July 2013


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


The Hampton Roads Messenger


2013 Small Businesses Thinking Big Conference and Community Development Awards


Sponsored By:


Held on June 28, 2013 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, the Small Businesses Thinking Big Conference and 2013 Community Development Awards Reception attracted business owners and community leaders from across Hampton Roads for a day of small business assistance and inspiration. The workshops offered at the one day confer- ence included: What You Need to Know To Get Your Business Loans Approved, Understanding Social Media and Other Low or No-Cost Marketing, Opportunities and Certifications for Government Contracts, Preparing a Winning Business Plan, Small Business Succession Planning, Navigating New Healthcare Policies for Businesses, The ABCs of Winning Contracts With HBCUs, Turn-Key Business Opportunities, and a train-the-trainer workshop for small business advocates called Update on Economic Conditions and Monetary Policy. Workshop partners included the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hampton University Business Incubator, and the Peninsula Technology Incubator. During the Community Development Awards Reception businesses that represent their city’s idea of a model business and have created jobs in Hampton Roads were honored. The awardees were: Work Program Architects, nominated by TowneBank; Eddie’s Chesapeake Bay Crabhouse, nominated by the Hampton Roads Messenger; Music Video Training Center, nominated by the City of Hampton; Scotty Signs, nominated by the City of Newport News; C. H. Smith Appliances, nominated by the City of Portsmouth; Compasión, LLC, nominated by the City of Virginia Beach, Western Branch Metals, nominated by the City of Suffolk; Kombuchic, Inc, nominated by the City of Norfolk. The Community Reinvest- ment Awards were also given to recognize and honor the work of institutions that are advancing innovative solutions to the challenges facing small businesses. The institutions recog- nized this year were Wells Fargo and TowneBank. The reception featured guest speaker Earl Lee, owner of Janay’s Cleaners in Chesapeake, VA. Photos by Royal Image Photography


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