Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that 14 entrepreneurs were awarded grants to open or expand their businesses through the Virginia Community Business Launch (CBL) initiative. The pilot program supports small business development and included three $100,000 grants to Gloucester, Staunton and Hopewell.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “Entrepreneurship and small business development are important components of my administration’s strategy to build a new Virginia economy. The CBL Initiative fosters strong ecosystems for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Virginia’s communities, an indispensable ingredient for them to thrive.”
“Job growth in the Commonwealth requires entrepreneurs and small businesses in every community across the state. CBL is demonstrating the power of public and private sector partners collaborating to create and sustain best-in-class business environments that help our communities prosper,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones.
CBL utilizes local business competitions to find and foster entrepreneurs that connect with a community’s unique small business development strategy and vision for its future. This year’s entrepreneurs went through a rigorous eight-week course to comprehensively prepare to operate successful businesses in their downtown or neighborhood commercial district. The competition ended with a pitch night where the participating entrepreneurs gave brief presentations of their business and their plan for moving forward. In each community, several winners were chosen to receive grants and in-kind support for the launch or expansion of their business. In addition to the grants provided through CBL, additional local partnerships provided marketing, rental and utility assistance to numerous winners and even funded an additional $5,000 grant for an additional business.
Winners from the 2015 CBL include:
Staunton
| Business Name | Owner | Grant Amount |
| Latitudes Fair Trade Store | Anna Schoenduby | $12,000 |
| EccoHollow Art and Sound | Wavley Groves | $10,000 |
| 3 Snugbugs Studios | Patty Brower | $10,000 |
| 106.3FM WQSV Community Radio | Tom DuMontier | $10,000 |
| Staunton Olive Oil Company | Michelle Gallaugher | $4,000 |
| Traipse | Darren Smith | $4,000 |
Gloucester
| Business Name | Owner | Grant Amount |
| Sweet Tooth Parlor | Crystal Burton | $20,000 |
| The Nines Pet Boutique and Photography | Karin Fary | $10,000 |
| Essential Wellness Bodywork | Jill Reece and Ginger Platsis | $5,000 |
Hopewell
| Business Name | Owner | Grant Amount |
| Fat Babs | Dave McCormack | $20,000 |
| Sweet Tooth | Craig Richards | $20,000 |
| The Greedy Spoon | Marilyn Craig | $15,000 |
| K and J Fitness | Lamonz Tyler | $15,000 |
The program is currently accepting applications from communities for the CBL program for the upcoming year. For more information about the Virginia Community Business Launch, visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov.
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Chris Graham
