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Small Business

Charles Carter is the 11th generation of his family to run Shirley Plantation. The oldest family-owned business in the United States, it has been run by his family since 1638. Photo by Caroline Martin
Sep 28, 2020

Thicker than water

“It isn’t personal. It’s just business.” Those phrases are too often used in the commercial world, but they just don’t apply when talking about most family-run enterprises. The business of running these companies is deeply personal. The priorities of family businesses “go well beyond financial concerns,” says B[...]

Sep 28, 2020

State to allocate $10M in block grants for COVID-19 recovery

The state government is earmarking more than $10 million in federally funded Community Development Block Grants (CBDG) for COVID-19 recovery projects across the commonwealth, including some small business assistance funds, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday. “Our administration remains committed to investing in rural communities during this unprecedented health crisis and as we work to rebuild […][...]

Sep 21, 2020

Northam expands $70M Rebuild VA program

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that the $70 million economic recovery program Rebuild VA is expanding its eligibility criteria to allow more small businesses to apply for economic relief grants.  Under the Rebuild VA program, which launched in August, businesses that received federal CARES Act funding are now eligible to receive up to $10,000 in […]

Sep 14, 2020

Va. Small Business Financing Authority didn’t loan out $28M

The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) disbursed only 8% of its available funds in 2018 and just 10% in 2019 for loans, grants and bonds to help small businesses — holding on to $28 million, according to a study released Monday by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC). A division of the […]

Sep 3, 2020

Loudoun County allocates additional $4.3M to small business grants

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has approved an additional $4.3 million in federal CARES Act funding to go to its COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund, which supports eligible small businesses impacted by the coronavirus with $5,000 grants. During the first three rounds of funding, Loudoun County disbursed $7.1 million to more than 1,000 businesses.  “Even […]

Aug 31, 2020

Frederick County launches $1M business grant program

The Frederick County Economic Development Authority announced Monday it has allocated $1 million of federal CARES Act funds for a business grant program. Applications can be submitted at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 through 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. The program will award grants of $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000 to businesses with 2019 annual gross […]

Aug 27, 2020

Dominion Energy, Altria commit grant funding for small businesses

Updated 2:30 p.m. Aug. 27 Two Virginia corporate giants announced details Thursday on funding for small businesses in Richmond and Hampton Roads affected by protest-related damage and ongoing coronavirus hardships. Altria Group Inc., based in Henrico County, and Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. pledged $5 million each for small businesses and social justice organizations in June, […]

Aug 19, 2020

Montgomery County, Blacksburg, Christiansburg launch small business relief grants

Montgomery County and the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg on Wednesday launched a grant fund to support small business recovery in response to COVID-19. Eligible businesses can receive one-time grants of up to $27,500. The Small Business Recovery grant program is funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic[...]

Photo courtesy Facebook Inc.
Aug 19, 2020

Facebook opens Black business grant program

Starting Wednesday, any majority Black-owned business in the U.S. with up to 50 employees can apply for a grant through Facebook Inc.’s Black Business Grant. In June, Facebook announced it had committed $100 million in grants this year to support U.S. Black-owned businesses, creators and nonprofits. The social media giant anno[...]

Aug 13, 2020

Feds award $13.9M in grants to capitalize Va. small business loans

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has awarded $13.9 million in CARES Act grants that will let city, state and regional governments in Virginia administer revolving loan funds (RLF) to assist small businesses, the department announced Thursday. According to a news release, the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority will receive a $10.2 million […][...]

Jul 30, 2020

Va. Main Street Merit Award winners announced

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on Thursday announced the 2020 Virginia Main Street Merit Award winners, with businesses and projects in the Shenandoah Valley and Northern, Southern and Southwest Virginia recognized. Below are the 2020 award recipients: Best Downtown Public Improvement Project: town of St. Paul for the Downtown Comprehensive Infrastructure […][...]

Busch Gardens Williamsburg remained closed in mid-July, the height of tourism season. Park President Kevin Lembke says COVID-19-driven state limitations on attendance don’t make it financially feasible to open the amusement park. Photo by Caroline Martin
Jul 29, 2020

(Re)open season

RELATED STORY: Busch Gardens set to reopen Aug. 6. Reclining against the Williamsburg greenery, the 180-foot-tall steel serpent awaits anyone brave enough to test their mettle against it. Measuring 3,300 feet in length and boasting a top speed of 73 miles per hour, it shares the name of a Roman temple dedicated to the gods: [&he[...]

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