B-cubed is not a program, it’s one big family with diverse members who understand and help with your business needs. They are there when you need someone to lean on!
B-Cubed is a great program for the black and brown community to gain access to resources that will enhance their business. The resources offered at no cost to participants is also a great benefit for small businesses.
Now in its second year, the Black- and Brown-owned Business Growth Program (B-Cubed or B³) continues to connect underserved entrepreneurs in the City of Harrisonburg and/or Rockingham County with the resources needed to succeed and grow their businesses. Since the program’s inception, the Valley SBDC has provided program leadership and personalized 1:1 business consultation for participants. The SBDC team has also facilitated training and technical assistance from local experts to help participants increase business knowledge and create sustainable business practices.
Most recently, the SBDC organized an exclusive 3-workshop series for B-Cubed participants with financial expert Karen Mercer. Mercer is a tax accountant that also owns Diamonds in the Fluff, an alpaca farm in Elkton, Virginia. “Let’s Talk Money” was designed to help attendees simplify business finances and improve profitability with less stress and more efficiency. The workshop series included a set of user-friendly templates and handouts and introduced a fun, Jeopardy-style game to help business owners learn and manage business finance. Mercer’s lively teaching style was praised by everyone that attended, and in addition to the classroom sessions, participants also received private consulting with the instructor.
The B-Cubed program was developed to offer business support to underserved members of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community with the goal of increasing business acumen, building business networks, and distributing grant money to invest in their businesses. B-Cubed has graduated two cohorts of entrepreneurs and has delivered a mix of business plan development or improvement, marketing guidance, technical assistance, micro-loans, small grants, mentorship, and networking support, all delivered and customized to the businesses’ current needs.
The SBDC’s partners in the B-Cubed program include the City of Harrisonburg’s Office of Economic Development, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, and the Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity Council.
B-Cubed is open to any existing Black-and Brown-owned business in Harrisonburg and/or Rockingham County. Eligibility also extends to any Black or Brown person residing in either of those jurisdictions who seeks to start a business in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham metropolitan area. Participation forms for the January 1, 2023 cohort are now being accepted. Visit HERE to apply.
Regional Roundup – October