Round 2 FAQs

The Frequently Asked Questions and responses below provide guidance based on common questions received from Round 1 applicants and community members. Additional FAQ’s 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 how you CAN and CANNOT use a Beyond Open grant.)

• Missing, incomplete or inaccurate documentation and information

  • Required documents missing, incomplete or outdated.

  • Two cost estimates for asset not provided (required for assets 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 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 model, type or other detailed information.

  • Grant request is for purchase or lease of unspecified property yet to be located.

GIVEN HOW COMPETITIVE BEYOND OPEN IS, IS IT WORTH MY TIME TO PARTICIPATE AND APPLY?

The program can add value for all Beyond Open applicants and help equip diverse small business owners to succeed, even if you do not receive a grant in this competitive process. Beyond Open will award approximately $15M in grants to diverse small business owners in Charlotte Mecklenburg over the course of three years. Preparing an application for Beyond Open can also help empower you to apply to many other small business grant and loan programs because these programs often require or ask for the same or very similar information, documents and responses to questions.

HOW DOES BEYOND OPEN WORK TO HELP MAKE THE PROGRAM ACCESSIBLE?

Awareness efforts for Beyond Open include: corridor canvassing and appearances at community events; in-person and online information sessions; information and applications in English, Spanish and Vietnamese; a dedicated website and collateral materials; social media; paid media and earned media placements in diverse-owned and local media outlets. Outreach, technical assistance and support are 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, North End Community Coalition, and Veterans Bridge Home.

IS BEYOND OPEN A "FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED" GRANT PROGRAM?

Beyond Open is not a “first come, first served” grant program. Grant award decisions are made after all received applications are reviewed and scored.