Start, Locate, Expand

Small Business

Looking for specific information? Our team can provide what you need fast, free and to your inbox.

Our objective is to quickly provide emerging small businesses with assistance and business solutions. We’ll do what we can to help you ourselves, and we will provide points of contact to outside resources and development partners.

Small Business. Big Plans.

We’re here to help your business start, relocate, or grow in Augusta County! We offer a wide array of services and work hard to reduce the uncertainty and red tape for new and existing businesses. Our services are free and confidential.

 

Augusta County Small Business Loan Fund

Augusta County is proud to offer loans to businesses in Augusta County with small business microloans ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 and a 3% interest rate. Loan funds can fund various expenses. The best way to contact us to learn more about loan opportunities is to fill out our interest form and a member of our team will contact you to set up a loan interest meeting!

If your business is located in Augusta County, please complete this form and an Augusta County staff member will reach out to you.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

We encourage you to contact the Small Business Development Center to begin your planning process or help your business grow. The SBDC offers no-fee consulting and other services through its offices in the Augusta County Government Center for any business wanting to start, plan, or grow.

Located on the lower level of the Augusta County Government Center, anyone can utilize the services of the SBDC – living in Augusta County or wishing to start a business in Augusta County is not a requirement. The SBDC serves the counties of Augusta, Rockbridge, Bath, Highland, Rockingham, and Page and the cities and towns within.

The SBDC offers consultation by appointment for new as well as established businesses. Typically, appointments are arranged on Tuesdays and Fridays between the hours of 8am and 5pm, but other options may be available.  In addition, the Small Business Development Center often has free or low-cost workshops at the Augusta County Government Center.  The Start Smart workshop series is a particularly good series for new business owners.

To learn more about Start Smart and all SBDC resources, visit the SBDC Website at www.ValleySBDC.org.  To schedule an appointment, call the SBDC’s main office in Harrisonburg at 540-568-3227 and specifically ask for an appointment at the Augusta County Government Center.

Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors

Shenandoah Valley Angel Investors (SVAI) is a network of private investors that help fund entrepreneurial enterprises located in our communities. SVAI’s founding members have broad experience, spanning multiple market sectors, including: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Construction, Public Accounting, Outdoor Recreation, Legal, Senior Assisted Living, Insurance, Distribution and Logistics, Agriculture, Commercial Real Estate, Property Management, Government and Technology.

SVAI’s primary interest is Start-Up/ Early Stage business ventures with funding needs in the range of $50,000 to $300,000 that leverage technology to create a new product or service. A review committee assesses and ranks business proposals based on several factors, including: market potential, scalability, new job creation, intellectual property, competition, management team, business acumen, capital intensity and potential return on an equity investment.

SVAI’s members meet once a quarter to hear presentations by the top ranked business proposals and determine if they want to invest. The investment decision is solely up to each investor in the network.

To learn more about SVAI, contact George Pace at gwpace1@comcast.net.

Publication: Entrepreneurs Guide to Starting a Small Business

Entrepreneurs Guide to Starting a Small Business

Click to download or visit the website