Chris Lassiter
Staunton Black Business Collective
A group of community stakeholders has organized to help grow Black business in Staunton. The Staunton Black Business Collective was...
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SCCF Blog
Ashley Wenger
Mar 18
The marketing dilemma for small business owners
With ever-changing trends and AI technology coming onto the scene, it’s increasingly more difficult for business owners to learn...
Anika Horn
Jan 15
Building the ecosystem for underserved entrepreneurs in the Valley
Reviewing two years of the Community Navigator Pilot Program From December 2021 to November 2023, a consortium of six entrepreneurial...
Anika Horn
Nov 13, 2023
Beyond networking: Engaging the Shenandoah Valley ecosystem
The Shenandoah Valley is not short of networking events for business owners. Thanks to a robust network of Chambers of Commerce and...
Jessica Bond
Oct 2, 2023
Teaming up with the NAACP
This past summer, SCCF partnered with the NAACP and People Inc. to facilitate our Business Bootcamp entrepreneurship program for Black...
Katie Overfield-Zook
Sep 5, 2023
Are you ready for Capacitor?
Introducing SCCF’s newest program: Capacitor. The Capacitor Incubator Program is a hybrid incubation model for entrepreneurs with...
Katie Overfield-Zook
Aug 30, 2023
What does it mean to be 'scalable?'
In the entrepreneur world, you hear a lot of buzzwords thrown around. Words like "scalable, high-growth, venture capital, accelerator,...
Katie Overfield-Zook
Jul 7, 2023
The Power of Partnerships
Sometimes the best partnerships come from completely random interactions. Last fall, after registering for SCCF’s Business Bootcamp, one...
Ashley Wenger
May 31, 2023
PRIDE 2023: Resources and Events for LGBTQIA+ Founders
Happy PRIDE Month! In June of 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, NYC. The brutal raid...
Anika Horn
May 10, 2023
Creating community for entrepreneurs: Field notes from the ecosystem
During the month of April, the Ecosystem Team toured the Valley to find out what’s happening for entrepreneurs in some of the Valley’s...
Anika Horn
Feb 21, 2023
RISE
When you first visit RISE Organization in Waynesboro, you don’t simply walk into an office. Upon entering, Founders Sharon Fitz and...
Anika Horn
Feb 6, 2023
B-Cubed: Black and Brown-owned Business Growth Program
When COVID-19 broke out in March 2020, small businesses struggled to remain open during lockdowns and the subsequent economic standstill....
Anika Horn
Jan 31, 2023
Building an Ecosystem for Black Business Support: Year 1 of Community Navigator Pilot Program
“In order for there to be a great America, there must be a great Black America. In order for there to be a great Black America, we need...
Ashley Wenger
Jan 15, 2023
Mentoring Entrepreneurs Matters
January is National Mentoring Month! Mentors are a critical aspect of any thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. They support and guide...
Anika Horn
Nov 28, 2022
The Walker Program: A renaissance of Black business in the Southern Valley
Once an important destination in the Motorist Green Book, Black-owned businesses dwindled for a half-century in Lexington, VA, until the...
Ashley Wenger
Nov 20, 2022
Shop Local this Holiday Season
Small Business Saturday is just around the corner, and the gift-giving festivities will be here before you know it! This holiday season,...
Ashley Wenger
Oct 20, 2022
What to know before attending Startup Weekend
Learn how to think, work, and build like a startup in 54 thrilling hours. Startup Weekend is an exciting and immersive foray into the...
Ashley Wenger
Oct 11, 2022
The Shenandoah Valley is Ripe for Manufacturing Businesses
What do automotive, food, and life sciences have in common? At first glance, not much, but if you dig a little deeper into the industries...
Ashley Wenger
Oct 5, 2022
Meet the Marketing Team
Last but not least, meet the SCCF Marketing Team! This creative duo is responsible for getting the word out about our programs, events,...
Department of Housing and Community Development
Sep 28, 2022
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: An Ecosystem Approach to Supporting Black Businesses in the SV
The Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF), based in Staunton, Virginia, is on a mission to expand access to entrepreneurial support...
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