Are you missing out? Our newsletters are long, and might be clipped in your email program. If the newsletter is cutoff (our sponsors are listed at the bottom of the newsletter), there will be a note "[Message clipped] View entire message" (see below). Click "View entire message" and the newsletter will open in your browser.

Tickets will be available through December 6. For more information, email information@amherstvachamber.com or call 434.946.0990 during business hours.

The Amherst County Chamber of Commerce and Amherst County Visitor Center will close at noon November 27th for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

We will resume normal business hours

Friday, November 29th. Next week's newsletter will be sent on Friday.

We wish you and yours a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Feeling Lucky? The Amherst County Public Schools Education Foundation Raffle is back and it's bigger than ever!

The 2024 Holiday Raffle is here to make your season bright! For just $10 a ticket, you could win big while supporting the Amherst County Public Schools Education Foundation. This year's prize package is valued at over $650! A huge shoutout to Hickey Electric for their generous sponsorship. Don't miss out on your chance to win, get your tickets here today!

Santa’s New Bag!

Santa's bag of gifts is getting a major upgrade! A YETI 32 Wheeled Hard Cooler in Rescue Red, a stack of over $300 in gift cards to use as holiday gifts or shop ‘til you drop, and a fantastic package from Virginia Distillery!

YETI 32 Wheeled Cooler in RESCUE RED: Roll to tailgates, tournaments, and camping trips in style!

A cooler that shoulders the cold.

• Fits 50 cans (only)
• Fits 36 lbs of ice (only)
• One removable dry goods basket included

Gift card stack:

• $60 Walmart/Sam’s Club
• $25 Amazon
• $25 Amazon
• $15 Starbucks
• $15 Starbucks
• $15 Starbucks
• $50 Lowes
• $25 Old Navy/GAP
• $25 Texas Roadhouse
• $25 Best Buy
• $25 TJ Maxx

The online drawing will take place at NOON on Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

Be sure to LIKE and FOLLOW the ACPS Education Foundation's Facebook page for raffle updates!

Saturday

6-8 pm Saturday, November 23, 2024

Live at ​Second Stage | Amherst

​194 2nd Street, Amherst, VA 24521

Ken Matthews and his Jazz Quartet

bring you an Evening of Ballads, Basso Nova, and Blues favorites from the 1960s.

Amherst Glebe Arts Response (AGAR) and Second Stage I Amherst invite you to put on your autumn sweater and enjoy these fall favorites of Amherst Java and Jazz. 

Lynchburg's Ken Matthews leaves his "Laissez Foure" Louisiana sound quartet tunes behind to concentrate with a new quartet on standards of Jazz.

TICKETS:

• (Ticket price includes one free cup of coffee, water, or soda, with food for purchase from Baine’s Books & Coffee.)$12 adults
• $6 students
• FREE Limited VCA Passport tickets: Tickets are available to persons showing a WIC Card. For more information, call 434-989-3215 or click on this link.

To Purchase:

• Pay at door, cash or checks only; doors open at 5:30 pm.​
• Reserve a ticket with credit card via Eventbrite by using the button below.

Through Saturday

Through December 6

Coming Events

The Bum Chums of Sweet Briar College present Bum Bazaar 2024: A Winter Wonderland!

This is an annual charity event hosted by the Bum Chums club. Come out and support student and alumnae vendors from our Sweet Briar community, as well as vendors from the surrounding area and the East Coast.

Get your holiday shopping done while supporting local or small businesses. Come and go throughout the day as you're available!

There will also be holiday crafts, raffles, and hot cocoa.

The Bum Chums are known for their community service and donations from this year's event will help support The Meredith Haga Foundation, the James Sudler Cockey V Scholarship Foundation, Hill City Pride, and Kids Haven in Lynchburg.

Welcome to The Happiest of Holidays Makers Market & Vendor Event!

Saturday, December 7 - 9AM-1PM

We invite you to join us for Amherst's makers, crafters, bakers, and producers market!

Inside booths - TIGHT 8’ x 8’ - $25

Outside booths - 10' x 10' - $20

Setup will be held from 7-9AM on December 7. Round and rectangular tables will be provided for indoor booths on a first-come, first-served basis.

Click HERE for more info.

Starting January 4, 2025

New service at the Episcopal Thrift Shop!

Loose Shoe Brewing Company is a brewery offering unique, high quality craft beer in a spacious, comfortable taproom and patio.

Hours: Wednesday 3 - 7pm, Thursday & Friday 3 - 9pm,

Saturday 12 - 10pm and Sunday 2 - 7pm.



Deck, RootBeer, Crowlers and Growlers

Amherst Business Mastermind was born out of three ideas: a branding workshop, a business coaching offer, and a desire to network with local businesses.

In-person bimonthly meetings will be held at Second Stage Amherst:

AM Session: 2nd Wednesday - 10AM-NOON

PM Session: 4th Wednesday - 6-8PM

*AM and PM Sessions will contain different content. We would love to have you join us for both sessions!

The annual participation fee during this startup phase is just $200! Those interested in attending morning or evening only may register for the year for $120.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE

Join our Thursday morning group for a friendly game of Duplicate Bridge in the Community Room! For additional information, please contact Allen Sprinkle at

(434) 841-1469.

Did you know you can stay up to date on the Board of Supervisor Meetings from the comfort of your home?

Click HERE to watch the replay of the November 19th meeting on YouTube.

Business News

Upcoming SBDC Webinars

V-TOP Staffing Agency Services & Matching Funds Program

November 26 | 10:00 AM EST | A Resource Partner Virtual Event | Register

First Thursday with the SBA: 8(a) Certification

December 5 | Noon EST | Register

Blue Print Business Plan Workshop

December 10 | 9:00 AM EST | Fee: $35.00 | Register

Customer Discovery: Creating a Solid Foundation for Your Startup to get Funded

December 10 | 11:00 AM EST | A VIPC & Virginia SBDC ICAP Event| Register

Federal Contracting: Simplified Acquisition for Small Business Contracting

December 10 | 12:30 PM EST | A Virginia APEX Accelerator Event| Register

V-TOP Staffing Agency Services & Matching Funds Program

December 10 | 10:00 AM EST | A Resource Partner Virtual Event | Register

How to Manage Your WordPress Website

December 17 | Noon EST | Digital Marketing Bootcamp Series| Register

Federal Contracting: Veteran Certifications

December 18 | 10:00 AM EST | A Virginia APEX Accelerator Event | Register

Cybersecurity on a Budget: Protecting Your Small Business Without Breaking the Bank

December 19 | 12:30 PM EST | Register

The SBA is upgrading how our customers apply for and manage their federal contracting certifications beginning on August 1, 2024.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Initial certification applications will not be accepted during the upgrade period.
• The upgraded system is expected to be available for new applications in early September.
• New and prospective applicants for federal small business certification are encouraged to wait until the upgrade is complete before applying.
• Most certified firms will not be impacted by the pause in applications.
• Firms needing to renew during the upgrade period will receive guidance from their certification program.
• Applications submitted before August 1, 2024 will continue to be processed during the upgrade period in the order received.
• If your firm is facing a deadline on a proposal that will be impacted by your certification status before August 1, 2024, please contact us at certifications@sba.gov and provide the contract number, agency, and bid due date.

Please reach out to your local Virginia Small Business Development Center if you have further questions.

Learn More Here

Employment Opportunities

Come join our team at CSE!

We have several positions that we are hiring for, including laborers/helpers, certified welders, riggers, ironworkers, mechanics, drivers, and crane operators. Many of these positions are for all four of our locations in Madison Heights, Roanoke, Richmond, and Charlottesville.

Click HERE to apply for one of these positions today, or email your resume and work history to hr@cseonline.net.

Maggie Takes Pix

For More Information - Visit www.maggietakespix.com/promotions