durham

Durham brings back $10,000 aid for Fayetteville Street businesses

A yearlong city program will offer money, coaching, training, and technical help to qualifying businesses along the historic corridor.

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Durham brings back $10,000 aid for Fayetteville Street businesses
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Businesses along part of Durham’s Fayetteville Street corridor can apply for up to $10,000 to improve their operations or facilities.

The city is bringing back its Fayetteville Street Corridor Bounce Back Program, a yearlong effort that also will offer business owners coaching, technical assistance, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Applications are open now and will remain open as long as money is available. The city hasn’t set a firm deadline.

To qualify, a business must be located along Fayetteville Street between N.C. 147 and East Cornwallis Road, near Beechwood Cemetery, or in an area immediately next to that stretch of the corridor.

The program website says some types of businesses may not meet the city’s criteria, but it doesn’t spell out which ones are excluded. Business owners can contact M-Cubed & Co. Global, the private consulting firm managing the program, to find out whether they qualify.

“Small businesses and legacy businesses are the backbone of Durham’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors,” said Joshua Gunn, director of Durham’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, in the city’s announcement.

Gunn said the city wants to help businesses compete and grow while recognizing Fayetteville Street’s history as a center of Black business, culture, and community life.

What businesses can receive

Businesses accepted into the program may receive:

  • Stipends of up to $10,000 for operational or facility improvements
  • One-on-one help with business planning, applications, and other needs
  • Technical assistance with branding, operations, regulatory compliance, and financial management
  • Workshops, training, peer learning, and networking events
  • A listing in an online directory promoting businesses along the corridor

Businesses seeking a stipend will be evaluated individually based on what improvements they need.

It isn’t yet clear how much money the city has set aside for the stipends, how many businesses could receive them, or whether recipients will have to contribute any of their own money.

During an April 2026 update to the Durham City Council, city staff pointed to improvements made through the earlier Bounce Back program, including upgrades at salons and purchases of restaurant equipment.

The new round will be managed by M-Cubed in partnership with the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development. The city hasn’t disclosed the overall cost of the yearlong program or identified its funding source.

The Fayetteville Street Corridor Bounce Back Program generally covers Fayetteville Street between N.C. 147 and East Cornwallis Road, along with immediately adjacent businesses. Eligibility is determined by the program administrator. (Graphic by Southpoint Access; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors)

A corridor with a long history

The Bounce Back Program is one piece of Durham’s larger effort to encourage investment along Fayetteville Street without pushing aside the businesses, institutions, and residents already rooted there.

That larger work includes the separate Hayti Promise Fayetteville Street Corridor Project, which received an initial $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money in 2024.

The city has acknowledged that the Fayetteville Street area has faced years of neglect and underinvestment. Its stated goal is to bring new resources to the corridor while preserving its cultural and economic importance.

For business owners, the Bounce Back Program offers a more immediate opportunity. Because applications will close once the available money runs out, those who think they may qualify shouldn’t wait too long to apply.

How to apply

Applications and additional program information are available at fayettevillestreetdurham.com.

Business owners also can contact M-Cubed & Co. Global at clientservices@m-cubedcoglobal.com or 919-321-1302 for help determining whether they qualify and starting an application.

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