Sep
26
Tue
Shenandoah Valley SBDC Drop-In Event @ Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce
Sep 26 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Diane McCarthy from the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center will be at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office from 9am until 4pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. This drop-in event will provide business owners and entrepreneurs and opportunity to learn more about the SBDC resources available to them. To make an appointment, contact Diane via email or call 540.568.3227.

Start Smart Workshop @ SV SBDC
Sep 26 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Do you reside in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and are thinking about starting a new business?
  • Do you have questions about how to move forward?
  • Are you considering moving your hobby into a more structured business form?
  • Have you already started your small business and now realize you may have missed a few things?

Your Shenandoah Valley SBDC has answers, information, and resources to help!

In our Start Smart Workshops, we discuss the path to good decisions and a successful start. You’ll learn to take a thorough 360° approach to your business and all its components – from product development to target marketing to financial projections and bookkeeping. We also cover the regulations and registrations you need to know.

Follow-up appointments are then available with SBDC business advisors to focus on your individual business growth needs.

Thank you for your registration to Start Smart Workshop. Please let Rosie know if you are unable to attend or have questions via email to rigglerc@jmu.edu

Thank You! Barry Henderson, Shenandoah Valley SBDC

A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Landing Page for Your Business @ online
Sep 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Having a good landing page is the foundation of digital marketing. Without a well-crafted landing page, potential leads have no way to access or learn more about your business online.

In this webinar, you’ll learn the basics of digital marketing, the key components of a landing page and how to turn your landing page into a funnel that turns leads into sales.

What we’ll cover:

  • Finding and registering a domain
  • Creating a landing page
  • Understanding marketing funnels
  • How to get traffic to your site
  • How to measure the success of your landing page

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Oct
5
Thu
Government Contracting 101 @ online
Oct 5 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

During this webinar you will learn about:

  • The government customer
  • Readiness to be a government contractor
  • Marketing to the customer
  • Government jargon
  • Steps to get started
  • Small business set-asides
  • Targeting the government customer – what the buyer wants to know
  • What should go into a capability statement

Speakers: Timm Johnson – Director, Mason SBDC

Co-sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Prince William Chamber of Commerce

Cancellation Policy: Contact the Center regarding cancellation earlier than 24 business hours prior to event. Kindly email – help@masonsbdc.org (preferred) or call 703-261-4105 to notify the team.

Special Instruction: This live webinar will be presented via Zoom. Webinar access details (Zoom invitation) will be provided after registration.

First Thursdays with the SBA: Programs Overview @ online
Oct 5 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Grab your lunch and join us virtually for the first Thursday of each month to learn more about SBA programs and network with other small business owners.

Topic: SBA Programs Update

The SBA offers several programs for small businesses. This session will provide an update on their various programs the SBA offers including 7(a) lending, 8(a) updates, the new VOSB application platform, and HUBZone.

Key Takeaways:

  • 7(a) lending updates
  • 8(a) application updates
  • VOSB application updates
  • HUBZone map updates

Speaker(s): Carl Knoblock, SBA District Director of the Virginia District Office. Carl Knoblock currently works for the Small Business Administration and prior to becoming District Director, Knoblock owned a couple of small businesses from manufacturing to service industries. He served as C-Level executive for several innovative startups. Carl started as the district director for Virginia in June 2014.

If you need further assistance or have a question, please contact us at (540)654-1383

Loans, Grants and Other Funding Options for Women-Owned Businesses @ online
Oct 5 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Join us for an empowering webinar dedicated to supporting and guiding women entrepreneurs on their journey to securing funding for their businesses.

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business, this webinar will help you understand the different funding options available to women entrepreneurs, how to pitch your business vision effectively and how to overcome gender biases and create a supportive network.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

  • Understanding the different funding pathways
  • Building a Compelling Funding Pitch
  • Overcoming Gender-Specific Challenges

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Oct
9
Mon
Pathway to Success: Childcare Business Informational Meeting @ Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center Auditorium
Oct 9 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Thank you for your interest in this FREE program! The City of Harrisonburg, the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, and Early Education Business Consultants have teamed up to offer special training and personalized assistance to new or existing in-home or center-based childcare providers located in the City of Harrisonburg. The goal is to provide participants with the tools and support needed to start, grow, and succeed as a childcare provider. American Rescue Plan Act grant funding is available to those who complete the program and can demonstrate they have increased childcare spaces in their home or center.
We look forward to sharing the details with you at one of the upcoming informational meetings.
Monday, October 9, 6:30pm
Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center Auditorium
620 Simms Avenue Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Wednesday, October 25, 6:30pm
Council Chambers, Harrisonburg City Hall
409 S Main St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Please fill out the short form at the ticket link to indicate your interest in participation.
Oct
10
Tue
Shenandoah Valley SBDC Drop-In Event @ Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce
Oct 10 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Diane McCarthy from the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center will be at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office from 9am until 4pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. This drop-in event will provide business owners and entrepreneurs and opportunity to learn more about the SBDC resources available to them. To make an appointment, contact Diane via email or call 540.568.3227.

Patent Basics @ online
Oct 10 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
This module will cover the basic facts about patents. We will explore the different types of patents, including utility, design, and plant. We will define the difference and use of both provisional patent applications and non-provisional patent applications. Further, we will discuss the process of patent prosecution, the role of the U.S. patent examiner and what to expect when working with the USPTO. Information regarding a number of patent prosecution programs and initiatives available to applicants will also be provided.
Webinar presented in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Speaker(s): Tomeka Oubichon – the Eastern Regional Outreach Officer for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. Ms. Oubichon supports the strategic plans and goals of the agency with a focus on outreach and stakeholder engagement.
How to Launch a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign for Your Small Business @ online
Oct 10 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Crowdfunding is not only a good way to raise capital, but it’s also a great way to build a community and customer base for your product or services. However, running a successful crowdfunding campaign is not easy.

In this webinar, our presenter will walk you through best practices to ensure your crowdfunding campaign reaches its funding goals and connects with your target audience on a meaningful level.

You’ll learn:

  • Setting clear funding goals and timelines
  • Identifying and connecting with your ideal backers
  • Crafting a compelling pitch and marketing strategy

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Oct
12
Thu
How to Hire an SEO Agency @ online
Oct 12 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Hiring an SEO company can be an excellent investment to improve your online presence, but it can also be risky.

Unfortunately, some SEO experts take advantage of clients by doing quick work that wrecks a website’s optimization in the long run. So how can you determine the right SEO partner to hire?

In this webinar, our expert presenter will break down what an SEO company does, what you should expect and the interview questions you can ask to feel confident when hiring an SEO expert.

You’ll learn:

  • What an SEO company should be providing
  • What services are not worth investing in
  • Interview questions you should be asking and the answers you should expect.

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Oct
17
Tue
Start Smart Workshop @ SV SBDC
Oct 17 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Do you reside in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia and are thinking about starting a new business?
  • Do you have questions about how to move forward?
  • Are you considering moving your hobby into a more structured business form?
  • Have you already started your small business and now realize you may have missed a few things?

Your Shenandoah Valley SBDC has answers, information, and resources to help!

In our Start Smart Workshops, we discuss the path to good decisions and a successful start. You’ll learn to take a thorough 360° approach to your business and all its components – from product development to target marketing to financial projections and bookkeeping. We also cover the regulations and registrations you need to know.

Follow-up appointments are then available with SBDC business advisors to focus on your individual business growth needs.

Thank you for your registration to Start Smart Workshop. Please let Rosie know if you are unable to attend or have questions via email to rigglerc@jmu.edu

Thank You! Barry Henderson, Shenandoah Valley SBDC

Oct
18
Wed
SBDC Workshop and Office Hours @ GARCC Office
Oct 18 @ 8:30 am – 9:30 am
The Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center offers professional business advice, training, and information resources to help grow and strengthen local businesses. Our experts advise, train, and inform small businesses to help them achieve success.
Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Diane McCarthy, Business Advisor, once a month for a helpful workshop and open office hours 10am-4pm.
Oct
19
Thu
Is LinkedIn an Effective Marketing Tool for Small Businesses? @ online
Oct 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform and marketing on LinkedIn can generate more leads than some of the top social media platforms, especially for for B2B marketers.

If you want to grab the attention of top-level executives, then you should work on your LinkedIn marketing strategy. In this webinar, our expert presenter will explain how you can use LinkedIn as an effective marketing tool to grow your business.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why LinkedIn can be an effective marketing tool
  • What you should have on your LinkedIn profile
  • How and why to create your company page
  • Finding LinkedIn groups and making connections
  • LinkedIn posts, engagement and the unique LinkedIn algorithm

Live attendees will receive free business resources and a link to this webinar recording.

Oct
24
Tue
Shenandoah Valley SBDC Drop-In Event @ Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce
Oct 24 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Diane McCarthy from the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center will be at the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce office from 9am until 4pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. This drop-in event will provide business owners and entrepreneurs and opportunity to learn more about the SBDC resources available to them. To make an appointment, contact Diane via email or call 540.568.3227.