Skip to content

Carrboro Business Alliance Advocates for Local Business Support with American Rescue Plan Funding

Carrboro Business Alliance Advocates for Local Business Support with American Rescue Plan Funding

Carrboro Business Alliance

*The following are the points delivered by Katie Loovis on behalf of the Carrboro Business Alliance to the Carrboro Town Council on 6/1/21 regarding recommendations on how to support local businesses with American Rescue Plan funding. Watch the video


  • In April, The Chamber implemented a “Business Needs Assessment Survey (slide 7-16)” to assess and better understand the needs of our local business community, including businesses in Carrboro. 
  • The survey unpacked two main questions and more than 100 employers responded. 
  • The first question was: “What do you need most in order to survive and thrive in the next six months?”
  • The number one response from local employers was grants. 
  • The second question was, “What is the most significant challenge to the future growth and survival of your organization?” 
  • The top response was Marketing Assistance – local businesses could use support reaching potential customers; in fact, most respondents - 69% - affirmed this need. 
  • The next highest response had to do with talent - recruiting, training, and retaining workers so the business can get back to full operations. 35% of respondents affirmed this need. 
  • The CBA Marketing Committee met last week with Jon Hartman-Brown. The CBA validated these survey findings – that grants would be a biggest way to help local businesses in the next six months, and that marketing and talent challenges were the biggest obstacles for survival and success. 
  • CBA members emphasized a third area in need of support - capital improvements. 
  • One of many examples of the latter during our conversation with CBA members was with a local deli owner, who said additional funds for capital improvement would help them afford a new refrigerator that they’ve long needed. 
  • I want to thank the Mayor, the Manager, and Jon Hartman-Brown for reaching out to the CBA for input. 
  • I encourage you to remember local businesses in your long-term recovery planning, consider small business grants as a vehicle for support, and consider focusing those grant funds on the areas local businesses identified as high need: marketing, talent, and capital improvements. 
  • Thank you so much! 



Powered By GrowthZone