The Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF), based in Staunton, Virginia, is on a mission to expand access to entrepreneurial support and training for under-represented communities throughout the Shenandoah Valley. We firmly believe in a Shenandoah Valley in which each person has access to the resources, knowledge and support needed to start, grow and sustain a … More A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: An Ecosystem Approach to Supporting Black Businesses in the Shenandoah Valley

Happy Wednesday, Main Street friends! The Community Vitality Office (CVO) team posted fourteen (14) post this month. Did you miss any of them? If so, don’t worry we’ve got you covered ! Catch up here with this month’s edition of “In Case You Missed It!” NEWS The Friday Blog Series – Celebrating National Black Business … More In Case You Missed It: August 2022 Digest

Excitingly, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) network is growing – welcome to Nancy Alexander (Farmville) and David Green (Altavista)! Over the past several months, Farmville Downtown Partnership (FDP), an Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) organization, has been searching for a dynamic and highly motivated individual to serve as the new executive director for the local … More Altavista and Farmville Welcome New Executive Directors!

We are delighted to celebrate National Black Business Month by highlighting Black entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth. Today we are telling the story of Books and Crannies in Martinsville. Meet DeShanta Hairston, the owner of Books and Crannies, a Black-woman owned independent bookstore, located in Martinsville, Virginia. With the closing of all major book retailers in … More Highlighting CBL Winner – Books and Crannies!

The National League of Cities (NLC) and mySidewalk hosted a webinar on Thursday, July 28th with the intent of helping city leaders make appropriate choices that will drive inclusive, entrepreneur-led growth in their communities. Nia Richardson, Managing Director of Kansas City Bizcare (KCBizCare) offered up insights on how the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship Network (CIE) assisted her with optimizing her office’s strategy in engaging … More Build Inclusive Communities Through Equitable Entrepreneurship

Next month, the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) will hold its Fall Conference in Lynchburg, VA on September 21-23, 2022. VEDA will bring together local, regional, and state leaders, elected officials, and others in vital fields that work to support the economic health of the Commonwealth to network, exchange ideas, identify new ways to cooperate … More Attracting Remote Workers: Virginia Main Street to Lead Panel Discussion at VEDA Fall Conference

The New Hill Development Corporation, a nonprofit in Charlottesville, Virginia, works to reclaim, rebuild, and revitalize their community by expanding economic opportunities for local Black entrepreneurs through BEACON. Vinegar Hill, once a vibrant community and home to many African-American families and businesses, was demolished in the 1960s as part of the City’s urban renewal efforts. … More Fostering Black Business Ownership

What started as the Economic Empowerment and Group Economics back in 2016 has since grown and rebranded to the powerhouse nonprofit Black BRAND, which stands for Business Research Analytics Networking and Development. Now acting as the Black Chamber of Commerce for the Hampton Roads and Dan River regions, their mission is to transform the local, … More Celebrating Black Business Month – Black Brand Celebrates Year Round