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GENEDGE: Emerging Business Program

Outdoor Rec Business Guide

If you are starting or expanding a business, the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator (VHSBI) offers support, services, and education to help make your business succeed. Located in Abingdon, the VHSBI provides business planning assistance, free business classes, co-working spaces, and access to business development partners.

The VHSBI facility is equipped with high speed Internet, VoIP, conference facilities, and back-up power generation.

The One Stop Virginia Department of Business Assistance works with existing businesses to foster growth and prosperity and assisting entrepreneurs in forming a lucrative business. They host a variety of educational events throughout the Commonwealth weekly. Topics range from selling to the state, social media, mobile marketing & eCommerce, iPad for business, accessing capital, and other business resources.

• Small Business Resource Guide
• Southwest Virginia Economic Report
• Economic Impact Report
• Virginia Guide to Incentives

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

Grant Opportunity for Small Businesses | Apply Now!

Small businesses in Washington Co. – your opportunity is here! The Small Business Digital Growth & Innovation Grant provides up to $5,000 per business to help you:

Build or improve your website

Set up online sales and reservation systems

Launch digital marketing campaigns

Access professional branding and content services

Strengthen cybersecurity and adopt management tools

No matter your starting point, you’ll receive hands-on support to help you grow online!

Application Deadline: Applications are being accepted now and are being evaluated and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or until December 2025 – Apply Early!

Apply here: https://forms.office.com/r/kaNch01igE ; and also complete the digital readiness assessment by clicking here: https://forms.office.com/r/zePVY5Zuqt

Questions? Contact: Billie Roberts I Community Solutions Advisor I Locus I broberts@locusimpact.org

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.

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