Virginia offers a rich ecosystem of business support organizations, funding programs, and development resources. Below you will find curated links organized by region and specialty to help you start, grow, and scale your Virginia business.
Statewide Resources
These organizations serve businesses across the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.
Government & Economic Development
- Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) — The state’s primary economic development authority, helping businesses relocate, expand, and export.
- Virginia Dept. of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD) — Business certifications, workshops, and supplier diversity programs.
- Virginia Business One Stop — Register your business with multiple state and local agencies in one place online.
- Virginia Department of Taxation — Business Registration — Register for state business taxes and licenses.
- Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) — Statewide technology and innovation economic development authority; supports startups and commercialization.
Small Business Advising & Training
- Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network — No-cost individualized business advising and affordable training for startups and established businesses statewide.
- SCORE — Free Business Mentoring — The nation’s largest network of free, expert volunteer business mentors with chapters across Virginia.
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Virginia District — Federal loans, grants, contracting programs, and counseling for Virginia small businesses.
Financing & Capital
- Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) — Loans, credit enhancements, and bond financing for businesses and nonprofits.
- State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) — Over $175M in funding to support Virginia’s small businesses through capital access programs.
- Virginia SBDC Funding Resources Directory — Curated list of grants, loans, and financing options for Virginia businesses.
- LISC Virginia — Small Business Lending — Direct grants and loans for small business owners, with a focus on underserved communities.
Certifications & Supplier Diversity
- SWaM Certification (Small, Women-owned & Minority-owned) — Virginia’s state certification program to enhance procurement opportunities with state agencies.
- All Business Certifications (SWaM, DBE, ESO, SDV) — Overview of all certification programs offered by SBSD.
- SBA Veteran Contracting Assistance Programs — Federal programs for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Workforce & Hiring
- Virginia Works — Workforce Development Agency — Connects employers to skilled talent and provides workforce development resources.
- Virginia Career Works — Statewide network linking businesses with job seekers, training programs, and hiring resources.
- Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) — Employer Resources — Unemployment insurance, labor market data, and hiring tools for employers.
Exporting & International Trade
- Export Virginia — State program to increase the number of Virginia companies selling overseas.
- VEDP International Trade Programs — Direct support for Virginia companies committed to growing international export sales.
- U.S. Commercial Service — Virginia/Richmond Office — Federal export assistance, market research, and trade expertise for Virginia businesses.
Technology, Innovation & Startups
- Startup Virginia — Incubator and accelerator where startup founders learn, collaborate, and grow with mentors and investors.
- Virginia Accelerator Network (VAN) — Consortium of nonprofit entrepreneur support organizations across the Commonwealth.
Rural Business Resources
- USDA Rural Development — Virginia — Loans, grants, and technical assistance for rural businesses and communities.
- USDA Rural Business Development Grants — Grant funding for economic development planning and rural business expansion.
Veterans in Business
- Virginia SBDC — Veterans Business Program — Specialized technical business assistance for Virginia veterans.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at ODU — Entrepreneurial development services for veterans starting or growing a small business.
Resources by Region
Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria)
- Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (NVC) — The voice of business in Northern Virginia; advocacy, networking, and business development programs.
- Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) — Business support, startup assistance, talent acquisition, and small business grants in Northern Virginia.
- NOVA Small Business Resource Center — Expert guidance, no-cost business advising, and resources for entrepreneurs throughout Northern Virginia.
- Arlington Economic Development — Business support, site selection, and marketing resources for businesses in Arlington.
- GO Virginia Region 7 — Northern Virginia — Business-led economic development initiative investing in collaborative regional growth projects.
- SCORE Washington DC/Northern Virginia — Free and confidential business counseling and workshops for Northern Virginia entrepreneurs.
- NOVA Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce — Business resources, funding access, and networking for Hispanic-owned businesses in Northern Virginia.
- Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce — Resources, funding opportunities, and advocacy for Black-owned businesses in Northern Virginia.
Richmond Metro (Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico)
- Richmond Economic Development Authority — Resources to help entrepreneurs transform ideas into revenue in the Richmond region.
- ChamberRVA — Greater Richmond Chamber — The chamber of commerce representing the entire greater Richmond region.
- Small Business Opportunity Center at VCU — Holistic small business accelerator and research center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
- Richmond Public Library — Small Business Resources — Free business research databases, programs, and resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- SCORE Central Virginia — Free mentoring with experienced business mentors and workshops for Richmond-area entrepreneurs.
Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake)
- Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center (HRSBDC) — Professional business advising, training, and resources for Hampton Roads businesses.
- Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce — Advocacy, networking, and business development for the Hampton Roads region.
- The HIVE — Virginia Beach Small Business Resource Hub — Free tools, training, mentorship, and expert support for startups and small businesses in Virginia Beach.
- City of Virginia Beach — Small Business Resources — Official city resources for launching and growing a business in Virginia Beach.
- SCORE Hampton Roads — Free and confidential one-on-one business counseling and workshops in the Hampton Roads area.
- City of Chesapeake — Business Resources — Incentives, transportation, workforce, and business support resources in Chesapeake.
Shenandoah Valley (Harrisonburg, Staunton, Winchester)
- Shenandoah Valley SBDC — Headquartered at James Madison University; business consulting, training, and resources for the Shenandoah Valley region.
- Shenandoah Valley Partnership — Connects investors and business leaders to economic development opportunities in the Valley.
- Shenandoah Community Capital Fund — Business support and funding for entrepreneurs in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Virginia Career Works — Shenandoah Valley Region — Workforce development and employer resources for the Shenandoah Valley.
Southwest Virginia (Roanoke, Lynchburg, Blacksburg)
- Roanoke Regional SBDC — Resources, training, and confidential business advising for Southwest Virginia businesses.
- Roanoke Economic Development — Business opportunities, grants, incentive programs, and site selection for the Roanoke region.
- Opportunity Lynchburg — Economic Development — Business resources, CO.STARTERS program, and support for new and growing businesses in Lynchburg.
- Town of Blacksburg — Business Resources — Local business resources and support for the Blacksburg/Virginia Tech corridor.
- GENEDGE Alliance — Manufacturing and technology business consulting, training, and compliance guidance for Southwest Virginia businesses.
Resources by Specialty
Government Contracting
- Virginia SWaM Certification — Become certified as a Small, Women-owned, or Minority-owned business to access state procurement opportunities.
- SBA Federal Contracting Programs — 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, WOSB, and other federal contracting programs.
- Virginia SBDC — Government Contracting Workshop Series — Training on SWaM certification, federal contracting basics, and winning government contracts.
- SBA Virginia District — Doing Business with the Government — Federal contracting certifications and contracting assistance for Virginia businesses.
Legal & Regulatory
- Virginia Business One Stop — Register your business with state and local agencies, understand licensing requirements, and manage compliance.
- Virginia Legal Aid — Free civil legal information and referrals to legal aid organizations across Virginia.
- Virginia State Bar — Pro Bono & Legal Aid Resources — Find free and reduced-fee legal services for small businesses across Virginia.
- Virginia DEQ — Small Business Regulatory Assistance — Industry-specific environmental compliance resources and guidance for Virginia businesses.
HR, Hiring & Workforce
- Virginia Works — Virginia’s official workforce development agency connecting employers with skilled workers.
- Virginia Career Works — Employer Resources — Find candidates, hire veterans, and access training resources for your workforce.
- Richmond SHRM — Employer Resources — HR-related services, apprenticeships, disability services, and employee development resources.
- Virginia Employment Commission — Employers — Unemployment insurance, labor market information, and workforce tools for Virginia employers.
Marketing & Digital Presence
- Virginia SBDC — Digital Marketing Webinars — Free webinars covering social media, email marketing, SEO, and paid advertising for Virginia businesses.
- Arlington Economic Development — Marketing Resources — Articles, how-to videos, and templates for branding, financial management, and customer acquisition.
- Google Business Profile — Claim and optimize your free Google listing to appear in local search results and Google Maps.
Technology & Innovation
- Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) — Invests in and accelerates innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship across Virginia.
- Startup Virginia — Incubator for startup founders with mentors, investors, and a collaborative community.
- Virginia Accelerator Network — Statewide network of accelerators and incubators supporting high-growth startups.
- GENEDGE Alliance — Manufacturing extension partnership providing technology adoption, process improvement, and innovation support.
Financing & Grants
- Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) — State-backed loan programs and credit enhancements for Virginia businesses.
- State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) — Capital access programs funded by $175M+ in federal and state funding.
- Virginia SBDC — Funding Resources Directory — Comprehensive directory of grants, loans, and financing options by business type and stage.
- SBA Loan Programs — SBA 7(a), 504, and microloan programs available to Virginia small businesses.
- LISC Virginia — Grants and loans for small business owners in underserved Virginia communities.
Real Estate & Site Selection
- VEDP — Virginia Certified Sites — Search certified business sites across Virginia for industrial, office, and commercial development.
- Hampton, VA — Site Selection Tools — Property search tools for retail, office, and industrial locations in Hampton.
- Chesapeake Economic Development — Site Selection — Custom property listings and site assessment services in Chesapeake.