Resources

For information regarding human resources, visit the Virginia Employment Commission website.

In 2004, the Virginia General Assembly designated Carroll County, the City of Galax, and Grayson County as “Virginia’s Entrepreneurial Region.”

To promote this distinction, these localities formed the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority (BRCEDA). BRCEDA has taken the lead in devoting considerable resources to fostering entrepreneurship as an integral part of their comprehensive economic development plan.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. We have been doing this for nearly fifty years.

Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and thanks to our network of 12,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at very low cost.

Accelerating Appalachia is a nature-based business accelerator, connecting innovative businesses, investors and mentors aligned with people, place and prosperity.

Bplans provides a wealth of information on how to prepare a business plan. The website has free templates, sample business plans, outlines, and etc. This is a great resource to use in conjunction with your Small Business Development Counselor.

Templates

• Pitch Deck
  Venture Capital Template provides assistance on composing a meaningful and successful presentation regarding your business venture.
• Cash Flow Template
• Strategic Plan Outline

Mplans offers a variety of information regarding all marketing aspects. The website has free sample marketing plans, how to articles, marketing plan outline and etc.

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides free and confidential one-on-one counseling as well as business education opportunities and resources to help entrepreneurs, small business owners and managers improve their business. Many of the Virginia Small Business Development Centers are located at colleges across the commonwealth. Each site has trained counselors to assist entrepreneurs in starting and managing a business. Services available consist of management training, research data, business plan, financial analysis and etc. The mission of the SBDC is to foster small business success and grow Southwest Virginia’s economy.

• Blue Ridge Crossroads
• Southwest Community College SBDC
• Mountain Empire Community College SBDC
• Roanoke Regional SBDC
• Virginia Small Business Development Center

Entrepreneurial ecosystems describe communities or regions that foster an overall business climate supportive of entrepreneurship. These communities portray a positive, enthusiastic attitude that infuses an entrepreneurial culture; one that asks “how can we help you start and succeed at business?” There are many resources and incentives that communities can offer to new and existing entrepreneurs to build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Check out a few helpful tools to help strengthen your entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Menu of Incentive Ideas

Launch an Entrepreneur Challenge Toolkit

Community Entrepreneur Package Examples

Main Street America – Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and the Role of Commercial Districts

Virginia Main Street – Creating a Successful “Entrepreneurial Ecosystem”

Hatch Business Accelerator

Resource Navigator

Website

Better Business Basics Plus

Believe in Bristol

Floyd C4 Program

Launch Something in Pulaski

VCEDA