Entrepreneurship Workshop: Tools for the Eastern Shore Entrepreneur

EASTERN SHORE – Entrepreneurs, economic developers, business leaders, community members, and those who support entrepreneurship are invited to attend Entrepreneurship: Tools for the Eastern Shore Entrepreneur, and explore the aspects of building and growing a start-up business. This unique event will be held on Thursday, August 11 at the Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa and consists of three parts including an educational workshop at 3:00 p.m., a networking reception at 5:00 p.m., and dinner with keynote speaker at 6:00 p.m. Admission to either or all of the parts of the program is free but registration is required.

Afternoon workshop topics will include information on assessing business opportunities, financing, planning, licensing, and marketing. Attendees will hear speakers representing the Hampton Roads Small Business Development center and small businesses including Financial Solutions, Periwinkles Consignment Boutique, Eastern Shore Organic Farms and Kitchen Sync Catering.

A networking reception sponsored by the UVA Club of the Eastern Shore will be offered to allow prospective and current business owners to interact and share experiences. This part of the program will include showcase presentations from successful local entrepreneurs from Blue Crab Bay Company, Moonrise Jewelry, and New Ravenna Mosaics. Beer and wine will be available to attendees over 21 years of age.

The session will conclude with a keynote address by Dr. Gregory Fairchild, the E. Thayer Bigelow Associate Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and Associate Dean for Washington, D.C. Area Initiatives and Academic Director of Public Policy and Entrepreneurship.

Several organizations are partnering to offer this event as part of a series of workshops supporting entrepreneurial efforts throughout the Eastern Shore, including the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, the SET Entrepreneurship and Foundational Infrastructure team, Virginia Cooperative Extension, UVA Club of the Eastern Shore, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and USDA Rural Development.

The training is funded by the Stronger Economies Together (SET) initiative. Launched in 2010 by USDA Rural Development, the nation’s four regional rural development centers, the Purdue Center for Regional Development, and its land-grant university partners, SET is now in place in more than 70 regions in 31 states. SET is intended to help strengthen the capacity of communities and counties in rural America to work together to develop and implement an economic development blueprint for multicounty regions, strategically building on the current and/or emerging comparative economic advantages of that region.

Register online by August 5 at esva-entrepreneur.eventbrite.com or contact Curt Smith at csmith@a-npdc.org or 787-2936 for more information. Space is limited, so register early to reserve your spot!

Agenda
3:00 p.m. Entrepreneurship Primer: Overview of Steps for Starting a Successful Business – George Bryan, Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center
 -Assessing the Opportunity
 -Preparing the Business Plan
 -Financing the Venture
 -Business Licensing & Registration
 -Designing Marketing Strategies
 -Understanding Financials
3:45 p.m. Panel Discussion
-John Fiege, CFP; Financial Solutions
-Suzanne Golibart, Periwinkles Consignment Boutique
-Patrick Lopez, Eastern Shore Organic Farms
-Louise Oliver, Kitchen Sync Catering
4:30 p.m. Questions/Discussion
5:00 p.m.
Networking Reception – Sponsored by UVA Club of the Eastern Shore
Featuring Showcase Presentations by Successful Local Entrepreneurs from Blue Crab Bay Co., Moonrise Jewelry, & New Ravenna Mosaics
6:00 p.m.
Buffet Dinner & Keynote Address
Gregory B. Fairchild – E. Thayer Bigelow Associate Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and Associate Dean for Washington, D.C. Area Initiatives and Academic Director of Public Policy and Entrepreneurship