Charlotte Center City Partners on Monday announced the second class of students for its HIIVE (Charlotte Hub for Inclusion, Innovation and Entrepreneurship) program.
HIIVE is a small business resource hub focused on providing growth opportunities for Charlotte’s small food and retail businesses.
The nine-week program will provide education and operational experience in a physical space at Market at 7th Street, an indoor dining and shopping center located at 224 East 7th Street.
The first group featured 19 entrepreneurs, including chefs, food truck owners, artists and a variety of pop-up vendors.
Two cohort members, taco stand International Truck of Tacos and artisanal candle shop Flows Grand, were given free operating space at the market for six months.
Blanca Gonzalez, owner of International Truck of Tacos, and Aubrey Legrand, owner of Flo’s Grand, said the HIIVE program has been beneficial to the growth of their businesses.
“[HIIVE is] “It expands our horizons,” Gonzalez told QCity Metro about the program. “HIIVE has played a key role in helping us get our brick-and-mortar presence.”
Expanding possibilities
Gonzalez said the market’s central location makes it ideal for reaching a new customer base.
“I’ve always wanted to open a store in Uptown,” Gonzalez said, “and the best thing about this market is that it’s easily accessible by light rail.”
Gonzalez said that because rent was paid through HIIVE, she was also able to hire two more employees.
LeGrande told QCity Metro that before joining HIIVE, her business was entirely online, but now that she has a physical space, she’s able to host more in-person events, like candle-making classes.
“It was a great opportunity to meet with customers, refine our story and refine our business operations and management,” LeGrande said.
Applications for HIIVE’s second cohort, which will run from August to December 2024, can be made here .
