New and existing small-business owners in Southwest Virginia can get some much-needed mentoring and training through Radford University’s Southwest Region Virginia Small Business Development Center, courtesy of a $30,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation. 

The center has counselors at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges who will help owners of start-up companies and existing businesses in seven Southwest Virginia counties develop business and marketing plans, secure funding, and create new jobs. 

“Small businesses are a major component of Southwest Virginia’s economic engine, and Verizon is committed to helping that engine run smoothly through workforce programs and technology development,” said Jim Griffith, Verizon’s area manager.  “This grant will help the Small Business Development Center to offer additional support for new and existing businesses.”

(IN THE PHOTO: James L. Griffith of Verizon presents President Kyle with a check from Verizon.)

The project focuses on the seven counties served by Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges: Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell and Tazewell.  New and existing business owners interested in more information should contact Tim Blankenbecler at Mountain Empire Community College (276-523-6529; tblankenbecler@me.vccs.edu) or Jim Boyd at Southwest Virginia Community College (276-964-7345; Jim.Boyd@sw.edu).

RU president Penelope W. Kyle said the university is “proud of the opportunity to facilitate the Verizon Foundation’s vision for investment in the economy of Southwest Virginia.” She commented on the creative approach of the project. “There are many workforce development programs that focus on workforce training, but Verizon and the Small Business Development Center are going about it in a unique way.”

Griffith worked closely with David Shanks, director of the Southwest Region Small Business Development Center at RU, to create a project that would best meet Verizon’s goals.

“Verizon wanted to help the areas that needed help most,” said Shanks, “and to help in the most immediately effective way. The best way to create jobs is to get someone on the ground to work directly with business owners and develop customized solutions to their growth issues.”

In addition to its support through the Verizon Foundation, Verizon also offers Southwest Virginia businesses a full array of communications services.  For broadband Internet access, the company offers DSL (digital subscriber line) service to 18 communities in its Southwest Virginia service area.  Verizon also offers fixed-wireless broadband service in the Grundy area through its Verizon Avenue subsidiary.