Small Business and Neighborhood Retail DRAFT Chapter

Ensure small businesses that sell nutritious and affordable food in every neighborhood (e.g., groceries, cafés, etc.).

Target support for "minority" owned banks.

Talk to MS [medium size?] organizations and small business owners.

Develop an educational framework for business finance and investment.

Identify vacants and rehab them and use them for start-up business with low beginner budgets.

Spot commercial zoning in residential areas should be aligned with community goals. Don't just focus on commercial corridors.

How will you work to align community associations ideas and needs with a business association needs?

Encourage more grocery stores in the city.

Better promote source line (city SBRC) and existing resources.

Or respond to 311 requests. [Need] 311 prioritization in commercial areas.

Walk-throughs are not consistent, in personal or scheduling.

Can this be something that comes from annual tax filings? You would opt into the fund, then if needed, be able to access it.

Improving physical environment could include street pollution (homelessness, loitering, and panhandling are very unattractive).

Yes, if brick and mortar are supplemented.

These resources exist through multiple agencies (for free), including SBRC, city and state, banks, etc. More organizations offering resources make it too confusing. No need for BASE or another.

BASE Network has been a disappointing disaster. Revise it or remove it.

The report highlights TREND's successful crowdfunding campaign but does not mention the unique program Baltimore has to help any locally-owned business access capital through grassroots investment crowdfunding. Through the MD Neighborhood Exchange/Crowdfund Baltimore, all locally-owned businesses can access free technical assistance to ensure they can be successful using this important tool. Grassroots investment crowdfunding is such a valuable tool because it offers a triple bottom line, with real benefits for 1) community residents (who can build new assets through very small, accessible investment opportunities), 2) businesses (who not only access needed capital but also solidify ties with customers/community; if local residents take a financial stake in local businesses, then they will patronize and promote those establishments as much as possible), and 3) the overall community (which benefits as local businesses grow and succeed). As such, I urge you to specifically highlight the MD Exchange/Crowdfund Baltimore, and to consider ways to boost their impact (e.g., by creating a fund that could match the $s community members invest in each business).