May brings a variety of exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovators throughout Southern Virginia.

1-on-1 Consulting on Government Contracting

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | SOVA Innovation Hub

Southern Virginia businesses interested in government contracting have a new opportunity close to home. Virginia 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

• Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 9am – 1pm | Halifax Farmers Market & Market Place (Halifax, VA)

• Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 9am – 1pm | P&HCC Dalton Idea Center  (Martinsville, 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, May 15, 2025 |   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.

This month, we’ll hear from Natalie Hodge, who will introduce Locus, an innovative platform designed to support community and economic development.

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program

Thursday, May 22, 2024| 12pm – 1:30pm | SOVA Innovation Hub

The HUBZone Program is a powerful federal initiative aimed at boosting economic development and job creation in underserved urban and rural communities. With a goal of awarding at least 3% of all federal contracting dollars to HUBZone-certified businesses each year, the program opens important doors for small businesses looking to grow through government contracts. In this informative workshop, participants will learn about eligibility requirements, contracting preferences, application and recertification processes, and the advantages of HUBZone certification, including set-aside opportunities and price evaluation preferences. Led by government contracting experts, this session will provide practical guidance to help businesses navigate the certification process and compete effectively in the federal marketplace. Don’t miss this opportunity to position your business for growth through the HUBZone Program.

Upcoming Events Hosted by State Agencies

Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1

Wednesday, May 7 & Tuesday, May 20, 2025  |   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, May 14 & Tuesday, May 27, 2025 |   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.

Employing Youth Workers 

Tuesday, May 20, 2025  |   10am – 11am   |   Online

Join SBA for an important training session facilitated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division and OSHA focused on youth employment and workplace safety. This session will cover key topics such as permitted work hours for minors, job restrictions, and hazardous occupations, along with best practices for employers who hire young workers. OSHA will also discuss the responsibilities employers have to ensure a safe and healthy workplace and the rights of youth workers on the job. Participants can engage directly through the Chat feature for real-time Q&A, and all attendees will receive handouts following the presentation. Please note: This session will not be recorded.

Upcoming Events Hosted by the Longwood Small Business Development Center &  Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) 

Building the Foundation for Your New Business

Wednesday, May 14, 2025  |  9am – 10pm   |   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

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

Noon Knowledge – Setting up a LinkedIn Business Profile

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 I 12pm – 1pm I Zoom

Using LinkedIn is a great way to brand yourself as a business professinal. If you own a business (or manage a business), your company should have a Company Page on LinkedIn. A LinkedIn Company Page or Business Profile will allow your business to promote itslef on LinkedIn as well as promote their products/services, post job opportunites and more. In this class, you will learn how to set up a Company Page/Business Profile on LinkedIn and learn how to use it to promote your business. 
Presented by: Cindy Hagemann

Noon Knowledge – Nonprofit Board Governance Can be Challenging. Why?

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 I 12:00-1:00pm I Zoom

A nonprofit organization’s governing board is a distinctive form of leadership within the U.S., where ownership and individual decision-making are more common. Unlike traditional leadership structures, a governing board functions as a collective entity, requiring all members to actively engage, contribture their knowledge and insights, and act with a shared purpose while operating as a unified group. This sounds easy so why is it challenging?
Presented by: Cindy Colson, Center for Nonprofit Excellence

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.