Community Business Launch (CBL)

 

The  Community Business Launch (CBL) is designed to assist communities in taking a systems approach to defining and pursuing an asset-based small business development strategy. The program starts with a community’s unique vision for its future and then uses a local business competition to find and foster the entrepreneurs that connect with that vision. CBL will provide the tools to effectively prepare multiple entrepreneurs to operate successful businesses in a downtown or neighborhood commercial district and allow them to compete for funding to start up their new endeavor.

While only a limited number of entrepreneurs may win the business competitions, CBL will give rise to many budding entrepreneurs that have been prepared, through the CBL initiative, to be successful businesses. In addition, it will help communities begin to develop a coordinated, comprehensive sustainable environment that identifies, launches and supports community-based entrepreneurs and small business at all levels of development. The first three communities that will each receive up to $100,000 for small business development are the cities of Staunton and Hopewell and Gloucester Courthouse in Gloucester County.

COMMUNITY BUSINESS LAUNCH PROGRAM DESIGN

2017 Community Business Launch Communities

• Town of Altavista
• City of Bristol
• City of Franklin
• Town of South Boston
• City of Waynesboro

2016 Community Business Launch Communities

• City of Lynchburg
• Town of Marion
• City of Martinsville
• City of Petersburg
• Town of Pulaski
• Town of Strasburg
• Town of Vinton

Resources

• CBL Blog
• Rev-Up Strasburg Video

Announcements

• Governor McAuliffe announces $420,000 for Virginia Community Business Launch grants
• Governor McAuliffe announces 14 winners of first-ever Community Business Launch
• Launch Gloucester ‘Pitch Night’ had impressive array of budding entrepreneurs
• Governor McAuliffe unveils the Virginia Community Business Launch