Free workshop with Margaret Edmond of Virginia Apex! Open to all entrepreneurs and businesses.

The Commonwealth of Virginia spends BILLIONS of dollars on goods and services each year. At this FREE workshop you will learn how to become an eVA registered vendor and how to get SWaM certified.

Contracting 101 with the Commonwealth of Virginia workshop takes you step-by-step on how to register your firm to do business with Virginia state agencies, find out who’s buying what you sell, and research commodity spend for your product/service.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has a set-aside program – Small, Women, and Minority Owned Business (SWAM) certification – that encourages state agencies to purchase goods and services from SWaM certified businesses. The Commonwealth’s goal is to spend 42% of its discretionary funding with SWaM certified vendors.

This is an information-packed 1 ½ hour in-person class you will NOT want to miss!

Agenda Items:

•         eVA Registration
•         SWaM Certification
•         Who’s Buying What I Sell?
•         Commodity Spend (for your product or service)
•         Utilize Tools in eVA to Market Your Business

Bring your laptop to get registered today!

The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup brings together diverse, creative, and inclusive entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia. Each month, the virtual meetup features updates from local and regional entrepreneur support organizations and creates space for learning and connection. Entrepreneurs at all stages are welcome to attend.

Drop by to connect with a RISE Navigator, ask questions, and plug into the ecosystem of resources and partnerships that can move your business forward. All stages welcome – from idea to established business.

Friday, April 10, 2026 with Le’Bryan Patterson
8am-12pm at P&HCC Dalton IDEA Center (26 Fayette St., Martinsville)
Appointments Required. To make an appointment, please email lebryan@sovarise.com or text 434-262-0557

Thursday, April 16, 2026 with Le’Bryan Patterson
9am-12pm at P&HCC Stuart Site (212 Wood Brothers Dr., Stuart)
Appointments Required. To make an appointment, please email lebryan@sovarise.com or text 434-262-0557

Friday, April 17, 2026 with Marilynn Cabiness
10am-2pm at The Story Cafe (121 N. Hicks St., Lawrenceville)
No registration reqired. Just drop by.
Enjoy a complimentary beverage on us! RISE provides a $4 drink voucher for each Office Hours participant. 

Monday, April 20, 2026 with Marilynn Cabiness
9am-1pm at SEED Innovation Hub  (116 South St. Farmville)
No registration reqired. Just drop by.

Thursday, April 23, 2026 with Le’Bryan Patterson
4pm-8pm at SOVA Innovation Hub (715 Wilborn Ave., South Boston)
Appointments Required. To make an appointment, please email lebryan@sovarise.com or text 434-262-0557

Monday, April 27, 2026 with Marilynn Cabiness
10a2-1pm atSouth Hill Chamber of Commerce  (201 S Mecklenburg Ave., South Hill)
No registration reqired. Just drop by.

Free, four-workshop series with Nikouri Brown of Creative PM Solutions! Open to all entrepreneurs and businesses.

Starting and growing a business takes more than a great idea. It requires structure, priorities, and a way to turn plans into action. This workshop series introduces practical project management tools to help you move your business forward.

The RISE Applying Project Management Workshop Series is designed for individuals looking to strengthen how they plan, execute, and manage business growth. Participants will learn how to:

• Translate business ideas into structured plans
• Define milestones and execution timelines
• Manage scope, risk, and limited resources
• Build operational discipline as their business grows

Level Up Your Smartphone Advertising! Take your video marketing skills to the next level in Smartphone Video Advertisement Part 2! This hands-on class is designed for entrepreneurs, marketers, and professionals who have completed Part 1 (or have basic smartphone video experience) and are ready to refine their storytelling, enhance production quality, and create compelling ads that convert. You’ll learn advanced techniques for editing, adding captions, optimizing visuals and audio, and crafting persuasive calls-to-action that engage your audience and drive results. Elevate your brand with videos that truly stand out!

Instructor: Le’Bryan Patterson, RISE Business Navigator & Program Manager

The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup brings together diverse, creative, and inclusive entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia. Each month, the virtual meetup features updates from local and regional entrepreneur support organizations and creates space for learning and connection. Entrepreneurs at all stages are welcome to attend.

Free workshop with Margaret Edmond of Virginia Apex! Open to all entrepreneurs and businesses.

Federal government contracting is selling products or services to U.S. federal government agencies. Government agencies purchase goods and services across a broad range of industries, from technology and construction to research and consulting. Gain an overview of the federal acquisition processes, rules, and regulations set by the federal government.

– Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARS)
– SAM.gov Registration
– Contracting Process
– Opportunities for Small Businesses

Date:  Friday, October 16, 2026
Location:  The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research – Danville, VA
Time:  8:00am – 5:30pm

Level up your business at the third annual RISE Summit—a favorite event packed with inspiration, skill-building workshops, and high-impact networking. This year, we are leveling up the experience even more! The focus is Innovation in Business, Manufacturing, and Agriculture. Whether you’re in manufacturing, agriculture, or any type of entrepreneur, this is THE EVENT for YOU!

Super Early Bird Rate ($45) – Available now through July 16, 2026
Early Bird Rate ($55) – Available July 17 through September 30, 2026
Regular Rate ($65) – Available October 1 through October 16, 2026

Drop by to connect with RISE Navigator Marilynn Cabiness, ask questions, and plug into the ecosystem of resources and partnerships that can move your business forward. All stages welcome – from idea to established business.

Date: Friday, March 27, 2026

Time: 10am to 2pm

Location: South Hill Chamber Office  |  201 S. Mecklenburg Ave., South Hill

Drop by to connect with RISE Navigator Marilynn Cabiness, ask questions, and plug into the ecosystem of resources and partnerships that can move your business forward. All stages welcome – from idea to established business.

Date: Wedneday, March 19, 2026

Time: 9:00am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4:30pm

Location: The Story Cafe  |  121 N. Hicks Street, Lawrenceville, VA 

Enjoy a complimentary beverage on us! RISE provides a $4 drink voucher for each Office Hours participant.

The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup brings together diverse, creative, and inclusive entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia. Each month, the virtual meetup features updates from local and regional entrepreneur support organizations and creates space for learning and connection. Entrepreneurs at all stages are welcome to attend.

Ready to go beyond the basics? This hands-on Advanced Excel Training is perfect for anyone who already feels comfortable in Excel and wants to unlock its full potential. Whether you’re managing data, building reports, or streamlining tasks, you’ll leave this session with powerful new tools and time-saving tricks.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

• Master advanced formulas and functions (like IFs, INDEX-MATCH, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data splitting)

• Use Flash Fill and the Splicer Tool to work smarter

• Clean and organize messy data with ease

• Analyze information using PivotTables

• Explore bonus features to boost your productivity

Bring your laptop and get ready to take control of your spreadsheets like a pro!

Need help branding your business with advertising and simple graphic designs? In this advertising course, you will learn how to create a basic logo and digital flyers for social media using Canva.

Please bring your laptop. 

QuickBooks Online doesn’t have to be intimidating.

This beginner-friendly workshop is designed to help you understand how
QuickBooks works, where your money lives, and what actually matters.

You’ll leave feeling calmer, more confident, and ready to take your next step

Date: Monday, March 2, 2026

Time: 9:30am to 12:00pm

Location: SOVA Innovation Hub |  715 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA

Enjoy a complimentary snacks and beverage on us! The SOVA Innovation Hub provides a free coworking space day pass to RISE workshop participants.

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. Entrepreneurs of all types are welcome to attend! Learn more about the RISE Grapevine Entrepreneur Network HERE.

Topic: New Year, New Goals

Learn Excel with Us – No Experience Needed
Whether you’re new to Microsoft Excel or just need a refresher, this interactive workshop is a great place to start. Open to anyone, the session will cover the basics like navigating the interface, entering data, formatting cells, and creating simple charts and formulas.

You’ll be guided by Wendy Toone, a skilled and patient instructor who makes learning Excel approachable and fun. Please bring your computer so you can follow along and get hands-on practice in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment.

The Capability Statement is a concise, one page document that describes your business’s capabilities in a colorful, attention-grabbing way. Think of the Capability Statement as your business’s resume that provides specific information that will convince potential customers to do business with you.

 Find out about key elements that will enhance your Capability Statement!

• Contact Information
• Core Competencies
• Past Performance
• Differentiators
• Government Contracting Information

Free workshop with Margaret Edmond of Virginia Apex! Open to all entrepreneurs and businesses.

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. Entrepreneurs of all types are welcome to attend! Learn more about the RISE Grapevine Entrepreneur Network HERE.

Topic: New Year, New Goals

Wanting to get your business seen? Join Chad Thompson from Letterpress Communications for a marketing kickstart webinar!

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>