Downtown Durham is an incubator for creative thinking and innovative ideas. From homegrown entrepreneurial startups, to Fortune 500 international companies, to local startups that have grown into Fortune 500 companies, downtown Durham is home to innovative businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Resources & Tools
Issues with:
- Animal Control
- Fire Hydrants
- Pot Holes
- Sidewalks
- Trees/Landscaping
- Traffic Signals
- Street Signs
- Storm Drains
Issues with:
- Power outages/lines
- Light Fixtures
Non Emergency Line, 919-560-4600
Issues with:
- Noise Complaints
- Vandalism
- Non-active Burglaries
- Mental Health Check
Issues with:
- Parking Permits
- Appeal/Pay Tickets
- Event Parking
Issues with:
- Immediate threats to personal/public safety
- Mental Health/H.E.A.R.T.
- Gas Leaks
- Fire
Downtown Durham Ambassadors 919-682-BULL (2855)
Issues with:
- Trash Cans (Damaged/Overflowing)
- Graffiti on Public Surfaces
- Litter/Debris Removal
- Lost and Found
- Overflowing Dumpster
- Spills
- Downtown Maps
- Sidewalk Cleanliness
- Car Jumpstarts
- Bullride Rides
Small Business Resource Guide
There are many local business resource organizations to help support your business:
Carolina Small Business Development Fund
Statewide nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides loans, technical assistance, and policy research to help small businesses across North Carolina start, grow, and succeed.
City of Durham’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development
The City of Durham’s economic development office works to strengthen the local economy by supporting businesses, growing the commercial tax base, preparing the workforce for emerging industries, and providing financial and technical assistance to businesses.
A centralized online hub from the City of Durham offering tools, resources, and guidance for starting and growing a small business in Durham.
Durham County Main Library Small Business Center
Located at the Main Library, this center provides free programs, workshops, and resources for entrepreneurs, including co-working space, business training, and networking opportunities.
Durham Technical Community College – Small Business Center
Durham Tech’s Small Business Center supports startups and existing businesses through free seminars, one-on-one counseling, and guidance on topics like business planning, marketing, finance, and legal issues.
A statewide community of entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors that provides networking, resources, and support to help startups and growing businesses thrive.
Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC)
A public-private organization that promotes economic growth by recruiting businesses to North Carolina, supporting existing employers, assisting with international trade, and helping entrepreneurs access resources.
An ecosystem-building platform focused on improving economic mobility by aligning people, institutions, and resources to create stronger pathways for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce
A leading business organization that connects entrepreneurs, business leaders, and policymakers to support economic growth and strengthen Durham’s business community.
Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce (GDBCC)
A nonprofit dedicated to supporting and advancing Black entrepreneurs and businesses through advocacy, networking, and access to resources.
Supports entrepreneurs across North Carolina with practical training, hands-on guidance, strategic support, and access to networks and resources that help businesses launch, grow, and scale.
A community-focused organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunity through education, entrepreneurship support, and locally driven solutions.
NC Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce
Promotes economic growth and opportunity for Hispanic entrepreneurs and businesses across North Carolina through advocacy, networking, and business development resources.
NC Small Business Center Network
Provides free, confidential business counseling and educational programs through credentialed advisors across the state to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives)
Offers free mentoring from experienced business professionals to help entrepreneurs launch, grow, and transition their businesses. Mentored businesses often report higher revenue and faster growth.
A national leader in business diversity and economic inclusion, working with small businesses, corporations, and governments to expand opportunities and support diverse entrepreneurship.
Small Business Technology and Development Center (SBTDC)
Provides management counseling and educational services to help small and mid-sized businesses increase sales, access capital, and create jobs.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
A federal agency that supports entrepreneurs through loans, counseling, training programs, and resources designed to help small businesses start, grow, and succeed.
Supports artists and creative organizations with professional development programs, business training, and resources focused on navigating the business side of the arts.
Veterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State University
Provides training, counseling, and resources to help veterans, service members, and military spouses start or grow small businesses.
Women’s Business Center of North Carolina (WBC)
Helps entrepreneurs build and sustain successful businesses by providing training, counseling, and resources focused on financial stability, growth, and long-term success.
Your Downtown Ambassadors
The Downtown Durham Ambassador Team, aka the purple people, help keep downtown Durham clean, safe, and welcoming by:
- Cleaning and maintaining public sidewalks and spaces
- Welcoming and assisting visitors
- Promoting downtown amenities and businesses
- Providing maps and visitor information
- Assisting with downtown special events
- Removing graffiti from public spaces
- Power washing sidewalks
- Calls for assistance to police, fire, EMS
- Connecting those in need to social services
- Car jumpstarts
- And more.
Call (919) 682-2855 for assistance
Newsletter
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The Bullpen
The Bullpen is downtown Durham’s social district, which allows people to purchase alcoholic drinks from ABC permittees in a designated cup and walk around outside within a defined area. The Bullpen went into effect on December 1, 2022.
Interested in Doing Business Downtown?
Finding workspace that helps your business succeed doesn’t have to be challenging. Downtown Durham offers spaces in a range of prices to suit the needs of your company. Whether you are looking for workspace for a one-person tech startup, a regional headquarters or a new retail outlet, downtown Durham offers options from shared business incubators, to thousands of square feet of Class A office space to street-level storefronts. All in a bustling, creative environment.