BusinessWednesday, November 4
Charlotte is launching a free course to prepare small businesses for transit-tax construction jobs
The Daily Huntersville team
If you own a small business and want a piece of the region's next building boom, Charlotte has a free course coming. The city is launching Skilled to Build to teach companies how to compete for big contracts, and the first cohort starts in 2027. Applications for that group open early next year, and owners who want training sooner can sign up through an online form from Growmetix.
$19.4 billionestimated over several decades from the 1% sales tax
Mecklenburg County voters approved the 1% sales tax last year to support road and transit work. It took effect July 1.
Sources: K104.7, Charlotte Observer
- Format: six courses, all taught in person
- Each course: a two-hour core session plus a one-hour bonus session
- Focus: business skills like capital and legal hurdles, not trade skills
- Course designer: Growmetix, hired by the city
Why now? A city report found demand will exceed local labor capacity by 2030. If market conditions persist, local businesses could build only about half of the projects when demand peaks around 2040. Program manager Alban Burney said, "When small businesses are successful, Charlotte's economy is successful."
Charlotte expects construction demand to outrun local labor by 2030
- July 2026The 1% sales tax for road and transit work took effect.
- 2027The first Skilled to Build cohort will launch.
- 2030Demand will exceed local labor capacity, a city report found.
- 2040Construction demand is expected to peak around this time.
Sources: K104.7, Charlotte Observer
Sources: K104.7, Charlotte Observer