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Last Thursday, May 29th, we held our first-ever Piedmont Ascent Business Conference, with help from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County Economic Development offices. Thank you to everyone who attended and presented for helping to make it a success!
After the conference, we also held our Piedmont Pitch competition, featuring 5 entrepreneurs from the Charlottesville area. They each pitched their business plan to a room full of family, friends, and community members, as well as a panel of judges.
| | Congrats to our Piedmont Pitch winners! | | |
Trade Policy and Tariffs Updates
If you're looking to stay informed about recent updates regarding small business trade and tariffs, VEDP is hosting a virtual session on June 12. This webinar will provide timely updates on key trade policies and tariff developments that could impact your export strategy in 2025 and beyond. Speaker Nicole Bivens Collinson will break down recent changes in U.S. trade policy, discuss potential shifts on the horizon, and offer practical guidance for navigating new challenges and opportunities in the global marketplace.
Register here.
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Progressive Driving Small Business Forward Grant
Progressive® is committing $1 million to support small business owners who could use a commercial vehicle to power their work. Through this fund, 20 business owners will be selected to each receive a $50,000 grant and exclusive access to a 12-week virtual Boost Camp coaching program, designed to provide small business owners with coaching, connection, and resources to take the next leap forward.
If a vehicle powers your business, this grant can help fuel your next chapter. Applications are open through June 20, 2025 at 6 PM ET.
Apply here.
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Virginia Trade Corporation Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program Grants
VTC is giving away $5,000 as part of its reimbursable grant program to leverage existing marketing funds. Small tourism-related business with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, including boutique retail, restaurants, food trucks, small attractions, craft breweries, distilleries, wineries, boutique lodging and B&Bs, and events focused on shoulder season visitation are eligible to apply when applications open on June 10th.
More information.
| | All programs of the Virginia SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. | | |
Bo Grist, CV SBDC Director and AI enthusiast, is bringing hands-on AI training to a county near you. Within 2 hours, attendees will be able to log in to their own AI account and perform a minimum of 10 tasks that can automate business processes and save a minimum of 5 hours per week. While all are encouraged to attend, the exercises will focus on helping entrepreneurs with little or no AI experience learn how to leverage these amazing platforms. Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet to the training and the instructors will lead attendees through the process of creating their own personal, free account.
Register for one of our upcoming sessions today - space is limited!
AI for Beginners - Louisa County - spots still available!
June 4 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM | Louisa, VA
AI for Beginners - Nelson County
June 9 | 1-3 PM | Lovingston, VA
AI for Beginners - Charlottesville
June 20 | 9-11 AM | Charlottesville, VA
More sessions and locations to be announced.
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Charlottesville Entrepreneurs + Espresso (C-E2)
June 17 | 9 AM - 11 AM
In Person (Charlottesville)
Charlottesville Entrepreneurs and Espresso, or C-E2, a monthly event series, is a casual, caffeine fueled gathering of learning for entrepreneurs at all stages of venture creation. This is a free event open to the entire entrepreneurship community. The new time for this event is 9-11 am.
Register here
| | | Webinars from the Virginia SBDC Network | | HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY | | |
UVA Small Business Expo
June 11 | 12 - 2 PM | Charlottesville, VA
Please join us on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in the University’s Newcomb Hall Ballroom to connect with over 50 Local and Small businesses, and purchasing representatives from local government agencies.
This event will provide University purchasers with the opportunity to discover new businesses, to connect in person with their favorite local and small businesses, and to learn more about the University’s Small Business initiative.
Only SWaM-certified or local businesses may exhibit at this event.
Learn More and Register Here
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Central Virginia SBDC
Your Partners in Business:
Supporting Small Business - from Startups to International Expansion
Serving the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna,
Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Rappahannock.
Meet With Us
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