Economic Vitality

Strengthening small businesses and expanding pathways to prosperity along the Rock Quarry Road Corridor.

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How We Build Economic Vitality

Economic progress happens when small business owners have the support they need to grow and when the community invests consistently in a shared vision for the corridor.

WE CONNECT

We connect small business owners along the Rock Quarry Road Corridor with capital and with the entrepreneurial support organizations that help them grow. We also connect residents to financial education and workforce-readiness opportunities that strengthen household stability.

WE CONVENE

Through the Rock Quarry Road Small Business Alliance, we bring small business owners together each month to share resources and advocate for the corridor. Until this alliance launched, Southeast Raleigh was the only major corridor in Raleigh without one.

WE CATALYZE

We turn shared priorities into action — coordinating micro-grant investments and partnering with the City of Raleigh and local leaders on a master plan that reflects the vision of the people who live and work here.

The Rock Quarry Road Small Business Alliance

At the center of this pillar is the Rock Quarry Road Small Business Alliance, a monthly gathering of small business owners along the corridor.

The alliance creates space for owners to connect with peers and access the resources they need to grow. It also gives the local small business community a unified voice in discussions about the future of the corridor.

Micro-Grants for Small Businesses

With support from Duke Energy, we launched a micro-grant program for small businesses along the Rock Quarry Road Corridor.

We provide grants from $750 to $2,000, totaling $22,500 in its first year. Grants help owners invest in equipment, marketing, inventory, or other growth priorities.

Workforce Readiness for Adults

Economic vitality reaches beyond business ownership to the residents who call this community home.

Through the Level Up series at Beacon Ridge Apartments, adult residents build career readiness and financial confidence. We also connect residents to career training and the services that strengthen long-term household stability.

Shaping the Future of the Corridor

A thriving corridor needs more than individual businesses. It needs coordinated investment.

We are working with city officials and residents on a master plan for Rock Quarry Road that supports small business growth and attracts new services. Near-term priorities include public art and stronger connections to anchor institutions like the Coastal Credit Union Music Park.

What's Next

Two priorities will guide the next chapter of this work.

Deepening our partnerships with entrepreneurial support organizations so small businesses along the corridor have consistent access to the resources they need.

Helping shape a long-term vision for the Rock Quarry Road Corridor that grows from the grassroots up and reflects the community it serves.

Working With Trusted Partners

We advance this work alongside organizations that provide funding, training, and small-business expertise.

→ City of Raleigh
→ Carolina Small Business  Development Fund
→ Duke Energy
→ Wake Tech Community College
→ The Wright Center
→ Coastal Credit Union Music Park