Waynesboro Receives $45,000 For Small Business Development

Award Part of Governor Youngkin’s Virginia Community Business Launch Grants

Waynesboro, VA – Community Business Launch (CBL) awards were announced last week by Governor Youngkin, totaling $185,000 for three projects in the Commonwealth. The City of Waynesboro secured $45,000 in funding for its Grow Waynesboro program, which will provide resources to support the development of local entrepreneurial efforts with the intent to create new businesses, spur new job creation, and expansions.
The Community Business Launch (CBL) is designed to help communities take a systems approach to defining and pursuing an asset-based small business development strategy, creatively building on the existing strengths of their local economies. Starting with a community’s unique vision for its future, the program uses a local business competition to find and foster the entrepreneurs that connect with that vision. This program is administered through the Department of Housing and Community Development.
“For Waynesboro, this award builds on our successful Grow Waynesboro initiative, which has provided grants, business plan instruction, funding, encouragement, and startup competitions for the last decade,” says Greg Hitchin, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Waynesboro.
Specifically, this year’s $45,000 award will partially fund a 2023 business plan competition for Grow Waynesboro. Innovators from throughout the area will be invited to take part, with winners receiving start-up resources that could include grant awards, building lease assistance, marketing support, customized training options, professional mentorships, and technical assistance.
Details on the program will be announced soon. To receive information as it becomes available, visit GrowWaynesboro.com, and select “Dream It.”

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