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Millbrook High School students walk past vendors along the Old Town Walking Mall as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Celebracion of Winchester on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Photo Credit: Amanda Greenacre
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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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Bridging the Gaps Addiction Treatment Center
For more than 25 years, Bridging the Gaps has been serving the Winchester community with holistic residential addiction treatment designed to support individuals on their path to recovery.
That longstanding local impact recently earned national recognition. Bridging the Gaps was ranked #1 in Virginia on Newsweek’s America’s Best Residential Addiction Treatment Centers 2026 list. This recognition is an exciting milestone for a local organization that has spent more than two decades providing care and support to individuals and families in our community.
Located in Winchester, Bridging the Gaps takes a comprehensive approach to recovery, addressing the physical, emotional, and social aspects of addiction while helping clients build the tools and support systems needed for lasting change. They have created a Resource Hub for employers, HR and EAP professionals, attorneys, and healthcare providers, with practical materials on recognizing substance use concerns, starting supportive conversations, and navigating treatment referrals. Their admissions team is available to answer questions and help determine appropriate next steps at (540) 535-1111.
Congratulations to the entire Bridging the Gaps team on this well-deserved recognition and more than 25 years of serving Winchester!
| | 'A little cool, a little chic,' Taylor House brings new spirit to an old space | Winchester area still fastest-growing in Virginia | Want to become an air traffic controller? SU no offers ATC-101 | On the road again, and again, and again... | Valley Health celebrates new Behavioral Health Pavilion | | Handley Regional Library System Introduces New Skilled Trades Career Resource | Former SU basketball students seeking literacy slam dunk | Peruvian Restaurant opens on Cameron Street | SU named among top private universities in Virginia | Bank of Clarke being acquired in $253M merger | | GRANTS, LOANS & OTHER RESOURCES | | Virginia’s AFID Grant Program provides reimbursable funding for capital projects that strengthen local food and agricultural infrastructure, including food hubs, farmers’ markets, commercial kitchens, and processing facilities. The Fall 2026 grant round opens September 14 and closes October 30. | 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. | The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) provides loans, lender support, bond financing, and other funding programs to help Virginia businesses and nonprofits access the capital they need to start, grow, expand, and create jobs. | | 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. | The HerRise Micro-Grant provides funding to women of color who are creating a positive community impact. | People Inc. Financial Services (PIFS) offers small-business financing, one-on-one advising, technical assistance, and connections to resources to help entrepreneurs and small businesses start, strengthen, and grow. | Do you need funding to grow your small business? A 7(a) loan, SBA's primary business loan option, can help. | | Great grant opportunities for Women Business Owners including grants. The next grant deadline is October 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. | Click below for a list of 35+ small business grants for minority entrepreneurs. | First Citizens Bank is offering limited-time promotional rates on commercial real estate loans and equipment financing for eligible new customers through January 31, 2027. | Click below for 125+ grants, loans, and scholarships for women | | WEBINARS, CLASSES, EVENTS & MORE | | |
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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. | Top of Virginia Regional Chamber (TRVC) Economic Summit | |
Registration is now open for the 2026 Economic Summit, happening Thursday, November 19, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Shenandoah University.
This Economic Summit will feature Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as the keynote speaker, and Dr. Michael Hicks, Director, School of Business & Professor of Economics, as a featured speaker. To learn more and register, click the link below.
| | VRLTA Restaurant Operator Survey | Virginia restaurant operators are requested to take a few minutes to complete the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association's (VRLTA) anonymous survey about the challenges facing restaurants today. Your input will help inform advocacy efforts on behalf of Virginia’s restaurant industry. Click the link below to complete the survey. | 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:
| 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. | Speed Networking Event for Senior Students | Local businesses are invited to connect with high school seniors as they explore what comes next after graduation. Share your career journey, introduce students to opportunities in your industry, and help them discover the many career paths available right here in our community. The event will be held on Thursday, November 12th from 10:30AM - 1:15 PM at Emil and Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center. Click the link below to register. | Upcoming Top of Virginia Regional Chamber (TRVC) Events | | Governor Spanberger awards Friends of Old Town $44,000 Virginia Main Street Grant to use toward the Taylor Pavillion revitalization. | | Friends of Old Town celebrates a new feature taking flight | Friends of Old Town seeks artists for pop-up storefront galleries | | |
Upcoming Downtown Events:
| | Bonnie Blue to Receive Funding through the Real Estate Development Revolving Loan Fund (RED-RLF) | |
At its most recent board meeting, the Winchester Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved Bonnie Blue Southern Market & Bakery's application for funding through the Real Estate Development Revolving Loan Fund (RED-RLF), supporting investment in local commercial real estate and continued business growth.
The Real Estate Development Revolving Loan Fund (RED-RLF) provides gap financing for small- to medium-sized nonresidential real estate development projects that put vacant or underutilized properties back into productive use. The program offers market-rate loans to businesses and developers who have exhausted other financing options but still need additional capital to move a project forward.
Through this program, the Winchester Economic Development Authority demonstrates its commitment to supporting local businesses, encouraging private investment, and creating opportunities for economic growth. By helping bridge financing gaps, the EDA can help businesses overcome financial barriers, invest in their properties, and establish or expand their operations. These projects also contribute to revitalizing underutilized properties, strengthening Winchester’s commercial tax base, and supporting a vibrant local economy.
| | Ward Plaza redevelopment cleared to resume | |  | Cedar Valley Square project back on track | | | Worlds of Work: The EDA and its Regional Partners Invest in Future Talent | | 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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October 20, 2026 Agenda
- The next EDA Board Meeting will occur on November 17, 2026
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