VIRGINIA: The Virginia SBDC Network is managed by George Mason University (GMU) with 29 SBDC offices throughout the commonwealth providing counseling, training and other services to small business owners.Since its inception 25 years ago, the Center has provided assistance to more than 11,000 prospective or existing small business owners and helped create or save more than 8,700 jobs and contribute more than $383 million in economic impact to the region.
The Hampton Roads SBDC is unique in several ways. The centre was the first economic development organization serving the Hampton Roads region and the Eastern Shore of Virginia, relying on a collection of offices in Melfa, Williamsburg, Hampton, Norfolk and Suffolk. Additionally, a monthly circuit ride is conducted to Gloucester, Franklin and Smith field.
The Center works with the Launch Pad in Williams burg, the newly recreated small business incubator, as well as the Franklin Business Incubator and HATCH Norfolk.The center is hosted by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, unlike most of its sister centers, which are university- or community college-based.
Finally, out of the myriad of organizations that provide assistance in one form or another to small business owners, the SBDC network is the only organization that receives official accreditation from the Association of Small Business Development Centers every five years.Funding support for the center comes from several sources.
