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Anthem, Va. Chamber partner on WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield on the WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance, the next step in providing health insurance to small business owners through a newly legalized consortium structure, President and CEO Barry DuVal announced Wednesday. In June 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation allowing associations — including […]
Richmond-area mainstay Saxon Shoes moves onto its next step
When Gary Weiner’s parents, Jack and Gloria, opened Saxon Shoes in Richmond in 1953, they mostly carried shoes for children with orthopedic needs. Now, 70 years later, the store has something for everyone and is about 10 times the size of the average shoe store and operates in Henrico County’s Short Pump area. It’s become a […]
A bigger piece of the pie
For the past 15 years, Vibhaa Vermani has led a successful woman-owned small government contracting business, providing integrated technical solutions and services to numerous U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Internal Revenue Service. Vermani’s Virginia Beach-based company, Chitra, is one of many Virginia small businesses thriving in the federal contracti[...]
Federal shutdown could have deep impacts in Va.
In late 2018, the last time the federal government shut down for an extended period, Eric Ingram was furloughed from his job at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for six weeks. He used that time to co-found a startup focused on space safety, Scout Space. Launched in 2019, the Alexandria-based technology startup now has several […]
Parking repeal gives developers space
Opening a small business is never easy, but for many Richmond entrepreneurs, the city’s previous minimum parking requirements added extra hassle. Two years ago, when restaurant Africanne on Main relocated from its longtime downtown location to a spot near Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park Campus, city parking regulations stalled the move for weeks, recalls co-owner [&helli[...]
Lynchburg center to lift entrepreneurs
Months before its opening in late summer or early fall, Lynchburg’s new Center for Entrepreneurship already has gathered about 15 applications from local business owners and professionals seeking to mentor those launching or looking to grow their own companies. That’s a positive sign, says Stephanie Keener, executive director of the Lynchburg region’s Small Business Development [[...]
Shenandoah Valley SBDC names new director
Shenandoah Valley’s Small Business Development Center, based in Harrisonburg, has named Allison Dugan its newest director. Dugan started with the regional SBDC as a part-time program manager in 2014 and became a business adviser in 2015, adding the title of assistant director in 2019. She took on the leadership role May 1, after serving as […]
Hampton Roads Chamber exec retires
In her 33 years with the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, Debra Hamilton Farley helped launch 252 businesses that created more than 9,000 jobs. Now, she’s taking a break — Farley retired on April 28. “Debra’s contributions to the small businesses community she has served over her sterling career is invaluable,” said Bryan Stephens, […]
StartVirginia: April 2023 Heard around Virginia
Richmond-based Absurd Snacks is ready to enter major retailers after a reformulation and taking on some new packaging. Founders Grace Mittl and Eli Bank worked with a New York agency and redesigned the packaging. Absurd Snacks has been available at independent grocery stores, but Mittl and Bank are eyeing larger retailers and wanted to make […]
Chambers of commerce
STATEWIDE Asian American Chamber of Commerce | Tysons | (571) 633-9754 asian-americanchamber.org Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce | Ashland | (804) 344-1540 aabac.org Virginia Chamber of Commerce | Richmond | (804) 644-1607 vachamber.com Virginia Hispanic Chamber | North Chesterfield | (804) 378-4099 vahcc.com CENTRAL VIRGINIA Altavista Area Chamber of Commerce | Altavista | (434) 369-6665 [&h[...]
House lawmakers stifle creative entrepreneurs fund
RICHMOND, Va. — Creativity should be valued as an important part of the Virginia economy, said the state lawmaker behind legislation to create the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program. Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, introduced House Bill 2376 to establish a dedicated funding source for grant awards no more than $20,000 each to independent content creators […]
Va. receives $230M for startup, venture capital funding
Virginia has been approved for as much as $230.4 million in federal funds to accelerate startups, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced Tuesday. The money comes from the Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Virginia will operate five programs, including two loan participation, one loan guarantee and two equity/venture capital programs. Loan programs include [&hellip[...]
