The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity is hosting, in partnership with Xam Solutions LLC and Woodforest National Bank, this workshop designed for small business entrepreneurs and emerging small business owners to examine growth strategies and access to capital as well as positioning the business to obtain contracts with state anhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/louisa-small-business-workshop-luncheon-tickets-65814042573d local government agencies using eVA as their procurement portal.

This event is free and lunch will be provided.  Registration is required.  Send an email to:

courtney.mustin@SBSD.virginia.gov

Please see the flyer for the agenda:

Entrepreneur Express Workshop for 9-18-19

We look forward to seeing you there.

The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) will be conducting one-on-one counseling sessions on how to access business development resources, State financing programs (VSBFA), including technical assistance for conducting business with State and local agencies through SWaM Certification and eVA (Virginia’s Online Procurement Portal).

These 1-hour sessions are by appointment only

Monday, September 16, 2019

SBSD Hampton Office (Rupert Sargent Building)
1 Franklin Street, 6^th Floor
Hampton, Virginia 23666

9:00am – 5:00pm

Appointments begin promptly at 9:00am … Last appointment scheduled at 3:30

Sessions will be conducted by Angela Barber, Business Service Manager
Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

No fee to attend, but appointment is required!

Email: angela.barber@sbsd.virginia.gov to schedule an appointment

Please state if you need technical assistance with certification application (new or re-cert), as these appointments require more time.

The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) will be conducting one-on-one counseling sessions to help grow small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing assistance with the State (SWaM) Certification process; registering in and navigating the Commonwealth’s electronic procurement process (eVA).

Discussion on various business topics such as financing programs; marketing; networking and connecting to business resources to start or grow your existing business.

These 1-hour sessions are by appointment only

Norfolk Economic Development Office
Dominion Towers – Norfolk, VA

9:00am – 5:00pm

Appointments begin promptly at 9:00am … Last appointment scheduled at 3:30pm

Sessions will be conducted by Angela Barber, Business Service Manager
Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

No fee to attend, but appointment is required!

Email: angela.barber@sbsd.virginia.gov to schedule an appointment

Please state if you need technical assistance with certification application (new or re-cert), as these appointments require more time.

If you are a FOR-PROFIT business interested in becoming SWaM Certified in order to do business with the Commonwealth of Virginia, SBSD staff will be on-site to provide assistance with the on-line process to apply for the SWaM Certification.  In this session you will create your account, receive assistance with completing online application, uploading REQUIRED documents and submitting your application.

THIS IS NOT AN INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP

These sessions are for NEW and RE-CERTIFYING state applicants who need assistance with submitting application!!

No cost, but RSVP is required!

Seating is limited in each session … please bring your REQUIRED documents (scanned separately according to list) on a flash drive or your laptop (limited scanning help is also available).

This is NOT a computer lab, so you will need to bring your laptop/tablet … (Chrome works best)… must be able to access your email.  WiFi will be provided.

CLICK HERE for a list of REQUIRED documents.  

Once a COMPLETED application has been submitted, processing time takes a minimum of 60-70 BUSINESS days.

9:00 am – 11:00 am (Session I)
11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Session II)

TO SCHEDULE YOUR SESSION OR ASK QUESTIONS, email: angela.barber@sbsd.virginia.gov

Assistance provided by Angela Barber, Business Services Manager, Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity – Hampton Roads

In Partnership with Hampton Roads SCORE

Recommend parking at MacArthur Center Parking lot. Parking is $1 first 3 hours/$2 for each additional hour (max $10 per day). 

Women In Defense Greater Hampton Roads chapter is having their 10^th Annual Professional Development Day Conference!

In honor of the NDIA/WID National Conference, WID’s Greater Hampton Roads chapter will share the national theme “Fueling The Fifty-One Percent”  “CONNECT ~ EMPOWER ~ SUCCEED”

Sponsorship/Exhibitor interest visit www.widghr.org/events.html

Volunteers are needed for the following Professional Development Day planning committees.

Volunteers with a business will receive a FREE business card placement in the event program. Volunteers without a business will get a $10 discount on early-bird WID member tickets.

To submit your name pleae send an email to communications@widghr.org and indicate the committee you are interested in in the subject line of the email.

CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO REGISTER

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/10th-annual-professional-development-day-tickets-60920502864?ref=ecount

The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) will be conducting one-on-one counseling sessions on how to do business with Virginia state agencies and how to access business development resources, including SWaM Certification and State financing programs.  These 1 hour sessions are by appointment only.

Date:

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Location:

Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library (Coaching Room)
4100 Virginia Beach Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Times:
1 hour appointments beginning 10:00am … Last appointment at scheduled at 3:30pm.

Library opens promptly at 10:00am

Registration:

No fee, but appointment is required.

Please check in at the front desk upon arrival … Sessions will be in the Coaching Room and will be conducted by Angela Barber, Business Service Manager – Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

Email angela.barber@sbsd.virginia.gov to schedule an appointment.

Join us to connect with local and state resource and service partners to help you start, operate and expand your business. Whether you are an entrepreneur in the start-up phase or a small business in a growth mode, our business resource fair is designed to offer invaluable insights and exclusive networking opportunities.

Networking and registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., and a continental breakfast will be provided.

Hosted by Hampton Economic Development—the day is structured to allow small business owners and their teams gain access to the specific tools that best match their unique needs.

We will have representatives present from the top business resource agencies including The Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), Small Business Administration (SBA) eVA, SCORE of Hampton Roads, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and many more!

Representatives from our Procurement team will also be available to discuss doing business with City of Hampton.

Registration deadline: Friday, September 20, 2019

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), in collaboration with Henrico Purchasing Department is offering one-on-one business counseling sessions. These sessions are designed to help businesses like yours better understand how to do business with the Commonwealth of Virginia state agencies. Whether it’s helping your business become certified in Virginia’s small business set-aside programs (SWaM and Micro), navigating the electronic portal which ALL state agencies use for solicitations (eVa), or helping you connect with key agency buyers SBSD can help! Some of the market research tools eVa offers are:

• Identifying which state agencies are buying what you sell
• How much these agencies are paying for your products and services
• Who are the buyers and how to contact them
• Who are your competitors
• And much more

Armed with this information, your company will be better positioned to win state contracts as well as contracts with many local government agencies across the region.

Time:  The appointment time slots are:

• 8:30 – 10:00
• 10:15 – 11:45
• 1:00 – 2:30
• 2:45 – 4:15

There is no fee for these sessions. However, an appointment is required. To request an appointment with Randy Brown, Business Services Manager for Central / South Virginia, submit an email to randy.brown@sbsd.virginia.gov. The subject line should read “1 On 1”; the text should identify your 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd preferred time slots as well as the associated location.

NOTE: If your requested time slot(s) were available at the time you responded, a meeting request will be sent on or before June 24. If you do not receive a meeting request, the time slot(s) you asked for were not available at the time of your response. Your name will be placed on the Advance Notice list for August appointments.

The Commonwealth of Virginia spends Billions of dollars on goods and services each year. Goods and services that you probably sell! Ask yourself, “Am I getting my share?” If your answer is “No”, then this free workshop is for you.

EVa, the Commonwealth’s electronic procurement portal, is one of the most powerful market research tools when selling to any state agency (including public colleges and universities). EVa can help you identify:

• How do I find solicitations to bid on?
• Which state agencies buy what I sell?
• How much do they pay for what I sell?
• Who are my competitors / potential collaborators?
• Which of my competitors are winning these bids?
• And more!

The Commonwealth has a set-aside program that encourages state agencies to purchase goods and services from small businesses like yours. The Commonwealth has an aspirational goal of 42% of discretionary spending (does not include expenditures like rent, electricity, etc) to be spent with SWaM certified vendors. At this workshop, you’ll learn about SWaM and Micro business certifications and how they can give you a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

If you plan to grow your business with the Commonwealth (remember Virginia spends Billions each year), you need to attend this “Selling to the Commonwealth” workshop!

On the Agenda:

• EVa – Identify Your Target Market

• What Can SWaM and Micro Business Certifications Do For You?

The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), in collaboration with Chesterfield Economic Development is offering one-on-one business counseling sessions. These sessions are designed to help businesses like yours better understand how to do business with the Commonwealth of Virginia state agencies. Whether it’s helping your business become certified in Virginia’s small business set-aside programs (SWaM and Micro), navigating the electronic portal which ALL state agencies use for solicitations (eVa), or helping you connect with key agency buyers SBSD can help! Some of the market research tools eVa offers are:

• Identifying which state agencies are buying what you sell
• How much these agencies are paying for your products and services
• Who are the buyers and how to contact them
• Who are your competitors
• And much more

Armed with this information, your company will be better positioned to win state contracts as well as contracts with many local government agencies across the region.

Time:  The appointment time slots are:

• 8:30 – 10:00
• 10:15 – 11:45
• 1:00 – 2:30
• 2:45 – 4:15

There is no fee for these sessions. However, an appointment is required. To request an appointment with Randy Brown, Business Services Manager for Central / South Virginia, submit an email to randy.brown@sbsd.virginia.gov. The subject line should read “1 On 1”; the text should identify your 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd preferred time slots as well as the associated location.

NOTE: If your requested time slot(s) were available at the time you responded, a meeting request will be sent on or before June 24. If you do not receive a meeting request, the time slot(s) you asked for were not available at the time of your response. Your name will be placed on the Advance Notice list for August appointments.

The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), in collaboration with Colonial Heights Economic Development is offering one-on-one business counseling sessions. These sessions are designed to help businesses like yours better understand how to do business with the Commonwealth of Virginia state agencies. Whether it’s helping your business become certified in Virginia’s small business set-aside programs (SWaM and Micro), navigating the electronic portal which ALL state agencies use for solicitations (eVa), or helping you connect with key agency buyers SBSD can help! Some of the market research tools eVa offers are:

• Identifying which state agencies are buying what you sell
• How much these agencies are paying for your products and services
• Who are the buyers and how to contact them
• Who are your competitors
• And much more

Armed with this information, your company will be better positioned to win state contracts as well as contracts with many local government agencies across the region.

Time:  The appointment time slots are:

• 8:30 – 10:00
• 10:15 – 11:45
• 1:00 – 2:30
• 2:45 – 4:15

There is no fee for these sessions. However, an appointment is required. To request an appointment with Randy Brown, Business Services Manager for Central / South Virginia, submit an email to randy.brown@sbsd.virginia.gov. The subject line should read “1 On 1”; the text should identify your 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd preferred time slots as well as the associated location.

NOTE: If your requested time slot(s) were available at the time you responded, a meeting request will be sent on or before June 24. If you do not receive a meeting request, the time slot(s) you asked for were not available at the time of your response. Your name will be placed on the Advance Notice list for August appointments.

If you’re having difficulty uploading SWaM documents, this Workshop Is for You!!!

SWaM (Small, Women, and Minority owned firms) certification is one of the most powerful business tools you can use to grow your sales among state agencies, public colleges and universities, local municipalities. Even private sector firms are utilizing the SWaM database. Last year, the Commonwealth of Virginia spent more than $6 Billion on goods and services. For every $100 the Commonwealth spent on goods and services, $37, went to a SWaM certified vendor. Are you getting your share?

Bring your documents ready to be uploaded and we’ll complete the process!

On the Agenda:

Assistance uploading documents for your firm’s SWaM / Micro application

You may never need to borrow, but you do need to know the resources available to you!

One of the major challenges facing small businesses is the lack of sufficient capital to sustain and/or grow. This workshop is designed to acquaint the small business owner with various sources of capital and the pros and cons associated with each. Even if you don’t have a pressing need for capital at this time, the information provided will prove beneficial at a future stage of your business life cycle.

If capital is a current or potential concern, you need to attend this workshop!

On the Agenda:

• What Does the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) What Have to Offer?

• What Loan Programs Are Offered By The City of Richmond?

• Not All Banks Are The Same – What Sets Some Community Banks Apart?
• Crowdfunding, An Often Overlooked, Viable Source of Capital

The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD), in collaboration with BizWorks is offering one-on-one business counseling sessions. These sessions are designed to help businesses like yours better understand how to do business with the Commonwealth of Virginia state agencies. Whether it’s helping your business become certified in Virginia’s small business set-aside programs (SWaM and Micro), navigating the electronic portal which ALL state agencies use for solicitations (eVa), or helping you connect with key agency buyers SBSD can help! Some of the market research tools eVa offers are:

• Identifying which state agencies are buying what you sell
• How much these agencies are paying for your products and services
• Who are the buyers and how to contact them
• Who are your competitors
• And much more

Armed with this information, your company will be better positioned to win state contracts as well as contracts with many local government agencies across the region.

Time:  The appointment time slots are:

• 8:30 – 10:00
• 10:15 – 11:45
• 1:00 – 2:30
• 2:45 – 4:15
• 4:30 — 6:00

There is no fee for these sessions. However, an appointment is required. To request an appointment with Randy Brown, Business Services Manager for Central / South Virginia, submit an email to randy.brown@sbsd.virginia.gov. The subject line should read “1 On 1”; the text should identify your 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd preferred time slots as well as the associated location.

NOTE: If your requested time slot(s) were available at the time you responded, a meeting request will be sent on or before June 24. If you do not receive a meeting request, the time slot(s) you asked for were not available at the time of your response. Your name will be placed on the Advance Notice list for August appointments.

To Register : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/global-opportunities-for-virginia-exporters-blacksburg-tickets-65570319591

Description

Please join VEDP-International Trade for an interactive networking event!

Learn how Virginia’s Global Network consultants can assist your company in increasing its international sales during a networking luncheon. Meet with Virginia’s in-country trade representatives from India, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Poland, and Romania to understand:

• Leading Sectors for U.S. Products and Services
• Valuable insights on the realities of selling into their country
• Recommendations for success

This is a no-fee event, however registration is required.

Information Session – Live Broadcast
Friday, September 27, 2019
12:30pm – 2:30pm

Roanoke Chamber of Commerce
210 S. Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24011
ramain.gohar@sbsd.virginia.gov

NEW VIRGINIA: SCALING4GROWTH
Now Accepting Applications!
Cohort 6 December 2019 – June 2020
STATEWIDE RECRUITMENT

Classes held at the  Ruppert Sargent Bldg. 1 Franklin Street, 1st Floor Conference Room, Hampton, Virginia 23669

Small Business Owners, would you like to go from Entrepreneur to CEO? Increase your revenue and create jobs?
The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity is now accepting on line applications for NEW

VIRGINIA: SCALING4GROWTH. This “StreetWise MBA” program is in partnership with Interise.org (Boston, MA)

Classes begin December 2019 and meet every other Thursday, through June 2020 in Hampton, Virginia.
Although classes are every OTHER Thursday, EVERY Thursday is held for the six months. Average time spent on
homework is approximately 3-5 hours per week. Opportunity open to Virginia-based businesses only and those who meet at least the minimum requirements.

ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY

NEW VIRGINIA: Scaling4Growth is Virginia’s brand of the Interise StreetWise MBA program. For further data on the success from this program, visit www.Interise.org This six-month program is designed for business owners to learn how to scale their business by assessing their business model and becoming more efficient in areas of human resource, finance, social media, procurement and bank speak.

For consideration, small business owners MUST meet the minimum requirements:
 Must be a Virginia-based business
 In business at least three (3) years
 Revenue Between $250,000 and $10,000,000
 One other full time person working in the company besides the majority owner and able to run the company while the owner is away
 The majority owner is the participant (51% ownership or more); substitutes may NOT participate
 Certified as a SWaM (Small, Woman-owned, or Minority-owned) by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity
 Willingness to complete all assignments on time

APPLY NOW: http://scaling4growth.interise.org/

After opening this link, do NOT click “yes” that you want additional information. Go directly to the FULL application for consideration for an interview. Individuals wanting more information or who have questions are invited to attend the Information Session on Friday, September 27 at one of the locations below… please email the contact for your location to RSVP.

Please join VEDP-International Trade for an interactive networking event!

Learn how Virginia’s Global Network consultants can assist your company in increasing its international sales during a networking breakfast. Meet with Virginia’s in-country trade representatives from India, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Poland, and Romania to understand:

• Leading Sectors for U.S. Products and Services
• Valuable insights on the realities of selling into their country
• Recommendations for success

This is a no-fee event, however registration is required.

To Register, click here.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/global-opportunities-for-virginia-exporters-tysons-corner-tickets-65572652569

The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, the City of Falls Church Economic Development Authority and the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce proudly presents Entrepreneur Express – Moving Your Business Forward workshop.

Every business needs an Attorney, an Accountant and a Banker.  This workshop is designed to help small business owners with the basic foundations to take their business to the next level.  The workshop provides interactive discussions covering key elements every business owner needs to know.

Agenda:

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM Welcome by SBSD
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM: Attorney –  The legalities of getting started
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: Accountant – More than just QuickBooks
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM:  Banker – Getting money before you need it

No fee. Advance registration is required.

If you have any questions, contact Chris Ley at chris.ley@sbsd.virginia.gov.

Date: October 30, 2019

Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

If you are new to government contracting and want to explore State and Local government contracting, then this event is for you.  The goal of the 2019 Small Business Forum is designed to provide practical knowledge and resources to small, women, minority, and veteran businesses for them to explore and capture local and state procurement and sub-contracting opportunities.

Who Should Attend:

• Entrepreneurs who want to get into government contracting.
• A small, women, minority, and veteran owned businesses interested in government contracting.

Why Attend:

• Learn about the state and local procurement process.
• Learn about the benefits of SWaM certification.
• Meet and connect with State and Local buyers.
• Network with other businesses, entrepreneurs, and business resource providers.

Tentative agenda:

8:00 – 8:30     Check in and Networking Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30     Morning Session

9:30 – 10:30   Session 1- Selling to the Commonwealth: Overview of eVA

10:30 – 10:45  Networking Break

10:45 – 11:45  Session 2 – Giving Your Business the Advantage:  SWaM Certification

11:45 – 12:00  Networking Break

12:00 – 1:00  Session 3 – Doing Business Development: State and Local Buyer Panel