Updates from the Office of Economic Development

Minority Business Development Coordinator featured in Chamber Spotlight

Zoie Smith, the City of Charlottesville’s Minority Business Development Coordinator, was featured in the Chamber’s Spotlight. Click HERE to read more about what Zoie does for the City and a fun fact about her that most people don’t know – shocking! 

Hope Starts Here Entrepreneurship Panel Discussion

The City of Charlottesville’s Home to Hope Program hosted a webinar for Minority Business Month called ‘Hope Starts Here.’ The past webinar centered on entrepreneurship opportunities in Charlottesville with a panel discussion featuring three successful entrepreneurs in the community. You can watch the recorded webinar HERE.

CIC: COVID Lessons Learned Webinar

The Community Investment Collaborative partnered with the Minority Business Program to hold a webinar during Minority Business Month focusing on the lessons learned by local businesses during COVID. To view the recording, click HERE. 

Minority & Women Virtual Business Expo looking for City Exhibitors

Are you a minority- and/or woman-owned business? The Minority Business Program is looking for City of Charlottesville businesses to be a vendor for the Minority & Women Virtual Business Expo on Tuesday, September 29^th from 12pm to 6pm. Exhibitors must be a City of Charlottesville business and will have 15 minutes to promote their business. Register to be an exhibitor HERE.

Vitae Spirits helps the Charlottesville Community

Thank you to Vitae Spirits for refilling the sanitizer stations.  They are one of many businesses in the City that creatively repurposed during the Coronavirus pandemic and are producing hand sanitizer. We are now refilling all of our commercial corridor hand sanitizing stations with sanitizer made in Charlottesville! Thank you for helping our community. 

Auntie Anne’s UVA shares their experience with OED Small Business Relief Grant

“Hi all, we just wanted to take an extra moment to thank the City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development for their guidance and support during these unprecedented times. The Small Business Relief Grant has been so helpful in our re-opening efforts. As a minority business we recognize the importance of leveraging the resources available - and the City of Charlottesville has certainly stepped up to help reopen and relocate our UVA Corner store. We invite the community to stop by, especially this month as we fundraise to help fight childhood cancer through the Alex Lemonade foundation. We cannot thank you enough for the support and we look forward to giving back to the Charlottesville community.”

Charlottesville Women in Tech

The CWIT announced their Fall 2020 Summit for November focusing on stepping up your professional tech network, and building and developing your career in tech. The online conference for femme-identifying and women will include breakout sessions and online workshops focused on activities for augmenting tech career opportunities. The CWIT is currently looking for a diverse group of speakers, please complete the form if you’re interested.

United Way partners with Minority Business Alliance for community grant

United Way is still collecting grant applications through September 15^th. These COVID recovery grants will award five businesses up to $10,000. Businesses interested should be 50% minority-owned and located in the City of Charlottesville or Albemarle County. Fill out the application HERE.

Charlottesville Housing RELIEF Fund Update

The City’s administration of housing relief dollars kicked off with the accepting of applications beginning July 13^th. To date the Downtown Job Center has processed 599 applications. 123 applicants have been formally enrolled in one of three dedicated programs for Homelessness, Reentry, and Landlords. In total 132 payments have been made on behalf of tenants totaling $130,286. The Downtown Job Center continues to accept applications and assist enrolled clients in financial literacy, workforce development and peer support services.

New Transportation Route makes a stop in Charlottesville

Virginia Breeze Bus Lines' new Piedmont Express route running between Danville and Washington, D.C., with a stop in Charlottesville, offers affordable, accessible, and convenient transportation that connects Virginia communities to one another and to Washington, D.C. Click HERE to read more.