Beyond Open strongly suggests that applicants prepare early, review all information available, and make use of all available applicant supports to prepare the strongest, most compelling application possible for this competitive grant program.
Download and review the Beyond Open Application Guide, which includes:
Important information to know before applying.
Eligibility requirements for Round 3.
Required documentation and financial information.
Examples of capital assets and uses that CAN or CANNOT be supported with a Beyond Open grant.
Contact information for applicant supports, questions, and assistance.
Overview of the application review process, criteria and grant selection process.
Preview of key Round 3 application questions and guidance for responses.
Click the image below to view the Beyond Open Round 3 Application Guide
(Spanish)
Attend a Beyond Open Application Information Session
Beyond Open strongly recommends that potential applicants participate in at least one Beyond Open Application Information Session before beginning the application process. In these events, Beyond Open will present the Round 3 application opportunity, review key questions, describe the review process, and respond to attendee questions. A virtual workshop will be recorded for 24/7 access.
Visit the Events page for Application Information Session dates and registration.
Applicant Support
Community Partner Organizations
Beyond Open Community Partner Organizations (CPOs) can answer questions about Beyond Open and provide guidance on the application process. It is very important to reach out early in order to be prepared to apply. With sufficient time in advance, CPOs can also help create a business plan, set up financial reports and other vital business needs. Reach out to Beyond Open CPOs for answers, support and guidance.
ASPIRE Community Capital is committed to radically transforming lives through upward mobility and helping entrepreneurs in under-resourced neighborhoods start and grow successful small businesses in the Greater Charlotte area.
Call: 980-219-7577
Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization specialized in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business in the Charlotte area.
Call: 980-729-8273
e-mail: czepeda@prosperausa.org
e-mail: amlasi@prosperausa.org
The Women’s Business Center of Charlotte (WBCC) empowers women-owned and BIPOC businesses to start and grow by offering tools and support to establish their businesses, generate sustainable profits, and strategize for future growth.
Call: 704-509-5884 English / Spanish
Round 3 Application: Instructions and Key Questions
Below are general instructions and key questions on the Round 3 application. Use this information to prepare your responses in advance, gather needed documentation, and assemble information in advance.
ELIGIBILITY AND PREPARATION
You will be asked to review and confirm eligibility and other information.
BUSINESS OWNER INFORMATION
• Owner name (first, last)
• Percentage (%) of ownership
• Demographic information
BUSINESS INFORMATION
• Business legal name
• Business description
• Legal form of business (Sole proprietorship, Partnership, C or S Corp., LLC, LLP)
• Certifications
• Business physical location and contact information (location must be within a Corridor of Opportunity)
KEY QUESTION: BUSINESS GOALS
In no more than 400 words, what goals do you wish for your business to achieve in the years ahead? Include any information you think would create a clear picture of success in your mind (for example, number of employees, revenue growth, etc.)
KEY QUESTION: GRANT REQUEST AMOUNT
What is the total grant amount you are applying for in Round 3 of the Beyond Open program?
KEY QUESTION: ASSET INFORMATION
Describe the asset you wish to acquire. You will be asked to provide cost estimates for each asset that costs more than $20k.
KEY QUESTION: IMPACTS
How will this asset contribute to help reach your business goals, solve a problem, or make the most of an opportunity? Describe clear, strong, and direct connections between the business goals you described and exactly how the asset you wish to acquire will help your business reach those goals.
KEY QUESTION: MULTIPLE ASSETS
You may be applying for a Beyond Open grant for multiple individual assets that are closely related to a focused business outcome. Examples might be: a) updating your retail business lobby area to improve customer experiences; b) upfitting a new working space to boost productivity; c) replacing outdated kitchen equipment to ensure health and safety. In the lobby project example above, assets you need may include new flooring, a reception desk, seating, lighting and a qualified contractor. To apply for a Beyond Open grant to fund multiple assets in a project, you will be asked to provide:
• Project description and how each individual asset is vital to the business outcome.
• Itemized list of all individual assets and details for each asset, including:
• specific brands and models
• a reasonable unit cost for each individual asset under $20k in cost
• two (2) cost estimates / quotes for each asset over $20k in cost
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Depending on the amount of your grant request, you will be asked to provide various documents and information that support your request, and help make a clear, compelling case for a grant award. These documents and information include items like a business plan, financial statements and other key business tools. Do not apply without assembling ALL required and requested documents and information. Applications without required documents will not move forward in the review process. To make sure you understand and can assemble the documents and information you will need based on the amount of your grant request, see Required Documents and Information chart.
Access the ‘Beyond Open Round 3 Application’ Guide to review these questions and much more.
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FAQs Round 3
The Frequently Asked Questions and responses below provide guidance based on common questions. Additional FAQs may be added to the website as inquiries are received.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID IN MY APPLICATION?
• Not eligible or uses not allowed
Applicant business not located inside one of the six Corridors of Opportunity.
Request includes unallowed uses (see page 6 CAN and CANNOT lists).
• Missing, incomplete or inaccurate documentation and information
Required documents missing, incomplete or outdated.
Two cost estimates for asset not provided (required for each asset over $20k.)
Required financial documents (such as profit and loss statements, cash flow reports) missing, incomplete, or do not show credible or consistent information.
Mismatch between amount of request and cost of asset to be acquired as documented by cost estimates.
Description of business services or products vague and unsupported by related documentation and information.
Requested or required business goals and business plan lack clarity, are not well defined or described, or do not credibly illustrate clear planning and/or measurable outcomes.
• Connection(s) between grant request and business goals is weak or lacking in detail
Application lacks strong or very clear connections between the asset to be acquired and how the asset would create clear, specific business impacts and help achieve business goals.
Extensive list of unrelated assets or a “laundry list” of many or all business needs as opposed to a single asset, or very closely related assets, that will help to achieve clear business outcomes.
Asset to be acquired not clearly described or without specific brand model, type or other detailed information.
Grant request is for purchase or lease of unspecified commercial real estate property yet to be located.
IS IT WORTH MY TIME TO PARTICIPATE AND APPLY GIVEN HOW COMPETITIVE BEYOND OPEN IS? Applying for a Beyond Open grant can help equip small business owners to succeed, even if you do not receive a grant in this competitive process. Preparing an application for Beyond Open can help empower you to apply to many other small business grant and loan programs that require similar documents and information. All business owners must assess the value of time and resources expended for potential opportunities. Being eligible or applying for a grant does not guarantee an award.
HOW DOES BEYOND OPEN MAKE THE PROGRAM ACCESSIBLE?
Awareness efforts for Beyond Open include: corridor canvassing and community events; in-person and online information sessions; information and applications in English, Spanish and Vietnamese; a website and collateral materials; social media; paid media and earned media. Outreach, technical assistance and support are made available through three community partner organizations – ASPIRE Community Capital, Prospera, and Women’s Business Center of Charlotte, and through other Beyond Open Advisory Council organizations including the Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce, City StartUp Labs, Historic West End Partners, Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, North End Community Coalition, Veterans Bridge Home, and the Vietnamese Association of Charlotte.
IS BEYOND OPEN A "FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED" GRANT PROGRAM?
Beyond Open grant award decisions are made after all received applications are reviewed and scored. Beyond Open is not a “first come, first served” grant program.
