Interest Meetings for Black & Minority Business Owners & Community Members

As part of the Southern Virginia Regional Entrepreneurship Initiative, the SOVA Innovation Hub and Longwood University are co-hosting a series of interest meetings to ensure input from Black people and other people of color is included and prioritized in the development of new entrepreneurship training and related supports for small businesses. 

If you are a Black or minority business owner, community leader, or potential future entrepreneur, we invite you to come share your ideas for improving the support system for Black and minority owned businesses.

Choose Location and Date to Register

Farmville Area: Monday, June 14, 2021

Date:  Monday, June 14, 2021

Time:  5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location:  Prince Edward Community Library, 1303 W 3rd St, Farmville, VA 23901

Registration Link:  bit.ly/FarmvilleInterest

Halifax Area: Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Date:  Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Time:  5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location:  South Boston Library, 509 Broad St, South Boston, VA 24592

Kid-Friendly!  If you need to bring your kids, children’s activities will be provided. The library’s children’s area will be open with a movie playing and books available to keep your kids entertained while you are in the meeting.

Registration Link:  bit.ly/HalifaxInterest

South Hill Area: TBD

Date:  TBD

Time:  5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location:  R.T. Arnold Library, 110 E. Danville Street, South Hill, VA, 23970

Registration Link:  bit.ly/SouthHillInterest

Brunswick Area: Monday, June 28, 2021

Date:  Monday, June 28, 2021

Time:  5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location:  Brunswick County Conference Center, 100 Athletic Field Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868

Registration Link:  bit.ly/BrunswickInterest

Patrick County: Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Date:  Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Time:  5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location:  Reynolds Homestead, 463 Homestead Ln, Critz, VA 24082

Registration Link:  bit.ly/PatrickInterest

Virtual Option: Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Date:  Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Time:  6pm to 7:30pm

Location:  Zoom video call (phone call option available)

Registration Link:  bit.ly/virtual

Each of the meetings will follow the same format

Meet & Greet/Networking with light refreshments begins at 5:30pm (feel free to bring your business cards or flyers) for all in-person meetings. 

Focused discussion begins at 6pm – everyone will be invited to talk about entrepreneurship and small business ownership: challenges, existing supports, and opportunities

Sharing of upcoming events and training opportunities

*The virtual meeting on June 30th will not include networking/refreshments.

Background

This series of interest meetings is part of the Southern Virginia (SOVA) Regional Entrepreneurship Initiative, which is a joint program of the SOVA Innovation Hub and Longwood University’s Office of Community and Economic Development. It is funded in part by GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries. This initiative is also funded in part by the Longwood SBDC, which is part of the Virginia SBDC and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, George Mason University, and local host institutions. The Virginia SBDC is nationally accredited by America’s SBDC.