March is filled with exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators across Southern Virginia.
1-on-1 Consulting on Government Contracting
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | SOVA Innovation Hub
Southern Virginia businesses interested in government contracting have a new opportunity close to home. The Crater APEX Accelerator is offering free, 1-on-1 consulting sessions at the SOVA Innovation Hub, located at 715 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA. The goal of this service is to make it easier than ever for Southern Virginia businesses to access expert guidance on navigating the government contracting process. Learn More >
PUMP: Pull Up Mentoring Program
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Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 9am – 1pm | Halifax Farmers Market & Market Place (Halifax, VA)
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Wednesday, March 19 | 9am – 1pm | P&HCC Dalton Idea Center (Martinsville, VA)
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Friday, March 28 | 12pm – 4pm | SOVA Innovation Hub (South Boston, VA)
Hosted by the RISE Navigators, PUMP (Pull Up Mentor Program) is a free, drop-in event designed to connect entrepreneurs with valuable resources to support your business journey.
Whether you’re a business owner looking to grow, an aspiring entrepreneur with a new idea, or an innovator with a fresh product or service, PUMP (Pull Up Mentor Program) offers a chance to discuss your ideas with a member of the RISE Navigator team. The RISE Navigators are knowledgeable about local, regional, and national resources to support your business journey.
Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your entrepreneurial journey with personalized support.
RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup
Thursday, March 20 | 12pm – 1pm | Zoom
The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup is a virtual gathering of diverse, creative, and inclusive entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia. During each monthly meeting, we share updates from local and regional entrepreneurs support organizations.
Mastering Proposal Submissions: Tips for Crafting Winning Responses
Thursday, March 27| 12pm – 1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub
Submitting proposals can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it becomes a powerful tool for business growth. Join Margaret Edmond with Crater APEX Accelerator for an engaging session that breaks down the proposal writing process into clear, actionable steps. Learn how to evaluate opportunities, determine the right fit, and craft compelling responses that stand out. You’ll also gain insights into effective proposal writing techniques and a step-by-step guide to submitting your proposals with confidence. Whether you’re new to government contracting or looking to improve your approach, this session will give you the knowledge and tools to succeed!
Succession Planning for Your Business or Organization
Wednesday, April 2 | 12pm – 1pm | P&HCC Staurt Site
Learn how to ensure a smooth leadership transition and secure your business’s future at our Succession Planning Lunch & Learn. Gain key insights on creating a strong succession plan, sustaining your business for future generations, and avoiding common pitfalls. This free workshop will provide actionable steps to help you prepare for the next phase of leadership.
Upcoming Events Hosted by State Agencies
Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1
Wednesday, March 5 and March 19 | 10am – 11:30am | Online
This session will provide a high level overview of the Commonwealth’s purchasing process, including purchasing policies that affect how buyers use the eVA system to “shop” and the eVA tools used by our buying community. You’ll also get a guided tour of the eVA website as we discuss the publicly accessible tools & resources every business should know about if they’re interested in selling to Virginia. And if you’re not already an eVA registered Vendor, you’ll learn how to get signed-up, as well as where to go for help at any time!
Hosted by the eVA outreach team with the Virginia Division Small Business & Supplier Diversity.
Generating Leads Using eVA – Workshop #2
Wednesday, March 12 & March 26 | 10am – 12pm | Online
This advanced workshop is the 2nd in the eVA series & focuses on lead generation. This hands-on session explores the public transparency tools available on the eVA website, including the Report & Resource Center and the new “power” search. You’ll learn how to identify buyers who are buying what you sell, determine prices being paid for goods/services, identify who’s getting business (is it you or your competition). We’ll also walk through the Virginia Business Opportunities public posting page – featuring collaboration tools like B2B Connect & VIBE – as we discuss how & when eVA builds a lead list for you and why rating your leads is important.
Hosted by the eVA outreach team with the Virginia Division Small Business & Supplier Diversity.
IRS Workshop: Schedule C and Other Small Business Taxes
Thursday, March 20 | 12pm – 1pm | Online
Understanding small business taxes is essential for financial success, and good recordkeeping plays a key role in preparing accurate tax returns. Join the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a free virtual Small Business Tax Workshop designed to help entrepreneurs navigate tax requirements with confidence.
In this session, you’ll gain insights into the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, learn how to calculate gross profit, deduct expenses, and determine net profit or loss using Form 1040, Schedule C, and review key tax forms relevant to small business owners. The workshop will also cover self-employment tax and estimated tax obligations, ensuring you have the knowledge to stay compliant and financially prepared.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get expert guidance and simplify your small business tax process!
Upcoming Events Hosted by the Longwood Small Business Development Center & Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
CANVA 101: Beginngers Only!
Wednesday, March 19 | 9am – 10am | Zoom
Unlock your creativity with our 1-hour Canva course designed specifically for beginners. Learn the basics of graphic design and create stunning visuals with ease. You’ll discover where to find the basics, templates, change colors, and create social media graphics.
This course will cover:
• Introduction to Canva: Navigating the interface and understanding basic tools.
• Design Fundamentals: Learning about color theory, typography, and layout.
• Creating Social Media Graphics: Designing eye-catching posts and stories.
• Customizing Templates: Personalizing pre-made templates to suit your needs.
In this beginner-friendly course, you’ll dive into the exciting world of graphic design using Canva.
Building the Foundation for Your New Business
Tuesday, March 25 | 9am – 10am | Online
Starting a new business can be daunting, but with the right foundation, you can set yourself up for success. This seminar covers essential steps to establish a strong business foundation, including business planning, financial management, and legal considerations. Ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners.
Hosted by the Longwood SBDC
Mapping the Entrepreneurial Road Ahead – the Anatomy of a Typical Entrepreneur’s Journey Forward
Thursday, March 27 | 10am – 12pm | Online
Entrepreneurs often seek a roadmap to navigate their business journey—from startup and growth to scaling and potential exit. Join George Siragusa (“Coach S”), Senior Business Adviser with Mason Small Business Development Center, for a free webinar that provides a holistic, step-by-step overview of the entrepreneurial path. Grounded in Lean Startup principles, this session distills insights from over 250 business counseling sessions to help you assess key phases, time and financial investments, and essential skills for success. Gain a big-picture perspective on the 24 critical steps of business growth, identify potential pitfalls, and learn strategies to accelerate your progress. Don’t miss this opportunity to make informed, strategic decisions for your entrepreneurial journey!
Hosted by the Mason SBDC
Live and On-Demand Webinars
Multiple Dates | Online
No matter where you are in the state of Virginia, you can access virtual training programs and seminars on a variety of topics including business planning, marketing, management, legal considerations, accounting and bookkeeping, financial analysis, technology, access to capital, and business basics.
Hosted by the Virginia SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers)
Upcoming Noon Knowledge Events
The Noon Knowledge Series is a free, virtual program offering small business and professional training, presented by Locus, Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, and Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
Noon Knowledge – Employment Law for Small Business
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 I 12pm – 1pm I Zoom
“Employment Law” is a broad umbrella that includes many complex and varied state and federal rules and regulations. The purpose of this presentation will be to provide a primer for small businesses to gain a basic understanding of those laws to the extent that they apply to the small business community. This will be an informal event with the goal being to have each participant gain a basic understanding of the framework of applicable employment law.
Presented by: Ramesh Murthy, Hancock Daniel & Johnson PC
Women’s History Month Events
Women’s History Month Webinar
Thursday, March 20, 2025 I 12pm -1pm I Zoom
Join the First Lady of Virginia, Suzanne S. Youngin, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Kelly Gee, in celebrating Women’s History Month with a webinar for women in the business community.
Upcoming Chamber of Commerce Events
Chamber of Commerce Events
Multiple Dates | Various Locations
Many of Chamber of Commerce organizations host monthly networking events and ongoing training opportunities for businesses of all sizes and types.
Stay up to date on RISE Events
Find out what’s happening in the RISE Southern Virginia ecosystem on the RISE Meetups page.