NVBCC THRIVE Magazine Nov/Dec Issue

THRIVE

Leading Business Magazine for Black Entrepreneurs

Artificial Intellegence

Public Policy Watch

Brew Your Tea Business

Nov./Dec. 2023 northernvirginiabcc.org

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Letter from the Editor ROBIN MCDOUGAL EDITOR IN CHIEF

On behalf of all of us at the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, I am delighted to extend warm holiday greetings to each and every one of you. As we approach the end of another year of growth and evolution, this issue will take a moment to reflect on our collective achievements and share some tips for a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year.

In a year filled with challenges and uncertainties, our business community has once again demonstrated resilience, innovation, and the power of collaboration. Whether it's the launch of new ventures, the expansion of existing businesses, or the pioneering solutions to complex problems, your dedication and hard work have made it all possible.

As you take some time to reflect on the past year, remember to celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how big or small they may seem. These achievements are a testament to your determination and the ability to

THRIVE

Robin 3

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THRIVE Editorial Team Robin McDougal Tonya Poindexter Jocelyn Johnson Erica Moore Jude Joseph William J. McBorrough Margaret Angela Franklin

Editor in Chief Managing Editor Health & Wellness Editor Finance Editor Cyber Security Editor Technology Editor Public Policy Editor

EDITORIAL OFFICE 8300 Boone Blvd, Tysons Corner, VA 22182 (703) 442-4472 | thrive@northernvirginiabcc.org

www.northernvirginiabcc.org

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CONTENT

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP: CYBER SECURITY BEST PRACTICES Learn how small businesses can take steps to enhance their cybersecurity preparedness

27 P U B L I C P O L I C Y C O R N E R

Stay updated on legislative initiatives occurring in public policy on federal, state, and local levels, impacting small businesses and the business community at large.

39 Y O U R I T C O R N E R Learn how using a custom email domain provide several critical benefits for a businesses.

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BREW YOUR TEA BUSINESS TAZO Tea company is teaming up with cafe owners, entrepreneurs like producer and actress Issa Rae to launch The TAZO Cafe Collective.

36 A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L E G E N C E AI is no longer science fiction. Learn how to leverage it for your business

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INTENTION “HAVE A VISION. BE DEMANDING.” COLIN POWELL

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Executive Director LeAnn’s vision aligns seamlessly with NVBCC's mission to empower and support Black-owned businesses, fostering an environment of inclusivity, innovation, and economic success within the region.

Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce proudly announces the appointment of LeAnn White as its new Executive Director, effective November 2023. With a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to advancing the interests of the business community, LeAnn is set to lead NVBCC into a new era of growth and prosperity.

Having served in key financial services roles within the banking sector for over 20 years, LeAnn brings a multifaceted background in advocacy, business development, and community engagement.

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THRIVE MAGAZINE PUBLIC POLICY EXPERT Margaret Angela Franklin Public Policy Editor A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Margaret Franklin received her master’s degree from Howard University in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is also member of the Prince William County chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women and is a proud member of the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also served as President of the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus (SBLSC) where she implemented a monthly Speaker Series. Her passion is focused on working to create public policy initiatives that have a positive and lasting impact on diverse communities.

Margaret Franklin Re-elected NVBCC Newest Board of Director, Margaret Franklin has won a second term as Prince William County Supervisor in the Woodbridge District.

Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin was first elected to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on November 5, 2019.

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NVBCC NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Leadership Erica Moore NVBCC Treasurer & THRIVE Financial Editor NVBCC Newest Board of Director, Erica Moore is the National Vice President of Five Rings Financial, LLC. Erica is a 24 year licensed professional in the financial industry. She provides financial advice, facilitates educational workshops and consultation to business owners, individuals, and families about safely protecting and growth wealth. A Graduate from Virginia Tech, Erica teaches people about money, helps them implement vision, and confirm they are on track for their long-term financial goals.

NVBCC NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Leadership Margaret Angela Franklin NVBCC Committee & THRIVE Public Policy Editor NVBCC Newest Board of Director, Margaret Franklin is also a member of the Prince William County chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women and is a proud member of the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also served as President of the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus (SBLSC) where she implemented a monthly Speaker Series. Her passion is focused on working to create public policy initiatives that have a positive and lasting impact on diverse communities.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: CYBER SECURITY BEST -PRACTICES

BY JUDE JOSEPH Small businesses should take steps to enhance their cybersecurity preparedness during the holiday season to protect their operations and customer data. The increased online activity and potential for cyberattacks during this period make cybersecurity a critical consideration.

Here are some key actions to take: Update and Patch Software: Ensure that all software, including operating systems, antivirus programs, and applications, are up to date with the latest security patches and updates.

Train Employees: Provide cybersecurity training to all employees to raise awareness of common threats, such as phishing and social engineering, and educate them on safe online practices.

Implement Strong Password Policies: Require employees to use complex passwords and change them regularly. Implement multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.

Secure Wi-Fi Networks: Ensure that the Wi-Fi network used for business operations is secure. Use strong encryption, change default passwords on routers, and consider setting up a separate guest network for customers.

Encrypt Sensitive Data: Encrypt sensitive customer and business data, both in transit and at rest.

This protects the information in case of a data breach.

Regularly Back Up Data: Regularly back up critical data and systems.

Ensure that backups are stored in a secure, offsite location. Test data restoration processes to ensure they work effectively.

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Implement Strong Password Policies: Require employees to use complex passwords and change them regularly. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.

Secure Wi-Fi Networks: Ensure that the Wi-Fi network used for business operations is secure. Use strong encryption, change default passwords on routers, and consider setting up a separate guest network for customers.

Encrypt Sensitive Data: Encrypt sensitive customer and business data, both in transit and at rest.

This protects the information in case of a data breach.

Regularly Back Up Data: Regularly back up critical data and systems.

Ensure that backups are stored in a secure, offsite location. Test data restoration processes to ensure they work effectively.

Monitor Network Traffic: Use intrusion detection systems and other security tools to monitor network traffic for unusual or suspicious activities.

Implement Firewalls: Install and configure firewalls to filter incoming and outgoing traffic.

This can help block malicious traffic and protect against known threats.

E-commerce Security: If your business involves online sales, use secure e-commerce platforms and payment gateways that meet industry standards for data security. Ensure your website uses HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.

E-commerce Security: If your business involves online sales, use secure e-commerce platforms and payment gateways that meet industry standards for data security. Ensure your website uses HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.

Update and Secure POS Systems: If your business uses point-of-sale (POS) systems, ensure they are regularly updated and protected from malware and skimming devices.

Limit Employee Access: Restrict access to sensitive data and systems to only those employees who need it for their job.

Implement the principle of least privilege (employees only have access to what is necessary for their role).

Incident Response Plan: Develop and regularly update an incident response plan. This plan should outline the steps to take in case of a security breach, including who to contact and how to mitigate the damage.

Vendor Security: If you work with third-party vendors, ensure they have adequate security measures in place. This includes payment processors, hosting providers, and other service providers.

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Phishing Awareness: Educate employees about the risks of phishing attacks and how to recognize and report suspicious emails or messages.

Customer Education: If your business interacts directly with customers, consider providing them with information on how to stay safe online and protect their personal information.

Regularly Assess Security: Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests to identify vulnerabilities and address them proactively.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with relevant data protection laws and regulations, such as GDPR or CCPA, depending on your location and customer base.

Prepare for DDoS Attacks: Be prepared for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Consider using DDoS mitigation services to protect your website and online services from being overwhelmed by traffic.

By taking these cybersecurity precautions, small businesses can minimize the risks associated with cyber threats during the holiday season and beyond, safeguarding their operations and customer trust.

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r u o Y s m a e r D 26

Public Corner

By Margaret Franklin

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Public Policy Corner We are thrilled to provide you with an update on legislative initiatives occurring in public policy on federal, state, and local levels, impacting small businesses and the business community at large.

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Bills

Entrepreneurship Thriving in Virginia

Statistics show that Virginia has a thriving small business community that helps to keep Virginia’s economy strong.

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A bill is the form used for most legislation, whether permanent or temporary, general or special, public or private. A bill originating in the House of Representatives is designated by the letters “H.R.”, signifying “House of Representatives”, followed by a number that it retains throughout all its parliamentary stages.

Bills are presented to the President for action when approved in identical form by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Entrepreneurship is the backbone of the American economy and Virginia boasts over 795,000 small businesses who employ nearly 1.6 million people. According to the Small Business Administration, women make up 47.4 percent of workers in Virginia and own 44.2 percent of businesses throughout the Commonwealth.

Veterans make up 8.6 percent of workers in Virginia and own 9.2 percent of businesses. Racial minorities make up 29.6 percent of workers and own 25.8 percent of businesses within the Commonwealth.

Federal Small Business Legislation to Watch:

These statistics show that Virginia has a thriving small business community that helps to keep Virginia’s economy strong. In continuing to support our small business community, the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting initiatives that helped to support Virginia’s business community. Below is a list of bipartisan federal legislation impacting our nation’s small businesses.

H.R. 5265, “Small Business Administration Rural Performance Report Act” Introduced by Rep. Mark Alford (RMO), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), and Rep. Chris Pappas (DNH). The bill would require the SBA to issue an annual report on the activities of the Office of Rural Affairs, develop a specific budget justification for the office, and issue a report on the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

H.R. 5424, “The Main Street Competes Act” Introduced by Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (RMO), Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY).

The bill would reaffirm Congress’ commitment to fostering competition in small business economic policy by requiring the Office of Advocacy to evaluate Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice efforts to protect small businesses from unfair competition.

Federal Small Business Legislation to Watch

Virginia

H.R. 5425, “To amend the Small Business Act to enhance the Office of Rural Affairs, and for other purposes” Introduced by Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY). The bill would enhance SBA’s Office of Rural Affairs by elevating the role of the Director to an Assistant Administrator, delineating certain qualifications for the position, requiring the office to host webinars and outreach events, and report on the operations and activities of the office.

H.R. 5426, “To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to provide a link to resources for submitting reports on suspected fraud relating to certain COVID–19 loans”.

Introduced by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Rep. Greg Landsman (DOH). The legislation would require SBA to put a link on their primary website that would direct individuals to the OIG website to report suspected fraud.

H.R. 5427, “To prohibit individuals convicted of defrauding the Government from receiving any assistance from the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.”

Introduced by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), and Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL). The legislation would prohibit anyone convicted of any crimes relating to financial misconduct or making a false statement with respect to an SBA pandemic loan or grant from receiving non-disaster financial assistance from the SBA.

Purpose Product Plan Pitch Presentation

-Bernard Freeman “Bun B”

NO LONGER SCIENCE FICTION

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How Do You Use AI? A collaboration between Robin McDougal & Artificial Intelligence

What is AI? According to IBM, Artificial intelligence leverages computers and machines to mimic the problemsolving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind.

Here are some options to consider: 1. Customer Insights and Personalization: AI can analyze customer data to provide insights into buying habits and preferences. This enables businesses to tailor their marketing and product offerings.

2. Inventory Management: AI can help in predicting inventory needs, optimizing stock levels, and reducing waste.

3. Automated Customer Service: AIpowered chatbots and virtual assistants can provide round-theclock customer service, 4. Targeted Marketing: AI can analyze data from various sources to identify potential new customers and target them with personalized marketing campaigns.

5. Efficient Operations: AI can streamline operations, from scheduling to logistics,

6. Market Analysis: AI tools can analyze market trends and predict future market behaviors, helping businesses to make informed decisions about product development and pricing strategies.

7. Enhanced Online Presence: AI can optimize website design and search engine optimization (SEO).

8. Fraud Detection and Security: AI can help in detecting fraudulent transactions and enhancing the overall security of business operations.

9. Social Media Engagement: AI tools can analyze social media trends and automate posts.

Data-Driven Decision Making: AI can provide businesses with actionable insights based on data analysis.

Artificial Intelligence is well positioned to be your partner during strategic business planning and implementation.

At the end of your business day, the effective use of AI tools blended with strategic collaboration, insights from IT partners, and customers feedback are guide markers when investing in AIdriven platforms.

Learn More: NVBCC GovCon event Date: January 11, 2024

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Your Information Technology Corner By William J. McBorrough

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The Benefits of Using a Custom Email Domain for Your Business As small business owners, we know that image is essential. We work hard to present our brand professionally to promote trust and credibility. Many of us, however, still overlook a crucial aspect that can elevate our image even more. Using a custom email domain provides several critical benefits for a business: Establishes Credibility Having an email address with your company's domain name sends a message that you are a legitimate, professional business. This can help build trust with potential clients and customers, as they will feel more at ease knowing they are communicating with someone associated with your company.

Increases Brand Awareness Email is one of the most widely used forms of communication, so having your company's name in the email address is a great way to increase brand recognition. This will reinforce your brand identity whenever you send an email, potentially leading to more business.

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Continued...

Prevents Spam and Fraudulent Emails Having a custom email domain gives you more control over who has access to your email account. This can help prevent spam and phishing emails from reaching your inbox, which can harm your business. In addition, having a custom email domain makes it harder for scammers to impersonate your business through email.

Provides a Professional Appearance You risk looking less professional when you use a free email service like Gmail or Yahoo. On the other hand, having a custom email domain adds professionalism to your email communications. This can be especially important when sending emails to potential clients and partners.

Easy to Remember A custom email domain is much easier for clients and customers to remember than a generic email address. This can make it easier for people to remember your business when they need your services in the future.

Taking the time to set up a custom email domain is well worth the effort. Google and Microsoft offer affordable options for business email accounts using your company domain. Webhosting services like Godaddy and SiteGround offer options as well. Using a custom email domain can help establish credibility, increase brand awareness, prevent spam and phishing emails, provide a professional appearance, and make it easier for people to remember your business.

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Membership Designed for you Standard, Corporate, Government

www.northernvirginiabcc.org

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Virginia Economic Forum and Summit on International Trade

NVBCC team participated in an informative panel discussion and listened to keynote given

by Senator Tim Kaine.

Economic Growth Making Virginia the best state for business

BREW YOUR TEA BUSINESS CAFE COLLECTIVE

By Robin McDougal

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Profile

ISSA Rae

Launching Your Tea Cafe’?

TAZO is now seeking innovative local and independent cafes in the U.S. to join TAZO Cafe Collective TAZO is teaming up with awardwinning cafe owner, entrepreneur, producer and actress Issa Rae to launch The TAZO Cafe Collective: a network celebrating and supporting independent cafes.

Participating cafes will receive financial and marketing support, recipe inspiration, and much more.

“I’ve always wanted a coffee shop in my neighborhood. Coffee shops facilitate productivity in so many ways, they facilitate collaboration.

I’ve personally have done all my writing in coffee shops. So it always disappointed me that there weren’t any that were black-owned (or) people of color-owned in my neighborhood. Now to have the Inglewood location I was just immensely proud because it’s home. I just feel like it’s so important to have these spaces where you feel safe where you can be creative, and have a sense of comfort. To know that it’s your space.”

TAZO is seeking innovative local and independent cafes in the U.S. to join TAZO Cafe Collective and create bold new tea and latte drinks with TAZO Chai Concentrate and TAZO Iced Passion Concentrate.

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TAZO will invest in local and independent cafes* while creating an original seasonal beverage menu

Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen (Downtown LA)ED RUDOLPH

Started by co-founders Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan, in Windsor Hills in August 2018, Hilltop’s intention was to create an inclusive space to foster community, creativity, and connection over high quality food and drink. By 2019, Issa Rae, who grew up in South Los Angeles (and later went on to create and star of in the hit HBO series Insecure) partnered with the duo to open Hilltop’s flagship location in Downtown Inglewood. In 2020, the company expanded again, opening a third location on Eagle Rock Blvd.

Now, Hilltop’s first DTLA spot opens in a historic building dating back to 1913. Forbes Magazine’s Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner

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What is tea?

by jocelyn johnson, msn, cns Tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, a shrub-like, evergreen plant . This plant is native to China and grows well in subtropical climates. There several varieties of tea that are brewed and drunk all over the world. Tea as we know it is a drink that consist of the leaves placed in hot water to release caffeine and other properties known as constituents such as catechins, flavonoids, proteins, fiber, and polysaccharides. There are 4 different forms of tea which are determined through varying levels of fermentations also known as oxidation (exposure to oxygen) . Green tea is dried, but not fermented, where white tea is slightly oxidized and dried over the winter months. Oolong tea has a medium level of fermentation giving the tea a rich reddish-brown appearance. Black tea has the highest level of caffeine and is fermented for the longest period of time.

The tea plant has many properties that include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihypertensive and anticarcinogenic to name a few. In the herbal medicine world green tea extract is utilized to reduce the symptoms brought on by cardiovascular disease (CVD), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cancers such as leukemia to name a few.

Now it’s time to examine herbal tea; which is interesting. Herbal tea is not necessarily tea. Herbal tea consist of plant material such as flowers, leaves, fruits (aerial parts), bark, roots, and rhizomes that are either fresh or dried.

Herbal tea in the herbal medicine world is called a tisane because it doesn’t contain tea leaves. Common plants used to make simple tisanes are peppermint (Mentha x piperita), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) to name a few.

These culinary herbs and spices are easily procured and may be made at home by a novice. Whereas, an herbalist or natural medicine practitioner will use a combination of plants in a formula to reduce symptoms that are ailing their clients/patients. These formulas are used for small amounts of time to help with ailments as simple as flatulence, induce sleep or reduce symptoms from menopause.

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CREATIVE FINANCING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH & WELLNESS BUSINESS OP-ED by jocelyn johnson, msn, cns

There’s a big buzz about the health & wellness industry.

There are many types of health & wellness practitioners. The conventional or allopathic community consist of medical doctors, nurses, and dieticians; these types of practitioners work within the healthcare groups and are paid from insurance claims.

Yet, there is another type of healthcare provider that works in the alternative and complementary realm of healthcare that includes functional medical, osteopathic and naturopathic doctors, acupuncturist, psychologist, functional nutritionist and physical therapist that use conventional evidencebased medical knowledge combined with natural methodologies to heal the mind and body. These

practitioners, creative collectives to treat and heal their patients and clients.

Typically they don’t take insurance and are not part of the insurance plans. They begin their alternative and complementary practices to help others and are constantly looking for ways to finance their “natural” medical businesses.

Don’t get me wrong, these industries are important to our future. However, the federal and local governments, public health officials, and the public haven’t shifted their focus to preventative healthcare.

These alternative and

complementary healthcare practices are in the business of encouraging healthy lifestyle changes such as, exercise, mental health help, functional nutritionist, acupunctionist, natropathic medical doctors and chiropractors to name a few. These practitioners take a lot of time to share thier philosiphies and help their clientele/patients learn that they can change, but it will take time improve overall health by reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar, blood pressure and increasing energy. Getting financing for an alternative practice is tough, I like to call these types of

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healthcare modalities “the woo woo!” or unconventional. Although came from these unconventional modalities, it’s difficult to show the value of these types of practices to Economic Development Authorities, federal and local grant banks. These practitioners who are already up to their eyeballs in debt to pay for their education with little to no resources to fund or grow their practices.

Here are a few ideas about creative financing for an alternative health and wellness practice: Personal loan from family members | this can be difficult to ask your parents, siblings, or grandparents in today’s economy.Crowdsourcing | obtaining funding for your business or business project from the public using any number of companies such as Fundera, MicroVentures, GoFundMe, KickStarter, Crowdcube, and StartEngine are some of the many crowdsourcing sites on the internet.

Each websites operate differently; you will have to read the fine print before you decide to choose one of these for your funding. Essentially each of these sites allows it's members to choose businesses that they would like to fund and make possible the business owners dreams come true with the money they need to see their dream come to fruition.

Venture capital (VC), according to Silicon Valley Bank is were venture capital is used to fund start-up and other businesses with rapid growth potential. Venture capitalist groups (VCs) are made up of investors that want to use their money to help grow small and upcoming businesses.

Angel investor is an individual that provides funding/capital to start-up or business that have been in existence for less than 1-2 years.

Many times, an angel investor is not interested in being paid back for their investment, but would like a sit on the board for the business to ensure that the funds they invested are being utilized to grow the business so it succeeds after the first 3-5 years. Make sure you work with an attorney to hash out the details of their investment into your business.

In all, the time is of the essence for you to start your health & wellness business now!

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‘tis the season for stews & soups

Potato Leek Soup This hearty soup is warming to eat during the fall and winter months. However, it is light enough to have on a cool spring night for a light dinner.

INGREDIENTS: 20 Yukon gold potatoes (organic, cut in ½ inch cubes) 4-5 cups water or chicken broth (divided) 1 tbsp butter (organic, unsalted) 1 tbsp avocado oil (organic) ½ -1 cup white wine (organic if possible) 2 large leeks (organic, sliced thin) 1 yellow onion (organic, small dice) 1 stalk celery (organic, sliced thin) 2-3 garlic cloves (organic, minced) 2 tsp pink Himalayan salt (divided) 1 bay leaf 1 sprig thyme 1 lemon (organic, juiced for taste) ½ tsp black pepper (organic) to taste DIRECTIONS: Add the cut potatoes and 1 pinch of salt to a stockpot, add water or broth, and bring to a gentle boil for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.

In a large skillet, melt the butter on medium-high, then add avocado oil.

Bring the burner's temperature to medium and add the onions, leeks, and celery, then add ¼ teaspoon or a pinch of salt. Sautee this mixture of vegetables until the onions are translucent, add the garlic and 1 pinch of salt, cook on low for 5 minutes, add wine, and allow the wine to cook out for 2-3 minutes.

Drain the potatoes; make sure to save the cooking liquid. Allow potatoes to cool.

Return the potatoes to the stockpot once the vegetable mixture has cooled. Then add the mixture to the stockpot, and add bay leaf, thyme and half the cooking liquid. Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the pepper and 1-2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust with more pepper or lemon.

Lastly, remove bay leaf and thyme stem.

Serve with croutons, bacon, caramelized onions, or a dollop of crème fraîche to garnish.

Yields: 8-1 cup servings Copyright 2022. Original recipe J. Johnson

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THRIVE Magazine is dedicated to bringing our network timely and valuable business information designed for success. We are committed to providing resources, leadership, and advocacy to promote prosperity within the African American Community. We invite you to collaborate with us to facilitate the economic empowerment of black-owned businesses with the latest trends, insights, and data from your area of expertise.

"Your voice is important. Click Here to tell us what our community needs to know."

We invite you to share information that will: 1) Amplify the voices of NVBCC members and their services 2) Showcase events, resources, and expertise available to our membership community 3) Inspire and elevate the NVBCC community

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Economic Evolution An Accelerator Program empowering black owned businesses for economic growth and sustainability

Components of Programming Business Development and Operations Business Certifications Technical Assistance and Education Business Scalability Business Resilience and Recovery Access to Resources

As featured on NVBCC Economic Evolution Accelerator

Made Possible by United States Congressional Funding Thank You Senator Tim Kaine & Senator Mark Warner

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