Calendar

Join us May 2 – May 3, 2023, for the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE.

Attend this free, virtual summit to learn new business strategies, meet other business owners and chat with industry experts! This 2-day, action-packed event will include educational sessions, online business resources, and expert speakers.

• 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.

Please find the Zoom link and review PDF Workbook attached in the reminder email 48 hours in advance. Please let me know if you are unable to attend or have questions via email to duganaj@jmu.edu

Thank You! Allison Dugan, Shenandoah Valley SBDC

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

Topic: 7(a) and Microloans

SBA Loan Programs: 7(a) – Come learn how an SBA loan can be used to finance your small business. This workshop will present information on:

How to prepare to get an SBA loan
Explain the different 7(a) loan programs available
What information is needed by a lender to get a loan

Join this question-and-answer session to learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation. A Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program director will answer questions about how to get started, the basics of eligibility and what they look for when they review project pitches.

Details will be shared at the beginning of each webinar to view real-time captions. To request other reasonable accommodations for the webinar, please email RArequests@nsf.gov 14 days in advance of the webinar the following information:

1. Event name
2. Event date and time
3. Your contact information (email address preferred)
4. Brief description of the requested accommodation.

Upon joining the webinar, attendees will be in listen-only mode with the ability to type questions in the Zoom Chat panel. For help during the webinar, contact Zoom Technical support at +1-833-966-6468 or email support@zoom.us.

At the Wage and Hour Division (WHD), we enforce the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which includes the rules and regulations that govern the employment of workers under the age of 18.

We are committed to protecting the youngest members of our workforce and enforcing child labor law to the fullest extent. We know that the most effective prevention is education. With that in mind, WHD is offering a free webinar on May 9th from 10am-12pm (EDT) for employers to learn more about the FLSA’s youth employment protections.

A Q&A period will follow the presentation, and registrants will be provided with links to child labor compliance assistance materials.

While attendance is free, registration is required.

Event Point of Contact: Amy Kim, Community Outreach and Resource Planning Specialist / Kim.Ga@dol.gov

We will explore the changing landscape of work and the role of employee benefits, human resources and leadership strategies in creating a successful and sustainable future for businesses and their employees.

Three Learning Outcomes:

1. Attracting and retaining top talent: In a competitive job market, offering competitive employee benefits can help attract and retain top talent. Employees are looking for more than just a salary, they want to work for a company that offers a comprehensive benefits package.
2. Compliance with regulations: Human Resources play a critical role in ensuring compliance with employment laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in costly fines that could be catastrophic to a small business.
3. The three options an entrepreneur has when it comes to handling human resources

This class will be offered in a hybrid format. You will receive a survey to indicate whether you plan to attend in person or virtually. We have limited space for in person attendees so this will be based on first come, first serve.
If attending in person, the address is 1125 Emancipation Highway, Suite 400, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.

By registering for this seminar, you grant UMW SBDC permission to share your contact information with the speaker.

Join this question-and-answer session to learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation. A Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program director will answer questions about how to get started, the basics of eligibility and what they look for when they review project pitches.

Details will be shared at the beginning of each webinar to view real-time captions. To request other reasonable accommodations for the webinar, please email RArequests@nsf.gov 14 days in advance of the webinar the following information:

1. Event name
2. Event date and time
3. Your contact information (email address preferred)
4. Brief description of the requested accommodation.

Upon joining the webinar, attendees will be in listen-only mode with the ability to type questions in the Zoom Chat panel. For help during the webinar, contact Zoom Technical support at +1-833-966-6468 or email support@zoom.us.

Join Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson for this informative series covering the latest tools in the digital marketing landscape and how to use them effectively for your small business.

Session 2: Facebook Monday, 5/15/23 at 12noon-1pm on Zoom

Is Facebook still a good platform for small businesses? What are some new features, and what are the best ways to utilize it to sell products or promote services? This session with the Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson will offer a quick overview of the various Facebook tools, how they are delivered, who they reach, what content is effective, and how Facebook can be used to market your small business. Queue up your questions, as the second half of the hour will be a Q & A.

This webinar will provide you with tips and insights on how to

Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert

A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – you can expect it a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.

Join Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson for this informative series covering the latest tools in the digital marketing landscape and how to use them effectively for your small business.

A Zoom link will be provided upon registration, so watch for that email.

Session 3: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
Monday, 5/22/23 at 12noon-1pm on Zoom

What is all the fuss about AI and ChatGPT? What AI tools are available, and how can a small business use them to streamline customer service and marketing tasks? This session with the Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson will help answer those questions and more. The first half of the session will give an overview, the second half of the hour will be a Q & A.

About the Instructor: Cameron Nelson, MBA, MA
Mr. Nelson has over 18 years’ experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time, he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products can help shape our world for the better.

Join Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson for the last session of this informative series covering the latest tools in the digital marketing landscape and how to use them effectively for your small business.

A Zoom link will be provided upon registration, so watch for that email.

Session 4: Beyond Social Media – More Digital Marketing Opportunities

Google, Next Door, Yelp, Trip Advisor, etc. – with so many different digital channels available, how does a small business owner decide which to use? This session with the Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson will help participants understand how to assess which digital channels are the best for your business and what to do to maintain them effectively. The first half of the session will give an overview, the second half of the hour will be a Q & A.

About the Instructor: Cameron Nelson, MBA, MA
Mr. Nelson has over 18 years’ experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time, he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products can help shape our world for the better.

The “Get Back Out on the Trade Road” webinar features U.S. companies that are successfully navigating export sales and embracing the “new normal” through more direct participation in different types of events.

Are you ready to take advantage of Federal resources that can facilitate direct client engagement to grow your global market sales?

Attendees will:

• Explore the value of face-to-face interaction with foreign buyers to build relationships, including at trade shows and missions.
• Discover how to get involved with Commerce’s Industry Teams, office network, and the specialized assistance and unique opportunities and resources they provide.
• Learn about SBA and EXIM grants, financing, and export insurance that can help facilitate participation in trade events and consummate international business success.
• Gain insights on leveraging federal government export services – everything from export counseling and matchmaking to trade shows, trade financing, market intelligence, trade data and more.

A business is never too big or small to export, but many need export resources and assistance along the way. The good news: there’s plenty of help available through the federal government and its partners.

This is a no cost webinar, but advance registration is required.

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

The SBA 504 loan program is designed for businesses seeking to purchase real property. This loan program offers small business owners the opportunity to purchase real property using their business through a loan program that offers extended terms.

Key Takeaways:

How business real estate ownership is achieved through the SBA 504 Program with low down payments and below market fixed rates
Additional ways to preserve cash for businesses to invest into growth and operating needs
Creative ways to meet injection requirements for the purchase of real estate
Speaker(s): Joe DiStefano, REDCO