What We Offer

 Charlotte is a small, vibrant town bustling with events, arts, artisan businesses, and amazing food. It's a great place for owners and entrepreneurs seeking business development and expanding.

Logistics are easy, as Charlotte is near the I96 and I69 interchange with rail and airport access. It boasts excellent demographics, quality of life, affordability, and rising household incomes. The region's labor pool is strong with diverse industries in the capitol region, close proximity to Michigan State University, and easy commuting from Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Lansing.

Our goal is to help Charlotte businesses build, grow, and flourish, and that means making it easy for owners and entrepreneurs. From at-your-fingers access to permits and applications to our Economic Vitality Team, we’ve got the information you need to help you succeed.
Don't know where to start? Click Starting A Business to use our flow chart. This will take you through the process of opening a business and point you to the correct resources.

Charlotte is…Where Business Opportunity Abounds

Charlotte is a small town that thinks big. We are an energetic, collaborative, big-thinking community that’s conveniently located near the state capital. We boast a strong, rural history and a progressive growth-oriented mind-set. Development, education, and overall growth are the pillars to the success of Charlotte and its partners.

Charlotte is great because of hard work and nurture, patience and care. Take a good look around. Charlotte is beautiful. Bountiful. Authentic. Hardworking. It’s small town and it’s open fields. It’s built from the ground up with grit and with love. Good friends and helpful neighbors. A place we can celebrate. A place we can share.

Charlotte is a destination town where families choose to live, visitors and travelers intentionally patronage its businesses, organizations, and events.

Business Resources

 Let's work together to help your business thrive. Please reach out to us to schedule an individual conversation on your vision, your goals, and how we can help clear the path for you.
Below are resources that can be valuable as you start your business, move your business here, and take it to the next level.

Funding

There are a wide range of state and federal programs to help you fund your business development and expansion. Below are links to many that may be helpful to you:
USDA
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
Other State Funding

Skill Building

Not sure where to start? Need help creating, marketing, and growing your business? Below are links to assist you:
SCORE
Michigan Small Business Development Corp.
Small Business Development Guide
Starting a Food, Beverage, or Agricultural Business
Michigan State Extension

Real Estate

Find off-market business owners interested in offering space for sale or lease, and find local brokers who will help find space suited to your needs.
Contact us to match your needs with off-market opportunities
Contact a local commercial broker

Service Providers

Below are vetted firms that offer quality services:
CharlotteRising
Chamber of Commerce
Market research, traffic counts, surveys - Cobalt
Website development
Design and branding
Marketing services
Printing services
Space build out
Construction
Facility services
Financial planning