Economic Developers

The SBDCs are integral to economic development initiatives throughout Virginia. Local center professionals directly deliver and enthusiastically support activities to enhance the economic strength of their communities.

support for local and state business retention and attraction programs

professional management consulting for expanding and new businesses

timely and affordable management training seminars for business owners

insightful participation on economic development advisory committees and
boards

valuable resource for business incubators

active membership in chambers of commerce

Many of Virginia’s economic development agencies and organizations work closely with their local SBDCs. Read what a few leaders have to say about the importance of the SBDC in their communities.

	Patrick Barker, AICP	Executive Director, Winchester-Frederick County EDC
	Lee Cobb	Regional Economic Development Director, Region 2000 Economic Development Partnership
	Gerald Gordon	President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
	Marla Taylor Jones	Marketing Director, Warren County Economic Development Authority
	Christianne E. Parker	Assistant County Administrator/Community and Economic Development Washington County
	John Sygielski	President, Lord Fairfax Community College
	Raymond K. White	Director, Department of Economic Development, City of Hampton

Contact the SBDC in your community to learn more about local programs and services.

"The Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center creates opportunities for small businesses to start, grow, and prosper in Northern Shenandoah Valley. The guidance, training and insight of LFSBDC have placed countless new business owners on the right track for economic growth. Our partnership with the LFSBDC has been instrumental in the securing and advancing the economic vitality of the Northern Shenandoah Valley. The Winchester-Frederick County EDC is proud to work with the LFSBDC and we look forward to continuing that partnership for many years to come."

Patrick Barker, AICP
Executive Director
Winchester-Frederick County EDC

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"As a regional economic development organization representing seven municipalities in Central Virginia, the Region 2000 Economic Development Partnership has relied on the Region 2000 SBDC to support, stimulate, and encourage our region’s small business community. Our regional economic development strategic plan, adopted in 2003, has a three-pronged approach: attracting new businesses, helping existing businesses expand, and promoting small business development and entrepreneurship. Going forward, we will certainly continue to look to our local SBDC to help us achieve and sustain our growth targets for a flourishing small business sector and increased entrepreneurship across the seven municipalities. Given our complementary missions, the Region 2000 Economic Development Partnership is also pleased to be a significant partner and financial supporter of the Region 2000 SBDC."

Lee Cobb
Regional Economic Development Director
Region 2000 Economic Development Partnership -representing the Counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell, the Cities of Bedford and Lynchburg, and the Town of Altavista

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"The Fairfax County economy is like that of any other community in one very important sense. It is comprised primarily of small businesses. Our growth over time has been fueled by the small and entrepreneurial companies that provide technology and other services to consumers, businesses, and government. The Community Business Partnership SBDC is an integral component of what we have to offer small, emerging companies. Together, we facilitate their growth and success."

Gerald Gordon
President and CEO
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

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"The Small Business Development Center is the first referral I make to those requesting business start-up and small business expansion advice. The SBDC provides valuable guidance on all aspects of business development – from writing a business plan to performing market analyses. The Staff of SBDC is accessible, professional and supportive. That is why the Economic Development Authority (Front Royal, Warren County, Virginia) Board of Directors has voted for five consecutive years to award financial grants supporting the SBDC, an organization that is very important to our emerging business community."

Marla Taylor Jones
Marketing Director
Warren County Economic Development Authority

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"The local SBDC office is one of the most important resources available for economic developers. I work in tandum with our local SBDC director and rely heavily on his unique strengths to compliment my efforts. I like to say we divide and conquer! I refer all start up or entrepreneurial businesses to him and I focus my efforts on existing and new industry. In addition, our SBDC director plays a very important advisory role to our Industrial Development Authority as he helps develop and review business plans, financial reports and credit reports for all companies seeking financial assistance or incentives from our IDA. Another way our SBDC serves our community is in the role of secretary for our newly formed, Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator. Without the local SBDC office, I would work twice as hard and get half as much done!"

Christianne E. Parker
Assistant County Administrator/Community and Economic Development
Washington County

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"The Small Business Development Center Program at LFCC provides management assistance and educational opportunities to current and prospective small business owners in most of our service region. As a one-stop business assistance - on our Middletown and Warrenton campuses – prospective entrepreneurs and small businesses can access useful and proven information and guidance through the capable leadership of Bill Sirbaugh and Carolyn Majors.

Since our program is a cooperative effort among business, government and education leaders, the SBDC is able to enhance the economic landscape of our region by providing entrepreneurs and small businesses with management and technical assistance at nominal fees. Having been an SBDC Director, I know how valuable these services are and this is represented by the fact we have served 987 clients in the last five years and assisted businesses in obtaining financing in the amount of $11,452,128 in the last five years."

John Sygielski
President, Lord Fairfax Community College

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"The Small Business Development Center plays an important role in the growth and development of Hampton through programs that provide management,technical and other assistance to our small business community."

Raymond K. White
Director
Department of Economic Development
City of Hampton, Virginia

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Updated 10/3/2008 3:25:07 PM | BJohnson

U.S. Small Business Administration, George Mason University, and America's SBDC

All programs of the Virginia SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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