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.
BELL Business Insider
​​Where entrepreneurs find community and get the resources they need to create, grow, and scale their businesses while also developing personally.
BELL Prize
A collaborative and supportive environment for African American business owners at every stage of entrepreneurship.
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
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. The 2023 program starts March 7 and occurs every Tuesday from 6:30-8:30PM at the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Each session includes refreshments. $100 registration includes:
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10 facilitated sessions (many to include panelists and guest speakers)
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Training material and cloud based software (lifetime access)
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Light meal provided at each session
Registration closed March 7, 2023 at 12PM.
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.