Charlotte Mayor Lays Out Plan For Small Businesses

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx is working to put his campaign promises to work.

Sunday, he laid out his plans to boost small businesses in the city.

Ahmed Onsi was in the restaurant business for years in Boston and after moving to Charlotte eight months ago he decided to get things cooking again, opening his "Bigger Bite" restaurant in the university area, just five days ago.

Onsi said, "The start is very slow."

The uncertain economy doesn't make things any easier.

"It is very risky," Onsi said. "But if I don't take the chance now, later on I'm not going to be able to afford it."

Mayor Foxx said he's working to help people like Onsi.

"We've got to expand jobs in our smaller business areas," the mayor said.

During a meeting Sunday in Northeast Charlotte, the mayor laid out his plans to make good on his campaign promises to support and grow small business in the city. His strategies include expanding the use of small businesses in city operations. Mayor Foxx also wants to improve access to capital by holding a conference to connect small businesses and entrepreneurs with big investors and banks and by expanding the city's small business loan program.

Onsi, who is putting his life savings into "Bigger Bite" looks forward to the city's support.

"If I have more money to extend me for a couple, three months, I'm closer to success than failure," he said.

Mayor Foxx is also planning to work with county leaders to find ways to support the 27,000 small businesses in Mecklenburg County. Foxx said he is also planning a job summit for large and small businesses in February.

WSOC