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Local bakery Knead Bread at Celtic Fest on March 16th |
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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Athletes looking to take their performance to the next level should consider joining FASST, the premier strength and speed training company in the DMV area. FASST’s experienced coaches and state-of-the-art facilities provide personalized training programs that are tailored to each athlete’s unique needs and goals. By focusing on developing key physical attributes such as speed, agility, and explosive power, FASST can help athletes unlock their full potential and achieve their dreams on the field or court. |
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Winchester Brew Works named Small Business of the Year | Congratulations to Winchester Brew Works, who took home the Small Business of the Year award at the Top Of Virginia Regional Chamber's Greater Good Awards on March 7th! | City Council discusses Ward Plaza; final subdivision for Smalts property OK'd | |
City staff visit Genny's Corner Market | |
Have you visited Genny's Corner Market yet? Located at 212 N. Kent Street, Genny's Corner Market is a neighborhood shop where you can pick up daily essentials like bread, milk, fresh fruits and veggies, canned goods, snacks, and more. 🍊
Visit them today and save yourself a trip to the grocery store!
| The DRIPBaR opens in Winchester | Located at 2172 S. Pleasant Valley Road, The DRIPBaR is focused on helping people take their healthcare beyond diet, exercise, and traditional medicine to support their physical, mental, and cellular wellness. | |
Two high-profile development requests — one that would transform Ward Plaza, the other which would create a subdivision at the site of the former Smalts Florist flower shop — were discussed by City Council at its March 12th meeting. | | |
Shihadeh Center students wow with custom menu board | |
When Village Square Restaurant and V2 Oyster Bar & Lounge found themselves in need of a new menu board, the students in Mr. Crosen’s Welding II class rose to the challenge.
Stop by Village Square in Old Town to see their expert craftsmanship for yourself!
| WinReady and Loop Route launch March 25th | Some exciting changes are coming to WinchesterTransit: WinReady, a point-to-point service that will pick you up when you need to be picked up and take you where you need to go within the City of Winchester, and a new fixed-route bus loop. To learn more about these new services and upcoming WinReady workshops, click the link below. | Virginia Works (the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement) announced today that, compared to a year earlier, January 2024 unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 130 of Virginia’s 133 counties and cities and increased in three. Among the metro areas, Northern Virginia and Winchester had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.4 percent.
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Students learn about aviation careers at airport's first Aerospace Day | High school students from across the Northern Shenandoah Valley recently got a chance to learn about different facets of the aviation field at Winchester Regional Airport’s first Aerospace Day. |
A Century of Harmony: The George Washington Hotel Commences 100th Anniversary Concert Series with Orleans | |
The George Washington Hotel, standing as a timeless symbol of tradition, is delighted to unveil a remarkable concert series in celebration of its centennial milestone.
Sponsored by iHeart Media and Shenandoah Country Q102, the series will commence on April 6 with an enchanting evening featuring the iconic band Orleans.
| OldTownist makes new memories with old friends at Antica Trattoria | |
The folks from OldTownist recently paid a visit to Antica Trattoria, located at 25 S. Indian Alley, and were treated to authentic Italian cuisine and hospitality—and a pasta making tutorial! You can read more about their experience in their March issue.
For information about OldTownist, including features, contact Misty@DreamWeaverTeam.com!
| ZeroPak Affordable Housing Development recently secured $1.4 M in funding through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Fall 2023 Affordable and Special Needs Housing Program. | |
GRANTS, LOANS & OTHER RESOURCES | |
Apply today for a $25,000 grant for women! Submitting one application makes you instantly eligible for all grants related to your business. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and winners are announced by the 23rd of the following month. | The HerRise Micro-Grant provides financial assistance to women of color creating innovative solutions that impact their community and that are often unable to secure funding for their small business | |
How Can A 504 Loan
Help You In 2024?
| Whether you're a small business owner, a lender, or an existing borrower with Business Finance Group, a 504 loan may be just the thing you need to reach your growth goals in 2024! | The Tory Burch Foundation partners with the Fearless Fund to offer 75 annual Women of Color Grants. Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $20,000; winners can also access a learning portal and small-group networking opportunities. | |
Click here for more info about Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) grants and other programs. | Attention COVID EIDL borrowers: You may qualify to lower your COVID EIDL payments. Apply for hardship assistance today. Log in to MySBA to apply for COVID EIDL hardship and get additional help. | Click HERE for a list of 40 small business grants for minority entrepreneurs. | If your small business ships with FedEx, you may be eligible to apply for a FedEx Small Business Grant of up to $50,000! In addition to the grant money, you will also receive premium customer care, print credit, operational consultations, and other perks. Applications are due by April 1st. | |
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Startup status, insufficient collateral, and low credit scores are often major hurdles facing small business owners seeking bank financing.
What does that mean for you? It means SCCF is able to provide to businesses and entrepreneurs who are unable to attain capital through commercial lending.
SCCF currently offers micro-loans in the ranges of $1,000-$5,000, $5,000-$20,000, and $20,00-$50,000.
| Do you need funding to grow your small business? A 7(a) loan, SBA's primary business loan option, can help. A 7(a) loan can be used for working capital, purchasing real estate, buying equipment, and much more. Learn how to apply and find an SBA approved lender. | This organization awards Growth Grants to four member businesses each quarter worth $4,000 each. Grant funds can be used for marketing, advertising, hiring employees or expanding facilities — anything that helps your business grow — but can’t be put toward debt, mortgage or rent payments. | |
WEBINARS, CLASSES, EVENTS & MORE | |
Valley Health Business at the Bloom is one of the largest gatherings of regional business leaders during the entire year. | |
The Top of Virginia Public Policy Committee invites you to participate in the
PolicyMakers Series Luncheon
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024
beginning with Networking and Lunch at 11:30am
Winchester Country Club
| Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) FY25 Webinar | The Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) encourages economic development and investment through the renovation of vacant and derelict structures in Virginia. Join DHCD for their webinar on March 27 at 11 AM to hear about recent changes to the program and details about how to apply. | |
In 2023, more than 500 individuals seeking employment attended The Employer Expo! Don't miss this unique opportunity to recruit on-site and spark interest in your business. We are ramping up our regional marketing for the event to include newspaper ads, radio ads, social media, TV, rotating signage in front of participating businesses and more! | This year, Backing Small Businesses will provide 500 small business grants of $10,000 to eligible businesses in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Grantees who receive the initial $10,000 grant will be eligible to apply for an Enhancement Grant of an additional $30,000 later in the year! Deadline to apply is April 7, 2024. Click the link below to watch the informational webinar on how to apply. | |
Are you an established business looking to fund a new project? Are you a current business looking to acquire an additional business? Are you thinking of selling your current business? If you answered yes to any of these questions you need to join the Laurel Ridge SBDC and First Citizens Bank to demystify the process of finances and loan application processes! | |
First Fridays are back! Every first Friday of the month [weather permitting], we host local artists, live music, sip & stroll, special events, and more in the heart of Old Town Winchester. Local favorites Raised on Analog will be at the Taylor Pavilion from 6:30 – 8:30 PM playing all your favorite '80s hits! Visit our website for more info! | |  |
Join Dr. Matt Wagner, Chief Program Officer at Main Street America, as he travels the country, taking a deep dive into the personal journeys of downtown and neighborhood entrepreneurs. | | |
Last month EDA staff Vanessa Santiago attended the Black Business and History Expo organized by Hood-Love. The Expo was an opportunity for business owners, community members, faith-based organizations, and educational institutions to network, share resources, and celebrate the contributions of Winchester's Black community leaders and entrepreneurs. | |
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Earlier this month EDA staff had the pleasure of hosting Annie Conte and Mike Evranian from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for tours of Newell Rubbermaid, O'Sullivan Films/Continental, and Fabritek. These tours equip VEDP members with the knowledge and insight necessary to better understand our existing manufacturers in the advanced materials industries. | |
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EDA staff visited Violino Ristorante Italiano last week and experienced authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Located at 181 N. Loudoun Street on the Old Town Pedestrian Mall, Violino has been lovingly preparing fresh, flavorful Italian favorites out of their family-run kitchen for more than 27 years! Stop in for a meal and experience a bit of la dolce vita right here in Winchester. | |
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In support of our regional partners, on February 29, EDA staff Sam Iden visited Miller’s Milling in Frederick county with the Business Solutions Team, a sub-committee of the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board. The Business Solutions Team pulls together regional workforce development resources to help employers tackle their unique business problems. For more information about the Business Solutions Team or to schedule a tour, contact Sam Iden: sam.iden@winchesterva.gov.
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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. | |
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Economic Development Authority Meetings
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