resources
downtown
concord
Downtown Concord is a proud member of the NC Main Street Program. If you have any questions regarding bringing or starting your business in downtown Concord, Concord’s Downtown Development Manager can be the perfect resource to answer questions and point you in the right direction. Their staff hold regular meetings and share newsletters to keep businesses and property owners in the district updated on local happenings, ways to get involved, and promote your business.
The Flywheel
Foundation
The Flywheel Foundation and the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College have teamed up to administer the Retail Lab Bootcamp, a six-week, application-based program designed to help early-stage and pre-launch businesses turn their ideas into reality. Deadline to apply is October 5, 2026. Participants dive into essential topics like business strategy, branding, marketing, e-commerce, point-of-sale systems, and inventory management. Along the way, they build connections with key players across the region and have the opportunity to pitch for grant funding. The program has helped businesses like Barley Jean’s Bakery and Red Bird Thread Co. Others have launched successful brick-and-mortar shops, pop-ups, and e-commerce brands in Concord, Kannapolis, Salisbury, and beyond. The Retail Lab Bootcamp runs multiple times a year at the Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at 57 Union Street South.
The District
Exchange
The District Exchange provides the next step in entrepreneurship in downtown Concord. Whether you are a Retail Lab Graduate, an experienced or new entrepreneur, someone who has out grown working from home, or knows your ideal footprint doesn’t require extensive square footage, come Find Your Space at the District Exchange.
