NCGrowth and U.S. Bank Business Access & Wealth Management
This drop-in style event explores how NCGrowth is building an economy with opportunities for all to prosper by building resilience of small businesses and communities. The event will feature a panel discussion and informal networking tables highlighting the community-based work of NCGrowth and the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise.
The NCGrowth Fall Showcase hosted in Maysville, NC brought together 40+ community partners, entrepreneurs, and local leaders to celebrate innovative projects advancing inclusive economic development across Southeastern North Carolina. We heard insightful presentations from NCGrowth clients which included: the Town of Maysville (Schumata Brown), the Enfield Alliance Coalition (Larry Perkins), Freedom Org (Kendrick Ransome and Aerhealle Chace), Queen of All Things (Lonyae McClune), and the Lumbee Tribe’s Ag NRD Foodways Initiative (Pat Dial). We were also joined by Thom Ruhe, CEO of NCIDEA, the primary event sponsor.
The purpose of our showcase events is to highlight recent NCGrowth projects and upcoming work with businesses, local and tribal governments, and anchor institutions across the Carolinas. Clients are invited to share their experiences and the impact our work has had on their community, business, or organization.
Join NCGrowth and U.S. Bank for an informative webinar focused on succession planning strategies for small business owners and community leaders. This kickoff session will provide practical tools and expert insights on preparing for leadership transitions that support long-term business sustainability and local economic resilience.
This drop-in style event will showcase the work of NCGrowth and the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise, partners of the UNC Kenan-Flager Business School. Stations will be set up spotlighting client projects with small businesses and communities, new economic research initiatives, and student involvement. Tribally-led tourism development, outdoor recreation economies, Hurricane Helene recovery, and small manufacturers innovating in rural North Carolina – these are a few topics you can expect to dive into!
Lunch will be available for the first 100 attendees. The event is part of Carolina Engagement Week.
REGISTER HERE: https://uncch.givepulse.com/event/544411
This is event is generously sponsored by Partner Community Capital, a CDFI that supports businesses and non-profits located in underserved communities across Central Appalachia and the Southeast. Learn more at https://partnercap.org/.
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