Welcome to the Celebration Newsletter!
It's been an exhausting and exhilarating 18 months as we've experienced the highs, lows, and powerful force of entrepreneurship in Central Virginia. Our region's entrepreneurs and the many that support them have stories to share. This is the second of our bi-monthly newsletters in which we celebrate those who brighten our communities with thoughtful ideas and hard work.
These celebration newsletters will still provide content that is designed to inform and assist, while sharing the pride and creativity of our friends and neighbors. If you have an entrepreneurship-related story to tell, please let us know. We hope you enjoy this issue and we encourage you to peruse our website for helpful content and reach out if you have any questions, feedback, or want to talk business.
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Community Investment Collaborative receives the 2021 John F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Award |
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As part of Minority Business Month, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Alliance named Community Investment Collaborative the 2021 John F. Bell Sr. Vanguard Award recipient.
“It’s an honor to receive this award and to be recognized for all the work all of us did here at CIC, especially last year, to support the many businesses in the community,” said Carolina Medina, Director of Lending and Operations of the Community Investment Collaborative.
Community Investment Collaborative empowers small business for big change. They work to strengthen our community and contribute to economic development by fueling success of under-resourced entrepreneurs through education, mentoring, financing and networking.
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The idea for Order Up! started when owners Troy and Maxicelia Robinson were walking on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall on their first lunch date as a married couple.
Order Up! mobile food & catering business has become a local favorite that now sees more customers with a expanded online exposure via orderupmobilefood.com. Their new website, built for no charge under the Website Jump Start program, helps them share their delicious food with more customers.
"It was like I hired a whole marketing firm to work on [the website]. The way it was constructed, I was able to make changes based on where I was going and what I was doing. I can tailor it to what I need. It has complete usability."
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Do you need a business website? CV SBDC can build yours, FREE.
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QuadCounty Business Summit and
QuadTank Pitch Competition
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QuadTank Pitch Prep
September 30 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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The QuadTank, winner takes all prize is now $8,000!
Yes, the prize has jumped to $8,000 thanks to local sponsors. Join CV SBDC Director, Rebecca Haydock at lunch time on Thursday to prepare your winning QuadTank pitch. We will discuss how to make the most of your ten minutes before the judges, with plenty of time for Q & A. Individual meetings can be scheduled after the session for 1:1 pitch design help and practice.
This event will be recorded and the video made available for anyone unable to attend on September 30 who would still like to participate in the QuadTank Pitch Competition. Please contact Shira at events@cvsbdc.org if you would like the recording of the Pitch Prep event.
< QuadTank is solely for entrepreneurs in the counties of: Orange, Greene, Madison, Louisa and Fluvanna >
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QuadCounty Business Summit and QuadTank Pitch Competition
October 20 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Join representatives and businesses from 5 counties: Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, and Orange for a half-day of IN-PERSON networking at the QuadCounty Business Summit. The event will take place at The Pavilion on Lakeland Farm. Masks highly encouraged.
The Summit will also include a keynote speaker, local business owner panel discussion with Q&A, and the Annual QuadTank, a winner take all pitch competition.
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State/Local Government Contracting: Using eVA
October 7 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
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Looking to get into Government Contracting but confused on where to start? Join speaker Courtney Mustin to learn the ins and outs of eVA.
Topics covered in this workshop:
- What is eVA?
- How to register for and use eVA
- What types of solicitations are posted through eVA?
- Live demo and walk through of the eVA website and registration process.
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Federal Government Contracting: Navigating SAM and the DSBS
October 14 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM
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If you are considering the Federal Marketplace for your business, your first steps are to complete your registration in both the System of Award Management (SAM) and the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS).
This class will walk you through how to properly fill out these profiles in order to stand out to Federal and Prime buyers. This class is also for those who may already be in SAM and DSBS but need to know if their information is complete.
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Upcoming Series:
Design | Protect | Sell
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Registration opening soon for 3 upcoming events with Central Virginia SBDC and partner organizations. Join the CV SBDC team to learn more about the process of bringing your brand from creation to protection.
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Visually Capturing Your Brand with Justine Platt of Tasteful Design, date and time TBA
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Refine & Strengthen Your Product or Service Offering with private consultant Tom Kelly, date and time TBA
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Protect Your Brand with Trademarks
Nov 11, 12:00-1:00pm
Presented by legal experts Michael Hertz and Nathan Evans,
attorneys with Woods Rogers.
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More upcoming events and trainings: |
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Attracting, Retaining & Reskilling Talent | Sept 30, 9:00-10:30am | Register
Marketing Monday: Using SquareSpace | Oct 4, 12:00 - 1:00pm | Register
A Guide for Retail Renewal | Oct 5, 10:00 - 11:30am | Register
Coopetition TEAM Eventacular | Oct 6, 9:00 - 10:30am | Register
Starting Your Business | Oct 12, 10:00 am - 12:00pm | Register
Pitch Preview Application Deadline | Oct 25, 11:59pm | Apply
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- When earlier funding ended there were approximately 9,000 applications in the approval/funding queue.
- As part of funding received earlier this year, the Legislature allocated $250 million in new funds to this program in August.
- The priority is to provide awards to applicants in the approval queue.
- These applicants will be notified by late October that they are eligible for funding.
- The approval-funding process could take months to complete.
- If there are surplus funds available after the approval queue is funded, or if additional funds are allocated from the Commonwealth, the portal will be re-opened to new applications.
It is recommended that any clients who believe they are in the approval queue should access their portal account to confirm that they are in fact, in the queue.
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Culpeper Recovers SWaM Business Grant Fall 2021 Launch
- Reimbursement grant opportunity for businesses located in Culpeper County
- The Fall 2021 Round has approximately $350,000 to award
- 501c3 Non-Profit Organizations are now eligible to apply
- Businesses/organizations can apply for up to $10,000 or six months of rent/mortgage costs
- Average approval time is currently running 90+ days from application completion notification. Be prepared to answer additional follow up questions during the reimbursement process.
Applications Open: October 1, 2021
Deadline to apply: October 22, 2021 at 11:59 pm EST
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This newsletter is sponsored by F&M Bank. Thank you for your support of our entrepreneurs.
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Charlottesville main office phone: 434-295-8198 Culpeper direct phone: 540-727-0638
Culpeper office: 803 South Main Street, Culpeper, VA 22701
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