The Benefits
Involvement in CMBCC represents the continued development of your business, your career progression, and the progressive economic development of our community. Your membership grants access to opportunities that meet and support the needs of business in the area of promotions, networking, advertising, education/training, and legislative representation. Specific benefits include:
Business Referrals
CMBCC receives several inquiries for products and services each year, and refers many of these requests to our members in an effort to increase their clientele and profitability. In essence, CMBCC will act as a change agent to promote cooperative efforts that will affect resolution to key business issues and garner mutually beneficial working relationships between members and presenting opportunities.
Special Projects/Events
CMBCC creates, plans, and host regular special projects and events designed to enhance the organization’s exposure throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area and supplies networking opportunities for various business sectors. Our projects/events serve to increase awareness and involvement of the small businesses and area corporations fostering support for the CMBCC overall. Additionally, CMBCC sponsors an annual event recognizing progressive business achievement(s) in terms of 1) capacity building 2) mentoring 3) significant increase in job creation for the community 4) contract awards that strengthen their overall economic position in an industry. (Special Projects and Events Committee)
Education/Training
CMBCC fosters an exceptional business development culture. Regular presentations, workshops, and or seminars will be held to perpetuate the pursuit of excellence toward economic development of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg business community. Small businesses will have the opportunity to develop coaching and mentoring relationships with the experienced business owners who have sustained success over the years. Experienced businesses will have the opportunity to explore expansion of their services, new and different ideas, and activities. The membership will experience a greater exposure to information regarding process and procedure, acceptable business protocol, how to navigate the maze of doing business with government entities, and how to access cutting edge industry leaders. (Education and Training Committee)
Membership Directory
In an effort to proliferate visibility for our membership base, CMBCC will publish a directory—via website and print—listing all members to be used throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area by individuals, small businesses, corporations, public and private organizations, as a convenient reference for products and services. As previously noted each request received from consumers for products and/or services will be referred to CMBCC members in order to build clientele, increase traffic and provide capacity building experiences. (Membership Services Community)
Quarterly Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter will be provided to all members in an effort to maintain clear and up-to-date communication with the membership and the business community at large, to keep everyone abreast of activity. The newsletter will include information on CMBCC events, programs, activities, feature success stories, member profiles and ‘A message From the President.’ (Public Relations Committee)
Business and Economic Development
CMBCC is committed to the success of the membership and our goal is to harness the power of the available resources represented within the organization and by those expressing their support of the organization by developing partnerships for capacity building, cooperative relationships for education and training opportunities, and identify how these resources can provide guidance and direction for members traveling along the pathway of success. This potential partnering will create greater opportunities for access to larger contracts and pave the way to the submission of an increased number of Request for Proposals (RFP’s). (Business and Economic Development Committee)
Tourism and Hospitality ***COMING SOON***
CMBCC is positioned to pursue the identification and recruitment of conventions and tourists to Charlotte. The CMBCC will provide information to refer business to supportive hospitality industry contracting opportunities for CMBCC members. The purpose of this exercise is to engage relationships with local meeting planners and event coordinators, securing and or preparing informational/promotional materials and other necessary items to attract Black conventions, conferences, events, annual meetings and other mainstream activities to Charlotte. The goal is to increase the economic opportunities created by these conventions, conferences, and events for CMBCC membership businesses to take full advantage by providing the necessary and varied support required of these visiting groups. The diversity of the businesses represented by the CMBCC will create a ‘one stop shop’ effect and allow the general business community to identify and locate MBE, WBE, and DBE qualified businesses to meet their minority participation requirements and or goals. (Tourism and Hospitality Committee)
Legislative Liaison ***COMING SOON***
CMBCC reaches out to the local city, state, and federal elected officials to create and develop cooperative and functional relationships that are mutually beneficial in nature. The express purpose of these relationships is to facilitate communication that is designed to keep the members and the business community informed of activities, issues and development that will have or will have the potential to have an impact on them or their community. The CMBCC agenda is intended to support business friendly legislators and legislation. Additionally, this working rapport will serve as a unifying factor to encourage reinvestment in the greater Charlotte-Mecklenburg business community. (Public Policy Committee)
