SCORE Charlotte Competition Helps Take Small Businesses to the Next Level
U.S. Bank is sponsoring the SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth competition, a 'Shark Tank'-style event for entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses. The 2023 winner, Surefire Neighborhood Market, received $5,000 for providing affordable, healthy food options in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Applications for the 2024 competition open on August 12, with the final event in mid-November.
The competition, supported by the U.S. Bank Foundation, offers mentoring and educational resources through SCORE, a nonprofit partner of the Small Business Administration. U.S. Bank's Business Access Advisor program, part of its Access Commitment®, aims to help underserved small businesses thrive by providing access to information and resources.
U.S. Bank sponsorizza la competizione SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth, un evento in stile 'Shark Tank' per imprenditori che desiderano espandere le proprie attività. Il vincitore del 2023, Surefire Neighborhood Market, ha ricevuto $5.000 per aver fornito opzioni alimentari sane ed accessibili a Rock Hill, Carolina del Sud. Le domande per la competizione del 2024 apriranno il 12 agosto, con l'evento finale a metà novembre.
La competizione, supportata dalla U.S. Bank Foundation, offre mentoring e risorse educative tramite SCORE, un partner nonprofit dell'Amministrazione per le Piccole Imprese. Il programma Business Access Advisor di U.S. Bank, parte del suo Access Commitment®, mira ad aiutare le piccole imprese svantaggiate a prosperare fornendo accesso a informazioni e risorse.
U.S. Bank patrocina la competencia SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth, un evento al estilo de 'Shark Tank' para emprendedores que buscan expandir sus negocios. El ganador de 2023, Surefire Neighborhood Market, recibió $5,000 por proporcionar opciones de alimentos saludables y asequibles en Rock Hill, Carolina del Sur. Las solicitudes para la competencia de 2024 se abrirán el 12 de agosto, con el evento final programado para mediados de noviembre.
La competencia, respaldada por la U.S. Bank Foundation, ofrece mentoría y recursos educativos a través de SCORE, un socio sin fines de lucro de la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas. El programa Business Access Advisor de U.S. Bank, parte de su Access Commitment®, tiene como objetivo ayudar a las pequeñas empresas desatendidas a prosperar proporcionando acceso a información y recursos.
미국 은행은 성장 위해 발산하는 SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth 대회를 후원합니다. 이 대회는 비즈니스를 확장하려는 기업가들을 위한 '샤크 탱크' 스타일의 행사입니다. 2023년의 우승자는 Surefire Neighborhood Market로, 사우스 캐롤라이나 록 힐에서 저렴하고 건강한 음식 옵션을 제공한 대가로 $5,000를 받았습니다. 2024년 대회 신청은 8월 12일에 열립니다, 최종 이벤트는 11월 중순입니다.
이 대회는 U.S. Bank Foundation의 지원을 받으며, 소기업청의 비영리 파트너인 SCORE를 통해 멘토링 및 교육 자원을 제공합니다. 미국 은행의 Business Access Advisor 프로그램은 Access Commitment®의 일환으로, 열악한 환경에 있는 중소기업이 정보 및 자원에 대한 접근을 통해 번성할 수 있도록 돕는 것을 목표로 합니다.
U.S. Bank parraine la compétition SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth, un événement de style 'Shark Tank' pour les entrepreneurs souhaitant développer leur entreprise. Le gagnant de 2023, Surefire Neighborhood Market, a reçu 5 000 $ pour avoir proposé des options alimentaires saines et abordables à Rock Hill, en Caroline du Sud. Les candidatures pour la compétition de 2024 s'ouvrent le 12 août, avec l'événement final prévu pour la mi-novembre.
La compétition, soutenue par la U.S. Bank Foundation, offre du mentorat et des ressources éducatives via SCORE, un partenaire à but non lucratif de l'Administration des petites entreprises. Le programme Business Access Advisor de U.S. Bank, qui fait partie de son Access Commitment®, vise à aider les petites entreprises désavantagées à prospérer en fournissant un accès à des informations et des ressources.
Die U.S. Bank sponsert den Wettbewerb SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth, eine Veranstaltung im 'Shark Tank'-Stil für Unternehmer, die ihre Geschäfte erweitern möchten. Der Gewinner des Jahres 2023, Surefire Neighborhood Market, erhielt 5.000 US-Dollar für die Bereitstellung von erschwinglichen und gesunden Lebensmitteloptionen in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Die Bewerbungen für den Wettbewerb 2024 öffnen am 12. August, die finale Veranstaltung findet Mitte November statt.
Der Wettbewerb wird von der U.S. Bank Foundation unterstützt und bietet Mentoring und Bildungsressourcen über SCORE, einen gemeinnützigen Partner der Small Business Administration. Das Business Access Advisor-Programm von U.S. Bank, das Teil des Access Commitment® ist, zielt darauf ab, unterversorgten kleinen Unternehmen zu helfen, indem es Zugang zu Informationen und Ressourcen bietet.
- U.S. Bank is sponsoring a competition to support small business growth
- The bank provides mentoring and educational resources through SCORE
- U.S. Bank's Business Access Advisor program aims to help underserved small businesses
- None.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2024 / U.S. Bank
Applications will open soon for the U.S. Bank-sponsored Pitch for Growth, a 'Shark Tank'-style competition among entrepreneurs with ambitions to expand
Barbara Brill, president of SCORE Charlotte (left), with Surefire's Magliore Lubika (center) and U.S. Bank Business Access Advisor Kimberly Edwards (right).
Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog
Magliore Lubika knows all too well that convenience stores located in neighborhoods without supermarkets rarely offer healthy, fresh food options.
"My parents operated convenience stores for 21 years in urban and rural areas, and during that time we were their best employees," Lubika said during his presentation to a panel of five expert judges at the SCORE Charlotte Pitch for Growth 2023. "We understand convenience stores. That's why we're trying to redefine them."
Lubika and his brothers' business was good enough to win among 10 small business finalists from North and South Carolina in the first-ever "Shark Tank"-style event held by SCORE Charlotte. Surefire Neighborhood Market, which provides affordable, healthy options to the Sunset Park neighborhood in Rock Hill, South Carolina, earned the top prize of
U.S. Bank served as presenting sponsor of the 2023 competition and is returning again in 2024. The U.S. Bank Foundation has provided funding to SCORE in several other markets in addition to Charlotte across the U.S., including San Diego, Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada.
Applications for the 2024 Charlotte Pitch for Growth open on August 12, with the final competition to be held in mid-November.
In addition to the prize money, Surefire and all nine other finalists received one-on-one mentoring advice from SCORE. The nonprofit, a resource partner to the Small Business Administration, has a mission to support and grow the small business community through free mentoring and educational resources. There are more than 10,000 SCORE-certified mentors across the country, many of whom are retired small business owners or corporate executives who volunteer their time with the organization.
The Pitch for Growth is geared at existing small businesses in the Charlotte area that already had experienced "a little bit of success" and are looking to expand, said Barbara Brill, president of SCORE Charlotte, which serves 13 counties in North Carolina and three in South Carolina. Surefire, for example, began in 2022 when Lubika and his brothers took over one of their parents' convenience stores and renovated it into a neighborhood market - with an ultimate business plan of expanding into other communities that don't have nearby options for fresh, healthy food.
"Even the businesses that didn't win the cash prizes still won by gaining experience, and the ability to tell their story in a compelling narrative to investors - or anyone else - to take their business to the next level," Brill said.
Small businesses are 'the engines of our economy'
"I loved seeing so many businesses from the community that represented all walks of life" at the competition, said Kimberly Edwards, U.S. Bank Business Access Advisor based in Chalotte, who provided mentoring to several of the 2023 competitors and helped organize the final competition, including enlisting the services of nationally recognized business coach Sharita Humphreys, CEO of Change In Motion, to help finalists refine their presentations.
As a Business Access Advisor (BAA) at U.S. Bank, Edwards goal is to help underserved small businesses thrive by providing them access to information, connections and other resources. The BAA program is part of U.S. Bank Access Commitment®, the bank's long-term approach to help close the wealth gap for underserved communities, including communities of color.
"The Pitch Competition aligns with our goals as Business Access Advisors to help assist diverse-owned businesses to build wealth," Edwards said. "Surefire Market is a perfect example of a newer generation preserving and building upon the wealth their family worked hard to build."
The 2023 runners up included a charter school started by a former public-school teacher who was inspired to start her own school focused on outdoor learning and a business that provides customized, permanent jewelry.
"Small businesses are the engines of our economy. And they have their ears to the ground with what is happening with their customers and that puts them in a position - like Surefire Market - to easily tweak their model to meet the needs of the community," Edwards said.
Editor's note: Surefire Market temporarily closed after a mid-July fire broke out in the kitchen. Lubika said they don't have a clear timeline for reopening the location but he and his team are committed to reopening it and using the rebuilding as an opportunity to "build an even better store with more food access for our community," he said.
Lubika said they've been touched by the outpouring of support from the community, including calls from the mayor of Rock Hill, mentors and colleagues at SCORE Charlotte and people in the neighborhood.
"Lots of people stop by when we've come to check in on things and they're saddened by the news, and the lack of food access now is really impacting people," he said. "It's been such a moment for us, because when you're working on your business you don't have a moment to think about what you've built, and this has really given us pause to see all of the love and it makes me thankful that we've had such an impact."
If you'd like to donate to help Surefire rebuild, visit https://www.surefiremarketco.com/donate
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