September is a great time for a Fall Reset: Refocus, Realign, and Finish Strong. As we head into the final months of the year, take time to focus on your business, revisit your goals, and identify the next steps that can help you finish the year with momentum.

This month, RISE offers workshops, networking opportunities, and business resources to help entrepreneurs across Southern Virginia learn, connect, and grow.

RISE Grapevine Virtual Meetup for Entrepreneurs

Thursday, September 17 , 2026 | 12pm-1pm | Zoom

The RISE Grapevine Monthly Virtual Meetup brings together entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from across Southern Virginia for connection and resource sharing. 

Startup Playbook: Idea to Income

Thursday, September 24 , 2026 | 5:00pm – 6:30pm | R.T. Arnold Public Library

Have a business idea but aren’t sure what comes next? This beginner-friendly workshop will help you refine your idea, understand your customer, explore costs and revenue, and identify practical next steps.

Participants can also schedule a free one-on-one follow-up with a RISE Business Navigator for personalized guidance, resource connections, and support turning their idea into action.

Brunswick Entrepreneur Meetups

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 5:30pm – 7:00pm | SPC4Life

Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, business owners, farmers, and aspiring entrepreneurs at the Brunswick Entrepreneur Meetup. Hosted by RISE and Marilynn Cabiness, these informal gatherings provide an opportunity to build relationships, share ideas, and learn about local and regional resources that support business growth. Whether you’re launching a new venture, growing an existing business, or simply looking to expand your network, you’re invited to join the conversation. No registration is required. Stop by, grab a coffee or a bite to eat from The Story Cafe, and connect with others in the local business community.

Upcoming Events Hosted by State Agencies

Generating Leads Using eVA – Workshop #2

Wednesday, September 2, 2026, September 16, 2026, and September 30, 2026 | 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.

Intro to Selling to Virginia – Workshop #1

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 and September 23, 2026| 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.

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

Cybersecurity on a Budget

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 |  12:30pm – 1:30pm   |   Online

Join Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert, to learn the Top 10 Security Controls every small business should put in place to better protect its data and operations. Quiana will share practical, affordable tools and best practices that can make a meaningful difference in reducing cyber risk without stretching your budget.

Startup Strategies

Thursday, September 17, 2026 |  9am – 10am   |   Online

Success Through e-Commerce

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 |  12:0pm – 1:30pm   |   Online

Interested in growing your online sales? Join Cameron Nelson, CEO of Tenzing Startup Consultants, to explore website and e-commerce options, how to choose the right platform for your business, and what to consider when upgrading your online presence. You’ll also learn how to set up and manage an online storefront or service portal and use marketing and data to help increase sales.

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 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. 

About this Workshop

From Factory Floor to Field Row: Cybersecurity as a Pillar of Operational Resilience

About the Speaker

Taurean Russell

Institute for Advanced Learning & Research, Vice President of Information Technology (IT) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Taurean Russell joined the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in October 2024 as the first Vice President of Information Technology (IT) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). With more than 20 years of specialized and diverse expertise in information technology operations and cybersecurity, Russell is an accomplished IT professional with a history of leading efforts to strengthen the resiliency and security of organizations in highly regulated industries.

Russell previously served as Deputy Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Winston-Salem State University, where he managed the university’s IT infrastructure and security programs. In 2023, Cyber Defense Magazine recognized him as one of the Top Global CISOs and in 2026 he received the ONCON Top 100 Information Security Professional award. He has held numerous leadership roles across diverse industries, including healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, and the U.S. Army. His expertise includes information security, risk management, IT operations and strategic planning.

Russell earned degrees from American Military University, including an associate’s, bachelor’s and Master’s in Information Technology.

About this Workshop

Exploring Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Controlled Environment Agriculture

About the Speaker

Dr. Scott Lowman

Institute for Advanced Learning & Research, VP of Applied Research

Dr. Scott Lowman joined the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in 2014 and was named Vice President of Applied Research in 2022. Prior to joining IALR, Lowman worked in the pharmaceutical industry and, in 2003, co-founded Lynchburg Grows, a non-profit urban farm and job training center in Lynchburg, Va. As a trained molecular biologist, Lowman has championed work in biotechnology and robotic imaging to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. In 2020, Lowman teamed with Virginia Tech to launch the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center on IALR’s campus. The center, along with the Applied Research division at IALR, focuses on supporting industry, governmental and academic partners to help drive economic transformation in the Southern Virginia region.

Lowman supports this mission in his civic life as well, serving on the Town Council of Altavista, as President of Altavista on Track, and as a member of Altavista’s Economic Development Authority. In recognition of his work, Lowman was named a 2017 Outstanding Recent Graduate Alumnus at Virginia Tech and was presented the Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Award from the Waldorf Foundation. Lowman earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with Honors from Virginia Tech, his master’s in biology from the College of William and Mary, and his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

About this Workshop

Your First AI Win: Find One Business Task AI Can Improve Today

About the Speaker

Peter Raines

Get YOU Found, Co-Owner and Chief Technology Officer

Peter Raines is an AI practitioner, educator, and business technology consultant with nearly 20 years of experience working with neural networks and artificial intelligence, including practical applications of large language models, generative AI, workflow automation, and AI-supported software development.

He is co-owner and Chief Technology Officer of Get YOU Found Digital Marketing, where he helps businesses and organizations translate emerging technology into practical tools, stronger systems, and measurable results. Peter holds a degree in physics and CMIT from Guilford College and has two decades of experience teaching technical topics to non-technical audiences in an approachable, hands-on way.

As lead facilitator and curriculum partner for SOVA AI Connect, Peter focuses on helping entrepreneurs, growing businesses, and regional organizations understand AI, use it responsibly, and apply it to real work – from better prompting and repeatable workflows to data analysis, marketing, business development, and agentic AI systems.

About this Workshop

Opening Doors to Virginia’s Procurement Landscape – Part 2: Overview of SBSD’s SWaM Certification Program

About the Speaker

Kathy Deacon

Business Services Manager, Southwest Virginia, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD)

Kathy Deacon serves as the Business Services Manager for Southwest Virginia at the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD). In this role, she champions the growth and success of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators by facilitating access to education, resources, and opportunities within Virginia’s SWaM (Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) procurement program and the broader state contracting system.

Kathy brings a wealth of experience in economic development, having held leadership positions across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Kathy is a small business owner herself, and understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to empowering others to build and sustain successful ventures across the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.

About this Workshop

Opening Doors to Virginia’s Procurement Landscape – Part 1: Navigating eVA, the Commonwealth’s Online Marketplace for Procurement

About the Speaker

Kathy Deacon

Business Services Manager, Southwest Virginia, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD)

Kathy Deacon serves as the Business Services Manager for Southwest Virginia at the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD). In this role, she champions the growth and success of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators by facilitating access to education, resources, and opportunities within Virginia’s SWaM (Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) procurement program and the broader state contracting system.

Kathy brings a wealth of experience in economic development, having held leadership positions across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Kathy is a small business owner herself, and understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to empowering others to build and sustain successful ventures across the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.

About this Workshop

Getting Started: From Idea to Business Model

About the Speaker

Jocelyn Forest, M.Ed.

Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC), Entrepreneurship Education Coordinator

Jocelyn Forest is an entrepreneurship and business educator who came to Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in 2024 with a wealth of experience having worked in a number of capacities for Halifax County Public Schools for the past 20 years. Most recently, she served as a business teacher and department chair at Halifax County High School. She utilizes her curriculum and technology skills as she works on the SVHEC Career Tech Academy team to lead the new Entrepreneurship Track at SVHEC. Jocelyn holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Averett University in Danville, VA.

To learn more, connect with Jocelyn on LinkedIn here.

About this Workshop

Mind Your Business: Real Talk About Money, Growth & Capital

About the Speaker

DaShanna Carr

Community Investment Collaborative, Loan Officer, SOVA

DaShanna is a dedicated Loan Officer for CIC, specializing in the Southern Virginia region. With a strong foundation in business, she combines financial expertise with a deep understanding of the local community. DaShanna takes a strategic, client-focused approach to every loan process, ensuring that each client receives customized solutions to meet their unique needs and goals.

Her passion for service goes beyond just providing financial guidance—she is deeply committed to making a positive and lasting impact on the community. She believes in the power of strengthening relationships and creating opportunities for others to thrive, which is why she actively works to support the growth and future of Southern Virginia. She is driven by a strong desire to empower individuals and families, helping them achieve financial stability and success.

Through her work, DaShanna seeks to foster long-term prosperity in the region, one relationship at a time, and is proud to be part of CIC’s mission to build stronger communities.