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Fighting back
Inflation and supply chain problems have pushed up the price of citric acid by 200%. That’s a problem for Crystal Wellman because citric acid is a primary ingredient in bath products she sells at Sugar + Spruce, her bath, body and skin care products shop in downtown Fredericksburg. Wellman could try just raising prices, but […]
Hopewell businesses get boost after pitch competiton
Jonathan Montiel and his business partners Phillip and Lexi Hughes bought a building in downtown Hopewell and then asked community members what they needed. Their answer: more restaurants. That’s how City Point Ice Cream & Burgers was born, and it‘s why the trio think they won the $15,000 first prize in the Homegrown for Hopewell […]
Bio-plastic startup wins Lighthouse Labs pitch contest
While pitching to the sharks, entrepreneur Alec Brewer told them, “I do have white powder in my pocket,” before quickly clarifying that it wasn’t an illicit substance: “It’s PHB! It’s PHB!” Brewer passed the vial over for the sharks’ inspection during his Lighthouse Labs Demo Day pitch Thursday for his company, Ourobio, of which he […]
Meet SBA’s Va. small biz person of year
Jeri Prophet joined the Navy on a whim. She had been attending Arizona State University, saw a recruiter sign, and headed for the office. “Some people buy new shoes. I joined the Navy,” she recalled. She served 10 years in the Navy, first as a data systems analyst and left as an information systems technician. […]
Four Va. businesses to receive flood solutions funding
Four Virginia-based small businesses focused on coastal resiliency and flooding will receive funding to develop their products, Norfolk-based nonprofit RISE Resilience Innovations announced Thursday. Divided between rural and urban projects, there were eight winning projects, with the other four based in North Carolina. More than 70 projects were submitted. The urban winners will receive up [&hell[...]
Va. CEOs expect increased sales despite shortages
About 70% of CEOs expect sales to increase in the next six months, despite supply chain and labor shortages, according to the first quarter CEO Economic Outlook survey conducted by the University of Richmond‘s Robins School of Business and the Virginia Council of CEOs (VACEOs). Ninety percent of CEOs reported a labor shortage impacting their […]
South Hill grant aims to boost business district
South Hill merchants figured out ways to keep business going during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing Facebook Live videos from downtown stores that helped people shop from home, then pick up their treasures curbside. Sometimes featuring a rescue dog named Duncan, the videos have continued even as restrictions are rolled back. Now, the […]
Va. Beach launches small biz loan program
The Virginia Beach Small Business Capital Access Program is offering loans of $15,000 to $25,000 to small businesses, with no payments required for the first six months. The program, which is a collaboration between the Virginia Beach Economic Development Department and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC) of Hampton Roads, provides $400,000 in zero-interest loans […]
Shenandoah Community Capital Fund to get $1M as part of federal program
The Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF) will receive $1 million in American Rescue Plan funding as part of the Community Navigator Pilot Program, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced Thursday. The program is an initiative meant to reduce barriers that small businesses, especially those owned by veterans, women, people from rural communities and communities of […]
Peduzzi Associates Ltd. names next president
Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Garry Dean will become the president of Alexandria-based consulting company Peduzzi Associates Ltd. on Friday. Dean has served on the company’s board of advisers for the last four years. He has been an international airline captain for Delta Air Lines since he retired from the Air Force in 2015. […]
State launches app to connect vendors with Va. agencies
Virginia has launched an app to help connect state government agencies and other users with local, woman- and minority-owned businesses more efficiently, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The Start Small app is available for free, and it allows users to conduct keyword searches to match with businesses that fit their needs, and can be narrowed […]
Bridging the gap
At the beginning of 2020, A Family Affair Event Management had already filled its schedule for the year with an array of weddings and corporate, social and destination activities. Then COVID-19 struck, wiping the Stafford event planning company’s calendar clean. “It greatly impacted us,” says Tortica Anderson, owner of A Family Affair Event Management. “We […]
