Celebrate Business in Stafford |
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Stafford EDA's 30th Annual Business Appreciation Reception |
Stafford County EDA celebrated the 30th Anniversary of its Business Appreciation Reception on April 24, 2024, at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, drawing over 200 local business professionals. Among the highlights, uBreakiFix by Asurion received the Innovation Award for its impactful STEM education and repair skills programs, FOCUS Group Solutions was honored with the Donald H. Newlin Community Stewardship Award for its pioneering mental health initiatives, and Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery was named Business of the Year for its exceptional growth and community contributions. The event was made possible by generous sponsors including McLane Mid-Atlantic, NorthPoint Development, Germanna Community College, Dominion Energy, GCubed, Inc., and Stafford Printing.
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In Honor of Small Business Month |
Did you know that May is dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness about small businesses? Throughout this month, we're shining a spotlight on the vibrant and diverse business community right here in Stafford. From bustling storefronts to innovative startups, our local businesses are the backbone of the Stafford community.
As we celebrate Small Business Month, we invite you to join us in honoring the entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals who make Stafford thrive. With over 5,000 businesses registered in Stafford, there's no shortage of talent, creativity, and dedication. Happy Small Business Month! Throughout the month, be sure to tag us on your socials! We would love to engage with you! |
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The University of Mary Washington's Continuing & Professional Studies Department has announced the return of the highly successful Business Acumen Series! This series of one-day seminars is aimed at building leadership and business skills in the Fredericksburg region. The Business Acumen Series (BAS) will combine university knowledge and the practical application of innovative tools to drive your organization’s mission and deliver results. This year’s theme centers around Dynamic Leadership. Dynamic Mind for Dynamic Times: Agile Leadership in the Age of Change will focus on building leadership skills for times of change.
The Stafford EDA has invested in 50 seats to the Business Acumen Series to support the Stafford Business Community with educational resources. You may be eligible to attend these educational sessions on behalf of the Stafford EDA. Each seminar is valued at $275. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts! If you are a Stafford business, a limited supply of seats are available to you at no cost. We encourage you to apply to these sessions for the opportunity to be selected in this Stafford EDA provided educational resource.
Location: University Hall, UMW - Stafford Campus, 125 University Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA 22406* Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Lunch is Included
*Leading from Every Seat will be held at UMW - Dahlgren Campus, 4224 University Drive, King George, VA 22485 Learn more about the courses offered:
Navigating Workplace Dynamics - May 16, 2024
Leading and Managing Hybrid Teams - September 19, 2024
*Leading from Every Seat - October 16, 2024
Building a Growth Mindset in Your Team - November 14, 2024 |
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Join Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership for a free workshop designed to help local organizations learn how to develop high-quality, mutually beneficial internship experiences, satisfy the training prerequisite to qualify for state-funded support for creating or expanding an internship program, and network with other business professionals from your region.
Details: June 12th | 9:00am - 11am | Zoom
August 2nd | 9:00am - 11am | UMW Main Campus About the Workshop:
This workshop is designed to provide local organizations with guided support to fulfill V-TOP’s training prerequisite to access a 50% funding match to pay interns and/or free support from a state-appointed staffing agency. The workshop will compress V-TOP’s eight-hour online course, “Developing an Internship Program,” into an engaging live session highlighting the four required modules.
This workshop will be most beneficial for organizations in V-TOP Region 6 (Fredericksburg, Middle Peninsula, and Northern Neck areas) that are registered with the State Corporation Commission, have been in business for 3 or more years, have 250 or fewer employees, and are not government agencies.
Benefits of the Workshop: • Organizations of any size will gain valuable information about how to develop an effective internship program in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s standards
• Organizations with 250 or fewer employees will satisfy a key requirement for accessing free support from a state-appointed staffing agency to hire interns
• Organizations with 150 or fewer employees will satisfy a key requirement for accessing free support from a state-appointed staffing agency to hire interns and a 50% funding match to pay interns
• Participants will have the opportunity to learn and network with representatives of other organizations in the region |
Wednesday, May 29th | 9am to 12pm University of Mary Washington - Stafford Campus
The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity invites you to attend the 2024 Small Business Symposium: Meet Your Business Resources. This is your chance to connect with local government economic development, counselors and mentors, finance resources, small business training resources, etc. at the business resources exhibit hall - a room full of FREE resources for your small business. |
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What's Happening in Stafford, Virginia |
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LAST CHANCE to Register for Beer & Business! |
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Get to know your local business community through the Beer & Business Networking Series! Presented by the Stafford County Economic Development Authority, the Stafford Beer & Business Series is a quarterly event that brings together professionals from various industries.
On May 8th, come and network with business professionals at one of Stafford's great breweries - 6 Bears & a Goat Brewing Company - for Beer & Business: The Raw Truth About Life Safety & Security!
Sponsored by Express-Tek, a customer-focused company whose wide range of utility coordination and low-voltage installation capabilities, this Beer & Business event promises an exceptional evening filled with networking opportunities, exceptional brews, and engaging conversations.
- Beer & Business: The Raw Truth About Life Safety & Security!
- Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
- 6 Bears & a Goat Brewing Company
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First Thursdays with the SBA: Crowdfunding | 12:00 PM Organizer: UMW SBDC
Location: Virtual
Are traditional funding sources not a fit for your business? Consider crowdfunding. Join us as we discuss how crowdfunding works, why it may work for you, and tips and tricks on how to be a successful crowd funder. Finding revenue is one of the challenges for a project/idea/business. There are many options to help fund it. One option that may be the stepping stone to success is crowdfunding. Come in and learn if this is a possible funding stream for your future success. Maximized to the fullest use can mean more than money. Key takeaways will be:
- What is crowdfunding?
- How can crowdfunding help you finance your business?
- Mistakes to avoid in a crowdfunding campaign.
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May Coffee Talk: Stress Management & Mindfulness | 8:00 AM
Organizer: Women's Leadership Colloquium at UMW Location: 718 Venue
Join us at May’s Coffee Talk as we discuss Stress Management & Mindfulness! In this session, we will have an informal chat about the things that stress us out, along with tips and tools to decrease stress. This session will end in a guided meditation. May’s Coffee Talk will be led by Deb Andrus-Lokrantz, Coordinator of Professional Learning – Restorative Practices & Conflict Resolution, Stafford County Public Schools. Networking is the best thing you can do for your own professional development! Share, learn and grow from other professionals in the Fredericksburg area.
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GovCon 101: Creating a Capabilities Statement | 12:00 PM
Organizer: UMW SBDC
Location: Virtual
The Federal Government buys over $600 billion per year on goods and services, 5% of that spend is allocated for Small Business. This is a huge opportunity for firms, who qualify, to grow their business and become part of the challenging world of Government Contracting through set-aside opportunities. In order to get noticed by small business offices, you must first create a winning capability statement. This is the most importing marketing piece you will create for your business. A properly formatted capability statement will help you get noticed and differentiate you from your competition.
Key takeaways will be: - Proper formatting of the statement
- Information to include and not include
- Differentiators, core competencies and past performance content
- You will be provided an editable template to use for your own capability statement
- How to use the statement
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The 2024 Business Acumen Series: Navigating Workplace Dynamics | 9:00 AM
Organizer: UMW Continuing & Professional Studies Location: UMW - Stafford Campus
Today’s workplace consists of multiple generations, new ways to work and communicate, and the need to grow and adapt. This seminar will focus on three main components – discovering your own style and work preferences, navigating change, and building productive relationships with others.
Speaker: Devin Fedor, Senior Director, Organizational Design & Effectiveness, Great Minds |
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Available 24/7: First Steps to Starting a Business Online Learning Module | 24/7
Organizer: UMW SBDC
Location: Virtual
This is a self-guided online learning module that covers the First Steps to Starting a Business webinar. You will receive the link to the module within 1 business day upon receiving your payment. You will have three weeks to go through the online module and it does not need to be completed before the end of the month. The module will provide you with information about the services offered by the SBDC, business research sources available, an overview of various business entities, local requirements for starting a business, and insurance requirements. Key takeaways: understanding how the SBDC can help your business, creating a mission statement, exploring customer discovery, providing information on the various business structures, licensing, registration, and insurances.
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Interested in your business event being featured in our marketing efforts? Submit your business event here. |
| Stay Connected with Stafford Economic Development: |
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