Councilman James "Smuggie" Mitchell Town Hall - Sept 26 2026

The City of Charlotte held a Small Business Town Hall on September 26, 2026, led by Mayor Pro Tem James "Smuggie" Mitchell Jr. and key city officials including the contracting and procurement director. The meeting focused on the evolving landscape of small business certification and contracting opportunities in light of recent North Carolina state legislation (SB 257 and HB 171) that eliminated certain race and gender-conscious contracting goals and the HUB office, impacting minority and women-owned business programs. City and state officials discussed the implications for the Charlotte Business Inclusion (CBI) program, emphasizing the need for new strategies to support Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification, access to capital, bonding, and outreach. The town hall also highlighted ongoing efforts to develop a new small business program under the state Department of Administration, including defining small business criteria, value propositions for certification, and rollout plans. Attendees raised concerns about procurement responsiveness, the importance of local business prioritization, and the potential role of AI in streamlining bid searches and contract management. The meeting underscored a commitment to collaboration among city, state, and community partners to enhance small business participation in public contracting despite legislative changes.