Loudoun Economic Development Newsletter May 2017
Loudoun Small Business Week
May 15 - 21, 2017

This year, Loudoun Small Business Week is bigger than ever with the addition of a full-day conference on Monday, May 15, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Dulles Marriott in Sterling. There will be keynote speakers at the conference breakfast and lunch, plus 12 workshops and an afternoon reception. The conference, like many of the week's events, requires registration; for details, go to LoudounSBW.org.
 
"The 6th Annual Loudoun Small Business Week will be full of timely workshops and panel discussions led by business leaders who can give small business owners real-world, actionable advice," said Loudoun Economic Development's Executive Director Buddy Rizer.
 
On Tuesday, May 16, the signature event will feature a panel discussion with craft beer producers, which will be held at Smokehouse Live in Leesburg at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and drink tickets will be available. The event includes a free screening of the film "Craft."
 
Lunch will be provided on Wednesday, May 17, at the "International Business in Loudoun" event at George Washington University in Ashburn. Almost one out of every four Loudoun residents was born outside the U.S., and many have started businesses here. Several members of the international community will be on hand to offer expert advice on how to start and grow companies in Loudoun.
 
Thursday, May 18, will feature a catered mixer from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at ProJet Aviation in Leesburg. Members of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy will hold a trade show where attendees can learn about the students' businesses and how you can get involved.
 
Lunch will be provided to attendees on Friday, May 19, at the drone demo event, which starts at 11 a.m. at The Campus in Sterling. Local drone experts will reveal opportunities for breaking into this booming industry.
 
Loudoun Small Business Week ends on Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21, with the Spring Farm Tour. Fifty farms and event venues will be open to public, offering family fun, hands-on activities and fresh farm food. Details about tour sites are online and on the "MyCounty" app .
 
"These are just selected highlights of Small Business Week; there are more high-value workshops and networking events throughout the week," said organizer Vanessa Wagner. Full details, and information about the Small Business Week app, are online at: LoudounSBW.org.
Let Us Help You

Vanessa Wagner is the department's small business and entrepreneurship manager. She can help you find resources to start or grow your business. That means introducing you to people who can help you write a business plan, find office space, analyze funding sources, navigate the permit process, or anything else outlined in our small business quick-start checklist. Contact Vanessa at 703-777-0585 or by  email.