Small Business Center
Small Business Spotlight
We believe in the power of storytelling, especially along the small business journey.
Here are some of our stories.
An Insider’s Look at the Retail Lab Bootcamp with Grant Colgan
Meet Grant. He’s the Program Manager for Flywheel Foundation and a driving force behind the Retail Lab Program at the Cabarrus Center in Concord, NC. His passion for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs is unmistakable. The Retail Lab, made possible by a small...
From Kombucha to Community: Heri’s Journey with Borinquen Brews and the Retail Lab
Meet Heri. A Puerto Rico native who turned his love for culinary creativity into Borinquen Kombucha, a kombucha brand that’s as approachable as it is innovative. Heri’s story is one of persistence, resourcefulness, and the power of community support, culminating in a...
Concord Entrepreneur Shines Light on CabCo Small Businesses
Meet Macie. A Concord native who transformed her passion for community connection into a thriving social forum known as The Downtown Dirty. This vibrant platform, which started on Instagram, has become the go-to resource for events, small businesses, and social...
A Dog for a Business Partner: The Story of Willow’s Handcrafted Collars
Meet Melissa. She’s a Kannapolis resident and proud owner of Willow's Handcrafted Collars. But it wasn’t all that long ago that Melissa was raising her three children and heading up their school PTOs, with zero expectation of ever owning her own business. As her...
Vino to Venture: Couple Shares Passion With Community
Meet Robin and Andrew, the husband and wife team turned wine enthusiasts behind Cellar Door Wine Shop in the heart of downtown Concord. With Andrew’s career in Software Engineering Management and Robin’s background as a Speech-Language Pathologist, they never expected...
Local Drone Startup Soars with SBC Help
Meet Ethan. He’s the owner of Skyview Strategies where modern drone technology is leveraged to solve traditional problems. On any given day, Ethan can be found using a customized commercial drone to pressure wash water towers, clean hotel roofs or exteriors, or even...
Rowan County Sisters Grow Through Retail Lab
Meet Equality and Stephanie, Rowan County residents and sisters with inspiring entrepreneurial journeys. Equality Biggers, the owner of Bigg on Natural Beauty, creates personal care items including body butters and hair growth oils. Stephanie Watkins is the owner of...
Local Entrepreneur Empowers Through Nutrition
Meet Tanya Freirich. A registered dietitian and Rowan County native and resident, she has a lifelong passion for helping others. Her entrepreneurial journey is not only a story of personal transformation, but also of hope for those battling autoimmune diseases,...
Unlocking Potential: How Two Educators Reimagined Homeschooling to Help Students Thrive
Meet Erica and Jennifer, the innovative educators and moms behind Thrive Educational Services, a company dedicated to empowering students who may struggle in traditional classroom settings. Their journey from educators to entrepreneurs is not just about starting a...
Social Entrepreneurship: How Medha’s Mission Shines
Meet Medha. You’ve likely never met anyone with the charisma she possesses. When you meet her, you have an instant friend. Smile on your face guaranteed. And just when you think you could not love her more, she tells you about her mission-driven business, Abhivyaktii...