COVID – 19
Quick Links:

Virginia SBDC’s Recovery Resources for Small Business:
https://www.virginiasbdc.org/business-recovery-center/

Federal Resources for Small Businesses:
https://covid-sb.org/ 

Regional Information for COVID-19:
https://www.lynchburgregion.org/coronavirus-hub/

Training for Your Small Business:
https://sbdclynchburgregion.org/programs-and-resources/training-calendar/

About The SBDC of Lynchburg

Understanding What We Do

The Small Business Development Center – Lynchburg Region’s mission is to promote small business growth, entrepreneurship, and the strengthening economy by providing advising and training to our region’s small businesses. 

 The Lynchburg Region SBDC Program is designed to deliver up-to-date advising, training, and technical assistance in all aspects of small business management. Topics include:

  • financial review
  • marketing
  • organizational management
  • start up assistance
  • customer development
  • government contracting
  • access to capital and investment

Training ranges from our Start Smart program which answers the most basic questions for those new to business to specialized training in industries like healthcare and early childhood education.

The SBDC -Lynchburg Region is a free, confidential advising and training service. It is open to any small business in the region – no membership is required. All programs of the Virginia SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

The Best Choice For Your Small Business!

The Small Business Development Center – Lynchburg Region is a free, confidential business advising and educational service open to all small businesses in our region.
BOOK AN ADVISOR
Meet the Experts

About Our Advisors

Our Advisors are Subject Matter Experts who are ready to help you work through issues at your small business. They have years of experience in their own small business and are ready to bring that to advising.  We value creative thinking, sharing our knowledge, and working through issues as a team. Our knowledge of local resources and state and federal programs can help you grow your business. Request a meeting with an Advisor – it is a free and confidential service. 

Stephanie Keener
Executive Director
Stephanie has worked with the SBDC since 2014 and has been Executive Director since 2018. She develops training programs and conferences for small businesses in our region. As an advisor, she often works with clients who are working to expand their markets, get started in government contracting or exporting, and understand customers. She also coaches on business plan development and digital marketing.
Jawansa Hall
SBDC Business Advisor
Jawansa Hall currently serves as the Branding & Marketing Advisor with the SBDC Lynchburg Region. He is the owner and Creative Director of the award winning ad agency Blackwater Branding located in Lynchburg Virginia. As an advisor, he brings over 15 years of experience in advertising, branding and design. Jawansa’s guidance has helped both non-profits and businesses master their brand’s story and share it with the world.
Jamie Reynolds
SBDC Mentor
Jamie Reynolds serves as Business Advisor with the SBDC – Lynchburg Region. Jamie is also the founder of FinTeam Business Consulting, and has spent over 22 years in various Finance and Operations Leadership roles with companies such as: Toys "R" Us, Georgia-Pacific, Electrolux, FLIR, and Genworth Financial. His keen insight into Business Analytics, along with his love for Financial Analysis, allowed him to not only determine organizations' decision-making needs, but to also develop the financial tools and models crucial to making those decisions.
Charese Jefferson
SBDC Mentor
Charese leads the SBDC – Lynchburg Region’s Start Smart classes for new and “thinking about it” businesses. She is the founder of Financial Fancy and which has a specialized area of work with non-profits and small business owners. She draws upon more than 14 years in the fields of tax preparation that lays the foundation for guidance in bookkeeping to help new entrepreneurs create long term sustainability and accountability with their business finances.
Jennifer Woofter
SBDC Mentor
Jennifer Woofter is a sustainability consultant and small business coach. Over the last two decades, she has worked with hundreds of organizations ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies to hone their business strategies, respond to changing market demands, and improve profitability. As a judge in the Mentor Capital Network's annual sustainable business plan competition, she was determined to be in the top 10% of more than 200 judges, based on the entrepreneurs' rating of her feedback on issues like overall value, immediate use, and novel ideas. Jennifer is the President of Strategic Sustainability Consulting.
Anthony Andrews
SBDC Mentor
Anthony Andrews works with the SBDC – Lynchburg Region to provide advising to Early Childhood Education, which he has 12 years of experience in this field. He has also been an entrepreneur having founded two small businesses, one a custom bow tie company and the other a first-aid and CPR company targeting child care providers. With both companies he learned the importance of knowing and understanding who your target market is. He is driven by results and will help provide the tools needed to start, grow and sustain your small business.
Codie Cyrus
SBDC Mentor
Codie Cyrus serves as an Advisor with the SBDC – Lynchburg Region. She is a co-founder of C&C Piping and Fabrication, a welding company which specialized in industrial repair. Codie is especially talented at working with service businesses who are looking to expand their market, understand their processes, and grow their business.
Huong Duyen Ho
SBDC Mentor
Huong Duyen Ho serves as a mentor with the SBDC-Lynchburg region. She is an entrepreneur and a proud registered apprenticeship sponsor partnering with the VA Dept. of Labor and Industry to mentor and teach skills and professionalism in the trades. Her varying experience spans from account support to on the job training and helps her to understand the importance of customer relations in a company's success. Huong Duyen is excited and dedicated to helping her community and entrepreneurs grow.
Small Business Support

News & Training

Find on-demand and in-person training and events from 
educators, thought leaders, and leading business professionals. Go to the Training Calendar to see the latest offerings.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund
This program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Learn More
PPP and Other Resources in Vietnamese
These videos explain the Paycheck Protection Program and Virginia and Local Resources for Small Businesses in Vietnamese.
Learn More
PPP2: What you Need to Know
Infomation about the new program to offer PPP funding to new borrowers and a second round of funding for those who qualify.
Learn More
Our Clients Testimonials

What People Say

Click below to read more about our 2019 Client Profiles. Go to VirginiaSBDC.org to read stories from around the Commonwealth.

The SBDC helped Justin and Alyssa obtain a $32,000 loan, open their gym, create 2 jobs, and reach profitability after 1 month
Justin & Alyssa
Justin & Alyssa
Vista Fitness 24
“Especially in terms of getting into government work, Stephanie Keener at the Lynchburg office was great,” Nathan says. “She helped get me up to speed on government contracting. The SBDC was outstanding in preparing me for the work Colonial Systems now does.”
Nathan Simpson
Nathan Simpson
Colonial Systems
“Stephanie took a process that felt overwhelming and broke it down into steps that made it easy for me to manage,” Heather says. “She went above and beyond my expectations and presented me with opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Heather Erb
Heather Erb
Grounded Earth