Virginia Beach Entrepreneurs: Opportunities Available to Help Accelerate Your Business

Calling all small business owners and entrepreneurs. Opportunities catered to support the growth and development of your businesses are upcoming.

Virginia Beach Uplift Program

Applications are now accepted for the fifth cohort of the Virginia Beach Economic Uplift Capital Accelerator (UPLIFT), an eight-week program designed to catalyze growth and strengthen business models for entrepreneurs, with a special focus on minority, women and service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs.

Hosted by the City’s SWaM Business Office, UPLIFT Virginia Beach provides valuable resources to participants in the areas of financial analysis, marketing, mentoring and wealth building, along with an abundance of networking opportunities.

The next session of the program begins Feb. 19 at The HIVE Small Business Resource Center. The UPLIFT program will include up to 10 local small businesses owned by minority, women and service-disable veteran entrepreneurs. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 5. If accepted, the program will occur once a week from 9 a.m. to noon, starting Feb. 19 through April 16.

Want to learn more about the program? Whether you're considering applying or curious how this program can assist you and your business, attend a virtual information session, noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 7, to get the details you need. Register to attend the free session.

Other Upcoming Classes

The City’s SwaM Business Office hosts several free classes monthly, including a "Doing Business with the City of Virginia Beach" series. Be sure to check back for new and recurring workshops. Here is the January schedule for the virtual series:

Doing Business with the City of Virginia Beach

Subcontracting Participation Plans & Good Faith Efforts
Jan. 6, 3-4 p.m. | Jan. 31, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Learn about the resolutions and ordinances passed by City Council that most impact the small, women and minority business community. During this session, review some of the required forms for most solicitation responses, specifically the subcontracting participation plan and good faith efforts forms, discuss why they are important and how to fill them out.

Procurement Programs
Jan. 14, 9-9:45 a.m. | Jan. 30, 3-3:45 p.m.

The SWaM Business Office will go over various procurement programs supported by the City of Virginia Beach that most impact small businesses and those owned by women and minorities. 

Supplier Portal and Solicitations
Jan. 24, 3-4 p.m.

Explore the City of Virginia Beach Supplier Portal and learn how to register, where to log in, and how to navigate. This session will also go over where to find City of Virginia Beach solicitations and general details.

For eligibility and to apply and for even more training and learning opportunities, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/SWaM.