The Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association (ACVA) will hold their regular Board of Visitors meeting (Mon. 7/28, 5:00 PM, ACVA Offices, 625 N. Washington St, Suite 400).  

The second community meeting for the Eisenhower West Small Area Plan will include an exercise focused on "Imagining the Future," breakouts to focus on visioning unique places and an activity focused on "preserve, enhance and transform."  The meeting will be preceded by an open house that starts at 6:30 P.M. (Mon. 7/28 from 7:00 -9:00 PM, Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St, agenda). 

The Alexandria Marketing Fund Committee will meet to review and make decisions on applications for grant monies (Tues. 7/29 at 8:30 AM, City Hall, Sister Cities Room). 

The Alexandria Small Business Development Center's Start, Manage, Grow workshop series continues and will feature John Boulware, SBDC Government Contracting Consultant. This workshop is designed for small service businesses trying to develop new Federal business or expand current Federal business through subcontracting to large prime contractors. Information presented will focus on: how to increase your chance of being chosen as a subcontractor by a large prime contractor, and what pitfalls exist in being a subcontractor to a large prime. The program is titled "Federal Business Development: Obtaining Subcontracts from Large Primes" (Weds. 7/30 at 9:00 AM, AEDP/SBDC Offices, 625 N. Washington St., registration required).

The Alexandria Small Business Development Center is participating in Northern Virginia Retail Week, a series of events meant toprovide education & networking opportunities for retail business owners - including restaurants and other food service businesses - whether they are virtual, home-based, mobile or brick-and-mortar establishments.

Retail Week was created by the Virginia Small Business Development (SBDC) Network in cooperation with civic and business leaders in Northern Virginia to provide training and exposure to retail business owners who wish to start, grow or expand their businesses.  This year's series of events include:

• Starting, Growing & Expanding in Food Service - Monday, July 28th, 9:00 am - 2:30 pm at BizLaunch in Arlington
• Art as a Business - Tuesday, July 29th, 9:00 - 11:00 am at The Principle Gallery in Alexandria
• Going Retail - Wednesday, July 30th, 9:00 - 11:00 am at the Community Business Partnership in Springfield
• Retail Marketing & Social Media - Thursday, July 31st, 9:00 - 11:00 am at the Community Business Partnership in Springfield
• From Prototype to Retail Product  - Friday, August 1st, 9:00 - 11:00 am at TechShop in Arlington

Each workshop features subject matter experts and small business owners - and you will have an opportunity not only to learn the laws and requirements, but also real-life lessons of practical applications. And there will be plenty of time to ask your questions - so have them ready!

Download the Retail Week Flyer 2014 for more details on each event. All workshops are FREE, but attendance is limited to the first 50 registrants per workshop.