In Focus: Some resources for women entrepreneurs in Virginia
#WomenInBusiness #VirginiaEntrepreneurs #EmpowerWomen #SustainableLeadership #WomenInTech
Virginia or the “Old Dominion State” is a fitting title, as it was the first British colony to remained loyal to the crown during the American Revolution.
Today, Virginia is emerging as a powerhouse for women entrepreneurs – offering diverse opportunities across industries like technology, tourism, creative arts & sustainability. With a strong presence of tech giants such as Amazon, Google & Microsoft, coupled with renowned institutions like Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia – the state fosters an environment ripe for innovation and entrepreneurship. Virginia’s thriving tourism industry supports women in food and beverage businesses, while its vibrant arts scene encourages creative women to turn their passions into successful ventures.
Women Entrepreneurs in Virginia: Fueling Innovation and Sustainability
Additionally, the state’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship provides women entrepreneurs the chance to lead eco-conscious businesses, tapping into a growing market demand for green solutions. From grants to specialized resources, Virginia ensures that women-led businesses can flourish. Whether it’s in tech, culinary arts, design, or sustainability, the Old Dominion is a fertile ground for women entrepreneurs to thrive, innovate, and leave a lasting impact.
Here’s taking a look at some initiatives, schemes and grants that women entrepreneurs can avail of in the US state of Virginia.
Virginia Government Agencies
> Virginia Secretary of State – Business Services
The State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the state’s central filing office for – corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and Uniform Commercial Code.
It’s a guide to starting a new business and provides you with all the information, forms, and fees you need to plan and start your new business.
> Virginia Small Business Administration – SBA
The Virginia SBA is supported by main district offices in Richmond, Virginia and Washington, DC. They provide services including – funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
The Richmond office serves 92 counties in Virginia, excluding – Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church. The Washington, DC metropolitan office serves the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties and cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church in Virginia.
Examples of educational programs and events include – The Cyber Summit, Financing Your Small Business, Tax Free Retirement Strategies for Small Business Owners, and How to Manage Your WordPress Website.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/virginia-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
Virginia Agencies & Non-profit Organizations
> Virginia Small Business Development Center
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur or an existing business owner, the Virginia SBDC offers no-cost individualized advising – from the startup stage to established businesses.
Startup business resources:
Requirements for going into business
Licensing and regulatory information
Financial statements and cash-flow management
Business plan development and implementation
Target markets
Advertising and promotion
Sales and distribution
Accounting and record keeping
Business growth resources:
Business planning
Financing sources and capital formation
Marketing issues and techniques
Strategies for growth and expansion
Government procurement
Export assistance
Personnel management
Market research
Innovation commercialization
> National Association of Women Business Owners – NAWBO – Richmond
NAWBO Richmond provides a strong voice and vision for women business owners & corporate partners in Central Virginia. Through events such as the Women of Excellence Awards and monthly meetings, NAWBO Richmond’s programs are designed to: create business opportunities within the community; build strategic alliances through partnerships and networking; educate the public about women-owned businesses; influence public policy & promote leadership within the civic and business communities Membership is open to all women business owners as well as individuals and non-for-profit organizations, who work with women and support the NAWBO mission. Besides, Membership is also available for students and retirees to encourage involvement throughout your career from start to finish.
> Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia – Community Business Partnership
The Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Northern Virginia offers – free and low-cost workshops, training programs, and free one-on-one technical assistance counseling to women, minorities & socially disadvantaged clients.
If you are thinking of starting a business or have a business that has been operating less than two years, you can receive free one-on-one business counseling with a WBC expert counselor.
> Women’s Business Center – Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Old Dominion University
The Women’s Business Center (WBC) works to educate, inspire & support women entrepreneurs as they launch and grow influential, profitable businesses. As part of the Old Dominion University Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), the mission of the WBC is to enable women’s entrepreneurship by providing low to no cost tools for women to successfully own, operate and grow their small business, thereby creating economic opportunities and job growth in the Hampton Roads community.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/virginia-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
Funding – State and Federal Sources
> U.S. Small Business Administration – Funding Sources
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get the funding they need. Funding resources include:
Loans: Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA.
Investment capital: Find an investor for your business. Investors make both debt and equity investments.
Disaster assistance: Get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans.
Surety bonds: Protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond.
Grants: Look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/virginia-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
> Women in Business Council
Women business owners and entrepreneurs all over Virginia are the prime candidates for WBC programs and services.
> Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia
Women business professionals based in Northern Virginia are encouraged to find their place in their supportive and dynamic community.
> National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – Richmond
This is suited to professional businesswomen, no matter the age or industry, are encouraged to become members.
> eWomenNetwork – Northern Virginia, Richmond
Here, professional businesswomen from across Virginia are able to connect and share brainstorms through eWomensNetwork.
> WomensNet – Virginia
Women in small business looking for financial assistance – either to launch a business, or to keep one operating properly.
> Small Business Administration (SBA) Richmond District Office
This assists small businesses in and around Richmond can contact the SBA for further details on services and resources.
> Virginia Small Business Development Center
Here it targets small business owners in Virginia looking to create a comprehensive business plan/model will do well to review the SBDC website.
> Virginia SCORE
SCORE Virginia provides free counseling and business mentoring services as well as seminars and workshops on a variety of topics relevant to the small business community.
The organization’s volunteers are successful real-world business professionals with experience in areas such as – accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.
This association is right for – Business professionals looking to expand the depth of their business knowledge and abilities are excellent candidates for SCORE’s mentor program.
SCORE Virginia provides a number of services like: volunteer mentors who share their expertise across many industries; free, confidential business mentoring in person, via email or by video; free business tools, templates, and tips and inexpensive or free business workshops and webinars
> Women’s Business Center at ODU
This is right for business women and entrepreneurs – looking to increase their business acumen and they are welcome to inquire through the website – wbcinfo@odu.edu .
https://startupsavant.com/womens-business-resources-virginia
> West Virginia Women’s Business Center
The WV WBC serves 24 of West Virginia’s southern counties and exists to support anyone with a dream or idea, regardless of their background, age, or previous experience, with the right tools to get it off the ground or take it to the next level.
In fact, small businesses are the backbone of the economy in West Virginia & many of them play a crucial role in meeting the most pressing needs of their communities. With its long tradition of problem-solving and resourcefulness, this is an ideal place to take creative business risks. There’s no shortage of opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to tap into the potential around tourism and the state’s natural beauty; and more opportunities in technology exist now in West Virginia than ever before, with the possibility of accessing global markets.
The West Virginia Women’s Business Center supports anyone with a dream or idea with the right tools to get it off the ground or take it to the next level. They can help in Training, Advising, Funding+financing and Mentoring.
Virginia Grants for Women
95 Women Grants for Virginia
Grants for women entrepreneurs, seed money to individual women, college grants for women, small business grants for women, enterprise grants and grants for minority women.
https://virginia.grantwatch.com/cat/39/women-grants.html
> Amber Grant
Amber Grant for Women has funded women-owned businesses and tracing back, it was in 1998, that WomensNet founded the Amber Grant. One of the very first online organizations to give women-owned business grants, the Amber Grant was set up to honor the memory of Amber Wigdahl, who was a special young woman who died when she was just 19 years old, even before realizing her business dreams!
Plus, they are awarding a trio of $10,000 Amber Grants each month. At the end of the year, those winners are automatically eligible to earn an additional year-end $25,000 Amber Grant, and they give away three of those $25,000 grants.
https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/about-us/
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
