The mission of Commissioner Vilma Leake’s Small Business Consortium is to educate, equip, and empower small businesses in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. In 2010, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Vilma D. Leake (District 2) identified an opportunity to support the economic contributions of Small, Women and Minority owned businesses by convening a community forum. Her initial goals were to promote business and economic growth; identify and address the unique obstacles and needs of small business owners; and determine a call of action to strengthen relationships with the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the State of North Carolina. Due to Commissioner Leake’s initiative and the efforts of local business owners, the community forum was officially established as the Small Business Consortium in early 2012. Since our inception, more than 1700 business owners have joined our database, gaining insider access to valuable information about new and developing business opportunities; informative insights about working with government contractors; and business and professional development opportunities, including registration to attend our bi-monthly SBC luncheons.