North Carolina small businesses took center stage on Thursday as dozens of small businesses and community leaders gathered for a celebration and awards ceremony at Raleigh Union Station.

What You Need To Know

  • Spectrum and Carolina Small Business Development Fund announced investments of $1.5 million in small businesses in North Carolina

  • Businesses in rural parts of the state received $1 million 

  •  Another $500,000 went to small businesses in areas hit hard by flooding from Helene

Spectrum and Carolina Small Business Development Fund announced a $1.5 million dollar investment in the Spectrum Community Investment Loan fund, money given out to boost business across the state.

The fund is giving $1 million to help support small businesses in rural areas, while the remaining $500,000 will be allocated to hometown shops and businesses impacted by Helene last year.

State leaders, including Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall joined business executives at the event.

Secretary Marshall took part in a panel discussion with Spectrum News 1 Capital Tonight anchor Tim Boyum about the importance of small business.

“It’s that local merchant who their success breeds success for another business. The florist, the DJ or a bridal venue, that kind of thing. Good business breeds other good businesses that they need,” Marshall said.

“These types of loans come with technical advice, because nobody wants to loan and have it go flat and bad from the beginning. Technical assistance on how to do certain things is available through various resources and will go along with these loans,” she said.

Spectrum News 1’s host of In Focus and weekend anchor Sarah Rudlang was on hand as Terrence Graham, Owner of Drums vs. Flats was named Innovator of the Year at the event. 

Graham launched his chicken wing business out of his Charlotte garage at the height of the pandemic in 2020. He said his hard work is paying off.

“A lot of trial and error, a lot of just trying, determination, trying to figure it out. All of those things it kind of what helped us and scoped us and shaped us into the grand business we are today,” Graham said.

Children’s Garden Montesorri School in Mebane received the Change Agent of the Year Award.

Both businesses also received Pay It Forward awards from Spectrum Reach, giving them a free TV and streaming commercial, $15,000 and connection to educational resources and mentorship.

“It could just help me in so many ways, with either growth, employment, innovation, expansion, so much that could help a small business like myself,” Graham said.

Graham hopes his business’s continued success gives his community a sense of pride.

“Not only something delectable to eat, but also just giving them something to be proud of saying, 'hey, that’s a North Carolina-born-and-raised product right there,'" he said.

In the past four years, Spectrum has invested $2.5 million in North Carolina small businesses. Those investments, along with more than $4 million through the load fund have helped create or retain almost 400 jobs across North Carolina, according to the company.

Spectrum Networks is the parent company of Spectrum News 1.