Jerrianne Jackson, Chair of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation (RHEDC)

Invest: spoke with Jerrianne Jackson, chair of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee at the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation, about the needs, opportunities, and priorities shaping Rock Hill’s small business ecosystem. “The role of our committee is to make sure that our businesses are strategically set and ready to make decisions and have those opportunities when they arise,” Jackson said.

What is the overall sentiment for small businesses in Rock Hill as we move through 2026?

I chair the Rock Hill Economic Development Small Business Committee, and we have a vibrant committee of vocal volunteers. They are not shy about talking about their businesses and what is going on in their industries.

One of the changes that has been good for our committee is that we were really downtown-focused when I first started on the board about five years ago. Through the work we have been doing, including our Shop Local campaign, we have seen businesses from different districts beginning to come to the meetings. That is important because, even though we have a good portion of small businesses and restaurants downtown, there are other areas of the city where small businesses may not have felt like they had a voice.

Over the last year, we have been able to reach out to different areas and invite them to our meetings so that we can hear their voices and concerns. I think the biggest change has been hearing small businesses’ voices from all areas of Rock Hill.

What industries are showing the most growth, and where do you see opportunity?

We always have our food industries show up, especially our restaurants. I think our restaurants will always be there.

For opportunity, I think it is a lot of our professional services that may not have a storefront and are looking at ways to make their business more noticeable. We have media firms, financial advisers, realtors, and someone in the IT space. They want to make their voices heard because they do not have a literal door that someone can knock on.

When I think of opportunities, I also think there is always a great opportunity for more retail in Rock Hill. We have some small retail downtown, but if we can have more retail shops that are small business-owned through different districts in the city, that would be great. My business is located on the south side of Rock Hill, and we would love to have a grocery store, restaurants and retail on this side of town.

How does Rock Hill compare with other markets when it comes to supporting entrepreneurship?

When I was in Charlotte doing small business work, we looked at York County as part of the region. When we think about opportunities for small businesses to grow and scale, we look at networking and access to opportunities.

As a region, I would say that we do a great job of that, especially with our small business centers. Winthrop University has a good small business center, and Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte also has an active one. No matter what part of the region your business is located in, you have access to those resources.

One of the challenges I am seeing is that sometimes people become overwhelmed with the opportunities because they do not know where to start. One of the things our committee created last year was a directory that helps small businesses understand at what level they need certain resources.

You may have a small business that is just getting off the ground and another that has been there for 10 or 20 years, and they have different needs. One may need to understand how to open a bank account, and another may need financing for a large project. The directory helps businesses get the resource that fits their stage.

What role does collaboration play in strengthening the ecosystem?

You cannot build a thriving small business ecosystem without all the players coming to the table.

You need educational institutions because small businesses need educated and skilled employees to fill needed roles ​. Small businesses thrive on interns and people who are new to the workforce.

When you think about local government, its responsibility is to gather all these minds together. Without government convening the players, it becomes more of a competition for small business owners and a lack of resources.

You also have private ecosystem players, like banks and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that help with SBA lending. If lenders are at the table, small businesses can build relationships so they can receive financing when they are ready.

We also need nonprofits and philanthropy at the table. Small businesses are often the ones giving back to the community, sponsoring local teams and events. So the ecosystem has to be thriving, and everyone has to come to the table.

What are small businesses asking for most today?

The word I have been hearing for the last few months is marketing. I interpret marketing as needing more customers.

Small businesses need more customers to make more money because the cost of their businesses has increased. Rent, utilities, and other expenses are higher now. So they need to understand the best and most efficient ways to market their services.

It is not necessarily about needing a classroom, but understanding how to bring in more customers. That could include using AI for marketing tools or social media. At the end of the day, an increase in sales revenue will help small businesses grow and scale, and purchase the resources needed to enhance their business model. 

How accessible is capital right now, and what gaps remain?

Access to capital will always be necessary. I have been doing this for about 15 years, and you will always hear that businesses need money and customers.

The question is how much money they need and where they are going to get it from. That goes to financial readiness. Small businesses need financial readiness skills to apply for the lending that is out there.

The gaps I am seeing are with businesses that may have low credit scores or need gap financing. For example, if a business has a contract, they may not be paid until the end, so they need a way to cover expenses in the meantime.

There is also a need for businesses to understand how their personal finances impact their business finances. In times of distress, they may use personal credit, which affects their business. So access to lines of credit and gap financing is important.

How does the talent pipeline look in Rock Hill?

I think there is a lack of knowledge flow in that area. The programs exist, but businesses may not be aware of them.

We have a committee member who is passionate about workforce development, and when she talks about it, you can see people understanding the opportunities. I think there is a gap in getting that information to small businesses.

Clinton College, Winthrop University, and York Technical College all have students who could serve as interns.

We also launched a Student Made program with Winthrop, so students can learn how to deliver their small business products to the community. Now we are partnering with York Tech. That is an example of collaboration between universities and our committee.

What role is technology playing for small businesses?

The buzzword right now is AI, and everyone is talking about it.

There needs to be education and awareness around technology and AI tools. Small businesses have limited time, and they are often doing everything themselves. So we need to break technology down into practical tools that can help them, especially when it comes to attracting more customers.

What are your top priorities over the next two to three years?

One priority is making sure all districts in Rock Hill are included when we think about small business strategies. Historically, we focused on downtown, but we need representation from all areas of the city.

Second is making sure residents support local small businesses. We want people to shop local and understand their impact.

Lastly, we always have to talk about access to capital and access to markets. Businesses need customers. They need access to opportunities to grow, hire, and invest.

The role of our committee is to make sure that our businesses are strategically set and ready to make decisions and have those opportunities when they arise. We also have to address the barriers that exist.

Is there anything else you would like to highlight?

The Student-Made project is a great project that incorporates college students, and I would love to see something like that at the high school level.

We also need to think about how the school district includes entrepreneurship in the curriculum so that students see small business as a career choice.

I would also like to see small businesses have a stronger role in policymaking decisions. When government purchases goods or services, are they purchasing from small businesses? We need to make sure the conditions are right and that small businesses are engaged in policy.