Walker Program 

The Harry Lee & Eliza Bannister Walker Entrepreneurship Program (“The Walker Program”) was established in August 2020 to provide training, funding, and community support for Black-owned businesses in Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge, Virginia. The program is aimed at training, funding, and supporting new and expanding businesses owned by people of color in the area. It combines 

• business development, 

• professional training in small business management, 

• grant funding, and 

• ongoing support during the critical start-up stage.

Read more about The Walker Program's work to restore the presence of Black-owned businesses in our blog post. 

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Black and Brown Owned Business Growth Program (B-Cubed)

B-Cubed is a partnership between the Harrisonburg Economic Development, Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, and Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. The program blends a combination of 

• business support (including business plan development or improvement, marketing guidance), 

• technical assistance, 

• micro-grants, 

• mentorship, and 

• networking support. 

B-Cubed strives to create a welcoming culture that will attract new Black and Brown-owned business ventures to locate within Rockingham county.

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RISE Organization 

RISE Organization takes a comprehensive approach to support the Black community in Waynesboro and beyond. Not only do they support Black entrepreneurs in starting and managing their businesses; their efforts expand to 

• facilitate race relations, 

• Anti-racism and diversity training, and 

• conflict resolution. 

RISE is known in the area for its annual 2-day Women’s Summit and Stakeholder Summit to build understanding and deeper relationships within their communities.

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Grow Waynesboro

Grow Waynesboro is a business support and development program sponsored by the Office of Economic Development for the City of Waynesboro. The program aims to support local entrepreneurs of all backgrounds in starting and growing their businesses. through training, mentorship, and business planning. Their support accompanies each entrepreneur’s individual journey:

• Assessing whether the business idea is viable

• Creating and reviewing a business plan

• Finding the right location

• Naming & legal structure

• Assistance with zoning, business registration and licensing.

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Shenandoah University, Institute for Entrepreneurship

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certificate (ESBC) program at Shenandoah University’s Institute for Entrepreneurship is based on the CO.STARTERS curriculum and designed to serve entrepreneurs from within the community and the university, both virtually and in person. Participants strengthen their entrepreneurial skills through course content and guest lectures from experienced business professionals on topics such as 

• acquiring funding for small businesses

• fundamentals of business law

• important accounting principles

• social media marketing tactics

• understanding business insurance and the risks, benefits, opportunities, 

• development of a sales strategy;

• instruction on how to interpret basic financial statements; and more.

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