TIM MOSSHOLDER | UNSPLASH

Charlotte's Open for Business initiative aims to support small business through an online dashboard showing operations, hours and special offers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city of Charlotte has launched an “Open for Business” initiative to support local small businesses during and after COVID-19.

Open for Business is a public dashboard and application are designed to connect residents with the city’s small businesses without violating the Mecklenburg County stay-at-home order, which runs through April 29.

“We heard directly from the small business community that visibility today is critical to surviving this pandemic,” Assistant City Manager Tracy Dodson said in a statement. “Small business owners are finding creative ways to continue to serve their customers during this time, and we want to elevate their presence however we can. We are excited to launch this dashboard and share it with our residents who are eager to support them.”

Businesses must complete an application to have their business included in the dashboard, which will feature their operations, hours, changes to service, delivery, as well as special offers. This does not exclude businesses that have temporarily closed due to the pandemic. They may still apply to be added once the stay-at-home order is lifted. The information will be displayed on the city’s small business resource webpage, open data portal and the CLT+ app.

Small businesses whose applications are accepted will receive the Charlotte Open for Business Logo, which the city will encourage them to display on social media, as well as on their storefront.

To apply: https://openforbusinessdashboard-charlotte.hub.arcgis.com/

For more information about the city’s small business resource webpage: https://charlottenc.gov/covid19/Pages/smallbusiness.aspx

For more information about the open data portal: https://data.charlottenc.gov/

For more information about the city’s app: https://charlottenc.gov/Pages/CLTplus.aspx

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