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Small Business Support
Botetourt County is open for small businesses to start, grow, and prosper! The Department of Economic Development is dedicated to helping you succeed. We recognize the value and importance of our small businesses. Over 800 business entities in Botetourt County employ ten or fewer people, which makes our local economy very much a small business economy!
Starting, growing, and sustaining your small business and connecting with the right resources available to you can be daunting. Our “Botetourt’s Open for Business" brochure includes a checklist of essential business planning items and a list of available resources to get you started.
Our small business development program must involve partnerships to be effective and useful for our small businesses. In partnership with the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center, The Advancement Foundation, and the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce have you covered.
Have questions? Contact us at (540) 928-2140 or at [email protected]
During the COVID19 pandemic, the County used CARES funding to help aid our farms and small businesses.
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Botetourt Chamber of Commerce
The Botetourt Chamber of Commerce advocates, educates & facilitates. As the premier business resource hub in Botetourt County, your Chamber offers a strong voice for issues that affect business both locally and regionally, innovative programming and networking opportunities, and as a reliable, collaborative, strategic partner your Chamber helps to ensure economic growth and prosperity for businesses in our area. Founded in 1945, your Chamber celebrated its 75th anniversary this past year, and as an association of your friends and neighbors has been consistent in its focus to help members buy local, stay local, and live local. Our diverse membership includes businesses of many sizes, industries, and types, all combining to form a thriving business community. Our four core areas of focus for member advocacy include Business Education, Infrastructure, Economic Development/Business Retention, and Workforce Development.
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Botetourt Young Professionals
The Botetourt Young Professional Group is for anyone who works, lives, or wants to connect in Botetourt County. One of the main goals of the Botetourt Young Professionals is to not only network with other YPs in our area, but to give back to our community through acts of service. We strive to bring together young professionals, so we may learn, grow, improve our professional skill set, and reach our full potentials as the future leaders of our area. Individuals of all professions and ages, are welcome to attend our events and activities. Mission: To grow a community of young professionals, where we can enhance our leadership skills, create opportunities, and give back to our community through acts of service.
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Cost of Doing Business
Cost management is a critical piece of business growth planning. Botetourt County’s Department of Economic Development understands this reality and has compiled a list of resources to help local businesses navigate the local landscape.
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Roanoke Regional Partnership
The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center assists Botetourt County businesses by offering guidance on startup and management.
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Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center
The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center assists Botetourt County businesses by offering guidance on startup and management.
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Virginia Small Business Development Center
The Virginia SBDC is an organization of 27 local Small Business Development Center offices across Virginia providing professional business counseling, training, and business resources to help grow and strengthen Virginia businesses. Thousands of business owners and managers received one-on-one counseling every year, and twice as many business owners attended a training program offered by a local SBDC. SBDC professionals assist with business planning, marketing, financial analysis, access to capital, business start-up and other specialized services as requested. And companies report successes and impact as a result of their SBDC relationship. The Virginia SBDC Network is the most extensive business development program in the Commonwealth.
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Advancement Foundation
The Advancement Foundation (TAF), a nonprofit founded in 2007 works in concert with economic and community development organizations to execute key strategies that provide infrastructure, support, and resources to create an effective entrepreneurial ecosystem. TAF has researched, tested, and refined specific initiatives that help unify activities for small business development, increase support, and leverage resources to provide measurable impact on small business development for the communities it serves.
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The Gauntlet
The GAUNTLET is Virginia’s Largest Business Program and Competition. It is a proven business development system that connects entrepreneurs to the training, mentorship, and resources needed for success! Over 650 GAUNTLET alumni have received more than $1 million in cash and in-kind prizes over the past 7 years! Our very own Beaverdam Farms Sunflower Festival was last year's winner!