Free Business program, April 22

By Jessi Haney

Published: April 17, 2008

Business owners and potential entrepreneurs are invited to attend Entrepreneur Express: Moving Your Business Forward, a workshop designed to deliver practical, hands-on training and provide information on available business resources. Sponsored locally by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce, Greene County Department of Economic Development, and the Greene County Economic Development Authority, the event will be held on Tuesday, April 22nd, from 9AM -2PM at the Greene County Technical Education Center, 10415 Spotswood Trail in Stanardsville.
Admission is free, including a complimentary lunch during the Business Resource Fair portion of the program, noon to 2PM.  Online pre-registration is requested.  Attendees with specific interests or resource needs will receive follow-up attention from the workshop’s sponsoring and participating organizations.
Over 1,500 Virginians have already attended Entrepreneur Express events that were pilot tested in Southwest Virginia.  The workshops were so successful in encouraging new business formation and small business growth that they are now being presented statewide. 
Workshop segments will feature strategies to build sales, including information on how to start and operate a business, grow an existing business, develop a marketing strategy, obtain financing and find available resources.  A special segment on tourism-related business topics will be offered.
“Entrepreneur Express events bring information that small businesses need right away and the resources that can help them in the future, all to one place,” according to Wayne Waldrop, Director of Business Information Services for the Virginia Department of Business Assistance.  “They demonstrate how state and local program collaboration and cooperation can benefit the business community.”
Despite statewide budget cutbacks, Entrepreneur Express events will continue to be offered free of charge.  Over 50 events have been completed or are scheduled for 2008.
Numerous organizations are partnering to make the Standardsville event possible and ensure that prospective and existing business owners become aware of the many programs and services available.  Sponsors and partners include the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center, Greene County Chamber of Commerce, Greene County Department of Economic Development, and Greene County Economic Development Authority.
For more information, or to register online, visit http://www.vastartup.org .  To register by phone, call 434.985.6663.
VDBA supports economic development in the Commonwealth by working with new and existing businesses to provide workforce incentives, loans, business information, procurement assistance and educational opportunities for the business and economic development communities.  VDBA also administers the Virginia Business Information Center (VBIC), which provides answers and solutions to business related inquiries. VBIC can be contacted by calling (804) 371-0438, (866) 248-8814 (toll free), or by e-mailing