Charlotte Regional Business Alliance

Did you know that small businesses make up 91.3% of all businesses in the 15-county Charlotte Region? 🏢

From local tech startups to family-owned construction firms, small businesses are the true engine of our regional economy. Read our full 2026 Analysis of the Small Business Landscape to see why we are empowering these essential businesses to thrive: https://bit.ly/4wOm5VP

What a great time in University City. ✨

Last week, we brought investors together at Vanguard's new campus for a conversation about one of the Charlotte Region's fastest-evolving corridors. The Investor Quarterly Meeting featured a powerhouse panel exploring the growth, talent, and transformation reshaping University City. From anchor employers and major developments to the pipeline connecting UNC Charlotte to the regional workforce, the conversation covered what it really takes to design a destination.

Thank you to our incredible panelists:
- Jennifer Manry, Divisional CIO, Vanguard
- Todd Collins, CEO, Red Hill Ventures
- Sarah Hind, Principal, Head of Advice South & Interim Head of Distribution Enablement, Vanguard
- Rod Banks, Senior VP, Philanthropy and Community Impact, Wells Fargo

And a huge thank you to Dean Richard Buttimer of UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business for moderating such a dynamic discussion.

"Mayor Vi Lyles has been a strong, balanced, and consensus-driving leader for the Charlotte Region, helping guide our community through a period of tremendous growth. During her time as mayor, Charlotte-Mecklenburg has added 22,851 jobs and $2.13 billion in capital investment. Most recently, her leadership and vision were instrumental in passing the Mecklenburg County transportation referendum," said CLT Alliance President and CEO Robert McCutcheon.

“As the first Black woman to be elected mayor of Charlotte, Mayor Lyles has had a lasting impact on this community and its future. Throughout her time in office, she demonstrated a remarkable ability to build partnerships and move important work forward. The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is grateful for her years of service and dedication to strengthening the Charlotte Region's position as a leading business destination. We wish her well in her next chapter."

Thank you, Mayor Lyles! More: https://bit.ly/49ybaFE

This week, we hosted the 2026 CLT Alliance Leadership Summit at The Pearl — an afternoon with some of the Charlotte Region's sharpest business minds. The conversations touched on health care, growth, cybersecurity, and what keeps this region competitive.

Thank you to everyone who was part of the Leadership Summit, and to our event sponsors who helped make it possible. 📸 A few highlights from the afternoon ⬇️

The Charlotte Region closed Q1 with continued investment and stable job growth — and compared to Q1 2025, announced jobs and capital investment nearly doubled.

We're also excited to launch a new interactive dashboard that tracks economic development projects in the region dating back to 2013.

Dive into the data through our dashboard and Q1 growth report: https://bit.ly/42O4QpN

Applications are open now! ⬇️

Applications are now open for the inaugural cohort of Elevate, powered by EO Charlotte.

Thank you to our Program Partners, UNC Charlotte Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.

Ready to learn more? https://hubs.la/Q04f76b10

The CLT Alliance’s 2026 Legislative Agenda outlines our top advocacy priorities for this year’s legislative session—issues that matter most to the Charlotte Region’s business community.

This year’s priorities focus on two areas:
▶️ Drive economic growth: transit and transportation, infrastructure, talent and workforce development
▶️ Improve quality of life: public safety, affordability

See the full agenda: https://bit.ly/4tbG6Tp

As we transition into our new mission as part of the CLT Alliance's Small Business Acceleration and Support Team, here is an easy resource to access existing CLT Alliance Foundation programs and initiatives.

RISE: https://hubs.li/Q04bMq8F0
Small Business Growth Fund: https://hubs.li/Q04bS8gB0
African American Leadership Academy: https://hubs.li/Q04bS2F-0

If you're looking for more information about our evolution into the Small Business Acceleration & Support Team, please visit https://hubs.li/Q04bMGwV0

Charlotte Regional Business Alliance

As American Airlines celebrates its 100th anniversary, it’s hard to miss its impact in the Charlotte Region.

At CLT, American’s growth has helped transform the region into a global gateway, with nonstop service to more than 170 destinations, including 41 international ones.

The CLT Alliance is taking a closer look at how that connectivity supports jobs, business, and continued growth.

Check it out: https://bit.ly/4cUuH5h

Charlotte Douglas International Airport: A gateway to growth - Charlotte Regional Business Alliance In 2024, a record 58.8 million passengers traveled through CLT, making it the seventh busiest airport in North America for passenger traffic. At the center of its success: the American Airlines hub.