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Fourth of July on the Old Town Walking Mall. Photo credit: Friends of Old Town |
Winchester Economic Development Newsletter
The City of Winchester, Economic Development Authority, focuses on attracting, expanding, and retaining economic development activity to maximize our industrial and commercial land use. Our strategy includes preserving the city's social, environmental, architectural, and cultural fabric.
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Valley Golf Lounge
Located at 222 S. Loudoun Street, Valley Golf Lounge is bringing a fresh entertainment experience to downtown Winchester with three state-of-the-art indoor golf simulator bays that let players tee off on more than 1,000 virtual courses from around the world. Whether you're an avid golfer looking to practice your swing or a beginner trying the sport for the first time, the lounge offers an accessible, year-round way to play. Bay rentals accommodate up to four players, with club rentals available for those who don't have their own equipment.
Valley Golf Lounge welcomes individuals, families, and groups looking for a unique outing in the heart of downtown. Future plans include a food and beverage lounge and a pro shop featuring locally made products, adding even more to the experience. Read the full story in The Winchester Star to learn more about owner, Chris Brown's vision behind Winchester's newest downtown business.
| | GearClean purchased by Northern Virginia Company | Farmers market debuts at Solenberger's on Berryville Avenue | City manager talks budget, neighborhood concerns at NECA meeting | Martin's remodeling 2 Winchester Stores | Trex included on list of 'America's Best Companies 2026' | Handley Regional Library System records more than 1.1 Million Visits during 2025-2026 | | City officials get feedback from North End Businesses | Let's fly! Poles, hoops provide unique workouts at Fly Fitness | New Selma Heart Center opens with a focus on 'Better care' | City voters to decide whether to implement 1% tax for schools | Laurel Ridge co-hosting event for Virginia Intern Day | | For more articles like these, make sure to subscribe to The Winchester Star! | | GRANTS, LOANS & OTHER RESOURCES | | People Incorporated of Virginia provides business services in Winchester, including business loans, technical support, and marketing assistance. | Grants for small businesses, for-profit organizations, corporations and LLC, including government, state, local federal, and foundation grant funding. | The Virginia Economic Development Partnership have launched InternshipsVA, a program to help Virginia employers create high-quality, paid internship programs. | Certificates of Free Sale are sometimes requested by foreign purchasers to assure that products are freely available and sold in the United States. To learn more and request a Certificate of Free Sale, click the link below. | Click below for a list of 35+ small business grants for minority entrepreneurs. | | Finding funding can be a challenge for businesses of all sizes. Click below to find 100 + Grants, Loans, and Programs to Benefit Your Small Business. | The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps small businesses get funding by setting guidelines for loans and reducing lender risk. | Virginia employers may qualify fo monthly stipends of $500-$1,000 for up to six months through the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Full Employment Program (FEP) when hiring eligible participants. Contact fep@dss.virginia.gov for details. | Do you need funding to grow your small business? A 7(a) loan, SBA's primary business loan option, can help. | Click below for 125+ grants, loans, and scholarships for women | | Great grant opportunities for Women Business Owners including grants. The next grant deadline is July 31, 2026. | You could receive up to $4,000 for your small business through the NASE Growth Grants program. | The Merchant offers 4,000 square feet of co-working office and event space, featuring private offices with 24/7 access and flexible terms without long contracts or high overheads. | SCCF can assist entrepreneurs who are unable to attain capital through commercial lending. Small business microloans range from $1,000 to $50,000, for small businesses that do not qualify for commercial business loans. | The HerRise Micro-Grant provides funding to women of color who are creating a positive community impact. | | WEBINARS, CLASSES, EVENTS & MORE | | Shenandoah University's HIVE (Hub for Innovators, Veterans, and Entrepreneurs) is hosting a 6 week Veteran Bootcamp designed to equip veterans with the tools, strategies, and confidence to turn ideas into thriving businesses. Classes are every Thursday - September 17-October 22, 2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Click the link below to register for this event. | Lunch and Learn - Stronger Together: Strategic Partnerships for Small Business Growth | Laurel Ridge Small Business Development Center and Top of Virginia Regional Chamber are hosting a Lunch and Learn session aimed to help you discover how strategic partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations can help expand your reach, reduce costs, and create new opportunities for growth. This event will be held at the Winchester Regional Airport Business Center on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Click the link to register. | |
The Virginia Small Business Development Center ((SBDC) offers a wide variety of webinars and in-person events. Below are just a few. Visit their website to discover all of their events and workshops here.
Upcoming SBDC Events & Webinars:
| Virginia Micro-Intership Experience | The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) is connecting college students and recent graduates with short-term, paid professional projects. There are currently 24+ summer projects available across various industries. For more information about V-TOP, please click the link below. | | |
The Valley Internship Experience Workgroup is hosting Virginia Intern Day to celebrate the incredible interns making an impact across the Shenandoah Valley! This event offers a great opportunity to network with fellow interns and employers, participate in interactive activities, and celebrate internship experiences. Registration closes July 27.
Register for the event by clicking the link of your preferred location:
| Virginia Works will offer a series of webinars that explore critical workforce development strategies, from building talent pipelines to retention solutions. | |
Upcoming VA Works Webinars:
| 2026 Destination Ambassador Program | The Winchester Frederick County Tourism Office is offering the Tourism Ambassador Program, this training was created to educate local employees, businesses and attractions about the healthy local tourism industry. This course is being held on Tuesday, August 25th from 8:30 AM - 12 PM at the Winchester Regional Airport. To register, click the link below. | Free Small Business Administration Webinars | The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers free webinars and training sessions that help entrepreneurs and small business owners build essential skills in areas such as business planning, financing, marketing, government contracting, cybersecurity, and financial management. For full course offerings, click here. | Top of Virginia Regional Chamber are hosting a FREE AI training aimed to equip small businesses with the practical artificial intelligence (AI) skills they need to compete and grow. The event will be held at The Winchester Regional Airport Business Center on Wednesday, July 29th from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. To register, click the link below. | Main Street America's Small Business Hub is hosting a free webinar designed to walk you through every major funding option available today and how to determine which one is right for your specific situation. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 19th, from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Click the link below to learn more and register. | | Friends of Old Town Hosts Old Town Community Q&A with City Manager John Piper | Click the link below to read more about this recent community meeting. | |
Upcoming Downtown Events:
| | EDA in the News: Resource Fair to offer guidance on starting, expanding a business | |
EDA Deputy Director Vanessa Santiago spoke with The Winchester Star about the upcoming Winchester Business Resource Fair, taking place on Wednesday, July 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Shenandoah University's HIVE (Hub for Innovators, Veterans, and Entrepreneurs). The article highlights how the event will connect entrepreneurs and small business owners with the organizations, resources, and support they need to start, grow, and succeed.
Follow the link below to read the full article, and use the registration link below to reserve your spot at the event.
| EDA on the Radio: Economic Analyst Sam Iden discusses resources available to small businesses and promotes the upcoming Business Resource Fair with The River 95.3 | | Winchester EDA introduces new and updated business resources | | The EDA has rolled out several new and updated informational resources to help businesses, entrepreneurs, and prospective business owners access local resources, guidance, funding opportunities & community partnerships to help start, sustain, and grow their business in Winchester. These resources can also be found on the Winchester EDA's website here. | | If you're a local business and would like to invite members of the EDA for a tour/visit, please let us know! Send us an email at: Econ.Dev@winchesterva.gov. | | |
Economic Development Authority Meetings
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July 21, 2026 Agenda
- The next EDA Board Meeting will occur on August 18, 2026
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