Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator

The Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator is a non-profit economic development organization located in Southwest Virginia. It is jointly sponsored by the Town of Abingdon and Washington County, Virginia.

Purpose and Activities

The primary purpose of the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator is to support startup and existing small businesses by providing them with the necessary resources to expand and grow. The organization offers a range of services including guidance, reasonable rent, and various business support facilities to foster a successful business environment.

Services Offered

• Networking Opportunities: The incubator offers networking opportunities with financial, business, accounting, and legal experts.
• Facilities Access: Tenants have access to conference/training rooms, copiers, fax machines, kitchens, loading docks, and mailboxes.
• Professional Environment: It provides a professional office or manufacturing atmosphere.
• Cost Savings: The incubator offers cost-effective solutions to help businesses thrive.
• Education Programs: Free business classes are available along with premier weekly professional business development training.
• One-on-One Counseling: Businesses can benefit from one-on-one business counseling services.

Affiliate Program

For startups that do not require a full-time office, the incubator offers an affiliate membership program. This program allows access to office space for a limited time each month, along with other resources like conference rooms and business tools.

Economic Impact

The incubator is designed to enhance the region's economic development by creating jobs and improving the quality of life in Abingdon and Washington County. It hosts events like the Annual Business Challenge competition to support local entrepreneurship.

Governance

The Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from the local community and business sector.

Nonprofit Status

The Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code, supporting community improvement and economic development. Donations to this organization are tax-deductible.

[1] https://vhsbi.com/about/ [2] https://vastartup.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Virginia-Highlands-Small-Business-Incubator-Magazine.pdf [3] https://www.disabilitysmallbusiness.org/additional-resources/virginia-highlands-small-business-incubator/ [4] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/541965102 [5] http://www.vhsbi.com