CEDAR BLUFF, VA — Southwest Virginia Community College’s Small Business Development Center (Southwest SBDC) has employed two new part-time Business Counselors to expand its current services to regional small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID 19 virus.
Funded by a grant through the Small Business Administration and the CARES Act, the new employees of Southwest SBDC will be assisting clients through the stages necessary to address the effect of the pandemic on their businesses. The Virginia Small Business Development Center has launched resources highlighting these stages: Review, Reopen and Recover.
“As of July 1, Governor Northram’s Phase 3 Reopening plan has expanded a great deal of the initial restrictions placed on businesses. While there may still be some small businesses who are still working the necessary steps to Reopen, we at Southwest SBDC envision a majority of our clients will need assistance in the Recover phase: guidance with determining what the plan for a successful and profitable future for their business should include,” said Margie Douglass, SBDC Program Manager.
Misty Bandy will be assisting current small business owners with their financials and provide answers to those looking for help navigating the new assistance programs made available for small businesses. Bandy comes to Southwest SBDC with multiple years of experience in accounting and a degree in organizational leadership from Bluefield College.
Brittani Clarke Clayman will provide guidance on how businesses should rethink marketing initiatives post-COVID 19 and how online services can provide low cost but effective advertising tools. Clarke-Clayman holds a master’s degree in mass communications from the University of South Carolina, with an emphasis on advertising and public relations.
The Small Business Development Center (Southwest SBDC) provides free and confidential one-on-one counseling as well as business education opportunities and resources to help entrepreneurs, small business owners, and managers improve their business. The Southwest SBDC services the counties of Buchanan, Russell, Tazewell and parts of Dickenson and can be found online at www.sw.edu/sbdc or contacted at (276) 964-7345 or (276) 964-7337.
The Virginia SBDC Network is the largest and most effective provider of customized counseling and education for small businesses in the Commonwealth.