Virginia Beach Marks Small Business Month with Nationwide Top 3 Ranking

May is National Small Business Month, and Virginia Beach has even more to celebrate this year. The city was recently named the 3rd Top City for Small Business by the Diverse Chamber of Commerce and Industry — a recognition that reflects Virginia Beach’s dedication to fostering a resilient and thriving business community.  

From innovative tech ecosystems and dedicated support services to responsive local government policies, Virginia Beach continues to build an environment where entrepreneurs and small-business owners can thrive. 

Small Business Resources and Learning Opportunities

Resources and ongoing learning opportunities are available through the Virginia Beach SWaM Business Office and The HIVE, from one-on-one business mentoring and engagement sessions with experts to workshops on marketing strategies and help with business plan development. Highlighted below are upcoming events in May.

One-on-One Marketing & Branding Support 
Multiple dates and times, virtual or in-person at The HIVE, 140 Independence Blvd. 

Entrepreneurs and small-business owners can take advantage of free marketing and branding support sessions, which allow for both in-person and virtual meetings. Check availability.  

One-on-One Business Mentoring with SCORE 
May 5, 12, 18 and 26, 10 a.m. to noon, The HIVE, 140 Independence Blvd. 

Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, SCORE’s (Service Corps of Retired Executives) business mentors can help guide you through your next steps to grow your business. Check availability.  

Doing Business with the City of Virginia Beach
Multiple dates and times, virtual

This three-part virtual series is designed to help businesses navigate working with the City of Virginia Beach. Participants can learn about City procurement programs, resolutions and ordinances that most impact small, women, and minority-owned businesses. Sessions also cover how to use the City’s Supplier Portal, find solicitations and prepare the required forms for solicitation responses. 

• Subcontracting Participation Plans and Good Faith Efforts: May 7, 9-10 a.m. | May 14, 3-4 p.m.
• Supplier Portal and Solicitations: May 11, 3-4 p.m. | May 28, 9-10 a.m.
• Procurement Programs: May 12, 9-9:30 a.m. | May 26, 3-3:30 p.m.

Virginia Beach Procurement Café
May 11, 10-11:30 a.m., The HIVE, 140 Independence Blvd. 

Grab a cup of coffee and connect with the City’s Procurement team to ask questions and learn about the procurement process at this interactive, small-business-friendly workshop held each month at The HIVE. 

Whether you're just getting started or looking to expand your current government contracting work, this event will provide practical tools and direct access to the City’s procurement team. Reserve a spot. 

Entrepreneur Reality Series Launches in Virginia Beach

City Entrepreneur Virginia Beach is a new reality series that launched on April 30 to spotlight the small business ecosystem being built through the UPLIFT initiative and spark inspiration for new and existing entrepreneurs. 

Sponsored by the City’s SWaM Business Office, the series showcases stories of six UPLIFT program graduates — their successes, lessons learned and the local resources that supported their business journeys. The season also highlights small business organizations in Virginia Beach that contribute to the City’s nationally recognized commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and the small business community. 

The series is available on the City Entrepreneur YouTube channel, with new episodes released every two weeks this summer. Episodes can also be viewed on Spotify, Instagram and Facebook. 

The SWaM Business Office partners with AGH Advisory Services to offer UPLIFT Virginia Beach, an eight-week program designed to strengthen business models and accelerate growth for entrepreneurs. 

Stay Connected

Join the SWaM Business Office’s contact list or subscribe to The HIVE’s monthly newsletter to receive the latest updates on upcoming workshops, resources and announcements to help support and grow your business.  

Businesses at all stages can find resources, tools and guidance at The HIVE. The SWaM Business Office and Minority Business Council are part of the ecosystem of support in Virginia Beach. 

For more information and learning opportunities, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/SWaM and YesVirginiaBeach.com/TheHIVE. 

• SWaM Business Office
• The HIVE