Small business community support isn’t a trend; it’s the pulse of economic vitality. For entrepreneurs, the road to success often starts with one supportive act: a neighbor who shops locally, a non-profit that offers free resources, or a local company that helps amplify a story.
In Charlotte and throughout the United States, this type of support is driving new concepts, jobs, and transformation in neighborhoods. And with partnerships like the Extra Squeeze, we’re witnessing what’s possible when support isn’t merely symbolic; it’s strategic. Read on to learn more about how you can create growth in your hometown via your small business.
What Small Business Community Support Really Means
Community support comes in many different forms. We like to focus on the top three:
Economic: shopping at local businesses rather than chain stores
Social: posting a review, leaving a recommendation, attending an event
Structural: building networks and connections that small businesses can actually use for growth.
This kind of support strengthens communities by keeping dollars local and providing small businesses with the legitimacy they need to boost growth. And in today’s highly competitive economy, being recognized, trusted, and visible at the regional level is what small businesses need most.
Case Study: Extra Squeeze and the Charlotte Creative Ecosystem
The Extra Squeeze Grant is a micro-grant initiative that pays homage to Charlotte-area creatives and entrepreneurs. Each month through December 2025, a new grantee receives a $500 grant and promotional support to build community visibility.
This program is a collaboration between Charlotte is Creative / CreativeMornings CLT, CharlotteFive, Springclean, and Bogues Group—four partners who know that serious support means allocating resources (be it time, money, or energy) into local, creative talent. Together, they’ve built a program that’s equal parts recognition, launchpad, and wholly inspired by Charlotte’s unique creative culture.
Why Local Partnerships Matter
Behind every successful small business is a foundation of community support—usually spearheaded by non-profits, creative collaborators, and communications partners. Together, they provide actual access to capital, media, customers, and the kind of networks where business development is long-lasting.
That’s why Bogues Group builds relationships with organizations in our community and throughout the country. Whether it’s helping a non-profit promote its outreach or assisting a startup owner in landing their first media mention, we work with and for our community.
How Bogues Group Connects the Dots for Small Business Growth
As a Charlotte-based PR and marketing agency, Bogues Group knows our region’s small business community well. We’ve seen how a little exposure to storytelling, community programming, and genuine local connections can be a game-changer for small businesses.
From highlighting grant recipients, such as Extra Squeeze Grant awardees, to partnering with mission-driven non-profits and developing sustained visibility plans for local entrepreneurs, Bogues Group works within the community so creatives and businesses aren’t trying to scale in solitude.
We’re not only consultants; we’re connectors. We believe that when community support is intentional, small businesses thrive.
Creating Improved Ecosystems, Collaboratively
Small businesses aren’t merely service providers, they’re pillars of neighborhood existence. And in a trusted, seen, and convenient world, small business community support isn’t a choice. It’s a requirement.
If you’re a non-profit executive or small business owner hoping to create a greater impact, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s build strategically, locally, and on purpose.
Wondering how you can support small businesses in your community? Click here to get your own personal action plan to support your local business community.