Business conference to highlight local success stories

A two-day statewide conference entitled “Revitalizing Neighborhoods through Entrepreneurism” will take a surprising look at Staunton-based success stories.

Hosted by the Virginia Microenterprise Network in association with Virginia Main Street, the conference, to be held Thursday and Friday, will combine national speakers exploring how entrepreneurism and microdevelopment have revitalized communities across the county with a highly-local examination of on-the-ground successes.

“We are excited to use Staunton as a showcase for integrated community development,” says Meghan Williamson, executive director of the Staunton Creative Community Fund, Inc. and Vice-President of the Virginia Microenterprise Network. “The conference will include walking tours and one-on-one discussions with Staunton-based entrepreneurs; panel discussions with environmentally sustainable businesses throughout the Valley; and presentations from local community leaders including Staunton Economic Development, Staunton Downtown Development Association, Valley Conservation Council, and Historic Staunton Foundation.”

“We are excited to be breaking the mold of the traditional conference structure, where expert-led power points dominate the discussion. We’re hoping to put feet on the street and to inspire in-person discussions between community developers, local business owners, arts and cultural destinations, and national policy leaders,” adds Williamson.

Staunton and Shenandoah Valley businesses to be featured during the conference include the Friendly City Food Co-op, George Bowers Grocery, Mockingbird restaurant and music room, and Sunspots Studio, along with non-profit ventures such as the American Shakespeare Center, Staunton Green 2020, Friends of the Middle River, and Mary Baldwin College.

In addition to its local focus, the conference will also feature national economic development leaders including Jodi Raskind, Director of the Office of Capital Access, Microloan Program Branch for the U.S. Small Business Administration and Connie Evans, President and CEO of the national Association for Enterprise Opportunity. A full conference agenda, which includes presentations from the Aspen Institute, Handmade in America, Virginia Main Street and Virginia Enterprise Initiative, is attached to this release.

The conference will be held in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center. Registration is still open to the public and will remain so throughout the event.
 
 

Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.

Related posts:

1. Workshops highlight efforts to grow local foods economy Submitted Item News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net   This week, workshops up and down the Shenandoah Valley will bring together farmers, restaurant owners, distributors, bankers, volunteers, and...
2. AFPBusiness.com: A one-stop shop for local business Story by Chris Graham AFPBusiness.com     Augusta Free Press Publishing introduces AFPBusiness.com, a web portal featuring the latest local, state and national business and industry...
3. Local Business News: Change in leadership at Community Bank Edited by Chris Graham AFPBusiness.com   Community Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:CFFC), a holding company whose sole subsidiary is Community Bank, Staunton, Virginia, today announced that P....
4. Grant helps SCCF relaunch small-business training Story by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net   A $10,000 grant from a community-development group based in Southwest Virginia will enable the Staunton Creative Community Fund to...
5. Local Business News: Presentation by employment-law specialist Edited by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net   Cathleen P. Welsh, an attorney at Lenhart Obenshain, will be the guest lunch program speaker for the Shenandoah Valley...