Portsmouth, Virginia – in the state of the city of Portsmouth last month, Mayor Shannon Glover announced that almost 750 new companies settled in Portsmouth last year, and said that the city was in a position to become “commercial capital of the region.”
On Wednesday, groups of owners of small businesses, local entrepreneurs and suppliers, all anxious to learn about the construction of a business and navigate the city’s contracts, came on the portsmouth ‘Tidewater Community College campus. They were there for the event “How to do Business”, organized by the Department of Economic Development of Portsmouth and the Department of Diversity of small businesses and suppliers of Virginia.
“You can have these conversations about how,” said Chandler Chase, a signature development.
Chase attended the event to establish contacts and learn while building your real estate development business. Like many others, he hopes to shape the future of his business in Portsmouth.
“Portsmouth is a hidden jewel. I am seeing those signs that say: ‘Hey, this is the promising city,” said Chase.
It has been the mission of the Portsmouth Economic Development Department to help others see Portsmouth as a “promising city” too.
“We organize this event to educate people about how to become suppliers, how to enter that contracting field and how to sail the system,” said Autumn Bailey, a senior specialist for business development for the economic development of Portsmouth.
He added that the inaugural event “how to do business” was launched last year in response to a study that highlights the lack of minority participation and contractors in Portsmouth. That is an area organism and the city wants to continue improving.
This year, Bailey said the event was completely reserved, allowing more people to receive advice and information.
“It’s about building relationships,” said Joy Wansley, Bloom Community Manager.
Wansley and Generger, who attended the event to provide guidance to newly arrived business, direct joint work spaces through Bloom and INCUHUB, respectively. They are glad to be part of that commercial growth in Portsmouth.
“The overwhelming majority of companies, not only in Portsmouth but in the United States, are small businesses. Therefore, these are really the people who come out and provide everyday services that people need. They are paying taxes to the city, and really create a solid infrastructure for companies in the city,” said Generger, managing director of INCUHUB. “Therefore, it is really important for the economic vitality of the city that we have a climate of small strong companies.”
Some of the business owners told News 3 that they searched in Portsmouth in the first place due to the support of the entire city.
The organizers plan to celebrate the event how to do business again next year.
For more information about the event and commercial resources, visit the economic development of Portsmouth website.
This article was investigated, informed and written by a journalist WTKR News 3. IA was used to minimize typographic errors and guarantee the continuity of the style.