Business Development
& Innovation
The Business Development & Innovation pillar of B.E.L.L. aims to serve as a resource to Black business owners by assisting them in creating, growing, and scaling their businesses. Through programming and tools, we guide Black business owners towards implementation and growth while helping them overcome unique challenges and address the cultural nuances that are typically associated with Black owned businesses.
B.E.L.L. is committed to assisting the City of Rock Hill achieve its diversity and inclusion goals by tracking and measuring the value of Black owned businesses to the Rock Hill community while also analyzing gaps and areas of improvement to enhance Black business sustainability and growth.
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For more information, please email us at bdi@bellofrockhill.org.
Our Programming & Partnerships
Kauffman FastTrac
Kauffman FastTrac teaches aspiring, early-stage entrepreneurs how to launch their businesses. Entrepreneurs gain comprehensive knowledge and skills for venture creation and growth.
Business Bootcamp
A hands-on business development series featuring book reviews, experiences from diverse business owners, insights into successes and challenges, exploration of community resources, and perspectives from family members of entrepreneurs.
Business Plan Workshops
Engage in practical sessions dedicated to crafting your business plan. Our objective is to guide you through a process that enhances your bankability, positions you for angel investments, and equips you for successful pursuits of partnerships, collaborations, and contracts.
BELL Prize
Test your efforts in a pitch session where you create, practice, and receive real-time feedback. Compete for potential funds, pitch to bankers for bankability insights, and approach angel investors or agencies with available funds. Our goal is to equip you for diverse financial opportunities that may arise for your business.
BELL Business Insider
​​Where entrepreneurs find community and get the resources they need to create, grow, and scale their businesses while also developing personally.
Business assessment & Continuum of Care
A program for ongoing support to businesses in our programs and existing owners. Share your developmental needs, and let us facilitate your growth through affinity groups, assessments, and encouragement.
Impact by the Numbers
90
Black-owned Businesses supported via BELL-PRIZE
$150,000
in capital provided to Black-owned local businesses
120
Hours of training and development provided via BELL-PRIZE
$875,000
Potential Economic Impact via SC Cares Grant Assistance
35
Black-owned businesses supported via SC Cares Grant Assistance
BELL-Prize
Prior to 1960, downtown Rock Hill had a thriving African-American Business District. During the 1960’s & 1970’s, those businesses were torn down as part of the federally funded Urban Renewal program. Since then, not many African-American owned businesses have re-emerged in the downtown area. Through BELL-Prize budding and scaling Black business owners are provided with the community, resources, workshops and trainings, and access to capital to re-establish a strong and diverse small business community within the City of Rock Hill.