Community Events

THE ENTREPRENEUR'S PLAYBOOK: REAL LESSONS FROM REAL BUSINESS OWNERS

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Price: Free

This session will provide entrepreneurs and business owners with practical insight from experienced leaders who understand the realities of business ownership.
 
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LEVERAGING YOUR PHILANTHROPY

Date: Wednesday, June 17

Time: 10:00AM–11:00AM

Location: 3409 Moore Street, Richmond, VA 23230

Please join us for a presentation on Leveraging Your Philanthropy at the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond.
 

What to Expect 

·       A warm welcome and opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals 

·       A high-level look at the value of a Community Foundation to its regions

·       Ways to partner—from civic engagement initiatives to charitable funds

·       Helpful tips for tax-efficient grantmaking

·       Time for questions and conversation 

We look forward to seeing you on June 17th and furthering philanthropy together. 

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ENTREPRENEURIAL BOOT CAMP:

LEAD LIKE A CEO- WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Date:  Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Cost:  Free

Are you a business owner buried under daily administrative tasks, managing staff, and chasing time pressure? It is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when you are caught up in day-to-day operations. If you are ready to stop simply reacting to business stressors and start intentionally leading like a CEO, this workshop is designed for you.

Presented by Dorian Cunion, Executive Coach and Small Business Consultant at Your Path Coaching & Consulting, this informational workshop provides business owners with a clear, structured roadmap to scale. Sponsored by the Downtown Ashland Association and The Central Virginia African American Chamber.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL BOOT CAMP

Date:  First Wednesdays

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Cost:  Free

Your next big idea deserves support. Join Downtown Ashland Association’s Entrepreneur Bootcamps to connect, collaborate, and gain the tools you need to grow. Each session inside the Ashland Branch Library’s main conference room offers free resources, fresh insights, and the community every entrepreneur needs to thrive.

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2026 BLACK BUSINESS MONTH SPECIAL DIRECTORY

Celebrate National Black Business Month with CVAACC!

Members: Free (Must register to participate. Please use email on file to register)
Non-Members: $50

August is National Black Business Month and we invite you to be part of our celebration of Black excellence in business!

We’re curating a Special Edition Black Business Month Directory, a powerful, community-centered guide designed to spotlight Black-owned businesses across Central Virginia. The directory will include businesses of every kind and help consumers discover, support, and shop Black all month long.

Here’s how your business can participate:
Register to be listed and offer a special promotion (optional) for the month of August. Your business will be featured on our website and promoted through our email campaigns and social media channels, putting you in front of a community committed to circulating dollars within the Black business ecosystem.

BOGO BONUS:
Register for August 2026 and take advantage of our BOGO promotion. Your business will also receive a free listing in our Black Friday 2026 Directory in November 2026!

What you will need to register:

• Business Name
• Business Description (150 character limit)
• Logo (optional)
• Website or Ordering Link (optional)
• Promotional Offer + Promo Code (optional)
• Contact Information

Deadline to Submit: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Note: Only 1 business allowed per registration

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FALL 2026

BLACK BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

IMPACTING 100+ BUSINESS OWNERS

ARE YOU READY TO SCALE TO YOUR NEXT LEVEL?

Learn more and apply

The Black Business Accelerator Program goal is to help propel African American businesses to a level in which they can compete and perform equally  with majority businesses that have stronger roots and relationships. We support this goal with a 3 month course that covers 6 sessions with industry leaders in the areas of accessing capital, organizational development, human resources, branding, and growing digitally.

The Black Business Accelerator Program receives sponsorship from Henrico Economic Development, Chesterfield Economic Development, and the Virginia State University Center for Entrepreneurship, enabling us to offer a low tuition fee of $300 for the full course. Participants in the program have the choice to pay the tuition in full or opt for a two-payment plan, with the full payment due before the course's first day.

The program offers both virtual and in-person options. In-person classes are conducted at 6802 Paragon Place, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Richmond, VA. Virtual students will receive information during the course to join. The course consists of six sessions held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM on the following dates. Applicants should ensure their availability for these dates before applying:

FALL 2026 DATES

• September 9
• September 23
• October 7
• October 21
• November 4
• November 18