NEW – Read about the new business loans and grants from the federal government at The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act. Also, the SBA has launched a $25,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, read details and find a link to apply at www.valleysbdc.org/covid-19/
Metro Area in Virginia
Located directly on the Interstate-81 corridor in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Harrisonburg is the ideal location for business owners seeking to successfully balance work and life. As a university town, Harrisonburg enjoys all the arts and amenities of a big city combined with the ease, recreation and charm of a small city. Harrisonburg continually receives national recognition, including:
Ranked #1 in 50 Most Popular Mid-Size Cities People Are Moving To – moveBuddha.com, 2018
Ranked #3 for Lowest Cost of Business in Best Small Cities for Business – Forbes, 2017
Ranked #6 in America’s Favorite Towns – Travel & Leisure, 2016
Named one of America’s Top 10 Mountain Bike Towns – National Geographic Society, 2017
Ranked #1 in the Top Cities for Starting a Business in the U.S. – PennyGeeks.com, 2018
Named one of the 25 Best Places to Retire in the U.S. – Forbes, 2017
Ranked #7 out of 325 metro areas in Best Places for Millennials to Move – Reviews.org, 2019
Why Choose Harrisonburg?
Business Thrives Here
Artisan Packaging in Harrisonburg is pivoting their manufacturing to produce hand sanitizer during the crises. Thank you Artisan. We're all in this together.
Local Manufacturer to Increase Hand Sanitizer Bottle Output
www.dnronline.com
As many other businesses start to wind down or close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Valley plastic manufacturer, Artisan Packaging in Harrisonburg, is increasing production of its healthMark Cuban on the new federal stimulus programs: “It is literally the best stimulus bill ever for small businesses. So, if you are an entrepreneur, if you’re a small business operator, you need to be cognizant and you need to apply ASAP.”
For a summary of the programs and links to apply, visit:
www.valleysbdc.org/covid-19/
Small Business Development Center » COVID-19 News & Resources
www.valleysbdc.org
SMALL BUSINESS PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay ...Just an amazing effort by Pale Fire Brewing Company. Thank you!Pale Fire Helps UPDATE: FOOD DELIVERY TODAY!
Already been to our food bank? That’s totally okay! Come by for another visit. We’re not just a one visit shop and are here to satisfy your needs throughout the whole pandemic.
Haven’t been to visit our food bank for restaurant and bar workers yet? Stop in to see what groceries we have to offer. We get regular shipments from @syscovirginia and donations from the community, so the stock is always rotating. While you’re here, we will make sure you have your six feet of distance, hand sanitizer, gloves, and anything else you need to feel comfortable. #palefirehelps
BUSINESS OWNERS: Our entrepreneurial development partner, CO.STARTERS, is hosting a 2 hour virtual workshop for you for free. The workshop will help you find the focus and clarity you need to shift your mindset and find a new way forward. If you feel stuck, join us to identify your best next steps together.
In this workshop you will:
- Determine immediate next steps needed to stabilize
- Re-examine your venture using the CO.STARTERS Canvas
- Strategize how to better solve your customers’ changing needs
- Learn how to adapt or refine your business model
The workshop is April 2 at 3:00. But reoccurs every Wednesday at that time. To register visit:
costarters.co/opportunity/refocus-workshop/all/?utm_campaign=Member%20Updates&utm_source=hs_email...
More news about our community coming together. Thank you Ragtime Fabrics!
Local fabric store donates supplies to healthcare workers amid COVID-19 pandemic
www.whsv.com
A local fabric store is stepping in to help healthcare workers stay protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.We still need everyone in Harrisonburg to complete the U.S. Census (you too JMU students, here at the moment or not). Pass the message on! For everyone who does not complete the Census, Virginia loses $2,000 in federal program funding. For a family of five over 10 years, that's $100,000 we are missing out on.
www.2020census.gov
2020 Census | United States Census Bureau
www.2020census.gov
Learn about the 2020 Census - how to respond, and why it matters. Shape your future. START HERE.Advertising grants for businesses....Businesses operating in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County can apply for a grant of up to $15,000 for print and digital advertising from the owner of the Daily News Record.
www.ogdennews.com/community-grant/
Community Grant | The Ogden Newspapers
www.ogdennews.com
Ogden Newspapers has established a $1,000,000 grant fund to assist locally owned businesses with marketing during this challenging situation. As a family owned business, we are committed to supporting...A great, new initiative to bring you fresh, local food. The Magpie & Friends Local Foods Drive-Thru Market is LIVE!!!
Timeline PhotosStaying in means Zoom happy hours and take out from local restaurants. Staying in means eating from our freezers and pantries. Staying in also means we miss fresh foods.
While we’re waiting for the right time to open our much-anticipated Magpie Diner & Bakery, we’re pivoting to help food-industry friends, talented chefs, and local farmers who are impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Magpie & Friends Market is a partnership with local producers who typically supply to restaurants, as well as fresh-baked bread, locally-roasted coffee from @chestnutridgecoffee, and great products like pasta from @chefbeaufloyd and sambal hot sauce from @bobokoindonesiancafe in a no-touch, drive-thru format.
Let’s help nourish and sustain our families and community through this unprecedented time...and maybe, just maybe... we’ll start a real food revolution in the process.
Launching next week! Details to come, stay tuned!
#bettertogether #entrepreneurs #pivot #magpiediner #goodfood #goodneighbors
Our Harrisonburg-Rockingham Business Task Force has launched a new grant program for businesses in the city and county. Funding is limited, so apply now. Thank you to F&M Bank for the generous donation to get this program started. Learn more and apply at the link below. Do not wait!
www.hrchamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/H_R_Small-Business-Resilience-Grant-Application-fina...
Now that the federal government stimulus has passed, this is a must read: The Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARE Act.
It outlines new resources that will be available to small business owners.
Another avenue for Harrisonburg's businesses to get exposure is through #thevalleystrong campaign that is being coordinated by the Harrisonburg Radio Group. Businesses have the opportunity to add their business listing to become part of the Business Resource Directory and the Harrisonburg Radio Group has produced PSAs for this program.
thevalleystrong.com/
thevalleystrong.com
In the Shenandoah Valley, we support our neighbors. We stand up and lend a hand, even when it’s hard. Our resiliency has been tested time and again – through floods, storms, earthquakes, 9/11, the...Check this out!
As part of our Regional COVID-19 Business Support Task Force, Rockingham County GIS folks have created a map interface of businesses and what services they are offering.
Businesses can submit a form on the website. Customers can search the map or utilize the “Near Me” feature to find businesses and organizations within their device’s location (either mobile or desktop).
It's just launched, so businesses submit your data, so we can populate this map!
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services
rockinghamcty.maps.arcgis.com
Business & Organization Operational Status during COVID-192020 Review Campaign Starts To Help Local Businesses
www.dnronline.com
In an effort to help local businesses devastated by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Harrisonburg business owner and his co-worker created the 2020 Small Business Review Challenge