Small business struggles: Lynchburg coffee shop owner discusses string of recent closures
After three coffee shops have closed in Lynchburg in the span of about a month, 10 News sat down with one owner to find out why theyโre shutting down and how you can help.
โLaunch Christiansburgโ set to bring small businesses to the town
Christiansburg town leaders have launched a program to help out small businesses that are in town and looking to start up. One business owner said this program could be great for the town.
Downtown Roanoke shops prep for Small Business Saturday
It is officially the holiday shopping season, but Black Friday and Small Business Saturday have a bit of a shadow over them with inflation near record highs. So, how does this bode for holiday gifts?
5 ways to support Small Business Saturday
It all comes at you so quickly: One minute, youโre making grocery lists and setting the menu for Thanksgiving, and then, in the blink of an eye, the holiday has arrived, only to be followed by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday -- and then your tree goes up and Christmas morning is here.
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Popular Lynchburg coffee shop is expanding, brewing a new location
Mission House Coffee announced Wednesday that theyโre opening of a third location, in addition to their Downtown Lynchburg and River Ridge Mall locations.
Family-owned Market at Main restaurant announces expansion in Lynchburg
While many restaurants have been forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages and inflation, one Lynchburg business is expanding.
Small businesses say they are hurt by rising costs to advertise on Amazon
Among the many things Bernie Thompson has seen change since he started his computer-accessories company is the price of advertising on Amazon. Plugable, the business he founded in his garage in Bellevue, Washington, began placing ads on the e-commerce site in 2014. Back then, it paid roughly 14 cents every time someone clicked on an ad. Now, each click costs Plugable an average of $1.60, according to data the company shared with NBC News.
Two Roanoke entrepreneurs aim to uplift minority-owned businesses as new advisers
Two Roanoke entrepreneurs are stepping into new roles to help advise other small business owners and the importance of representation is on the forefront for these new hires.
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Small business owners gain local help to apply for PPP loans
ROANOKE, Va. โ Small business owners now have the opportunity for one-on-one help applying for PPP loans as part of the Cares Act. The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center is going on a road show and offering in-person assistance for businesses with 20 employees or less. Amanda Forrester, the director, said money is still available but not enough business owners are taking advantage of it, especially women and minority owned businesses. Business owners must register for time slots online. The first one will be at the Vinton War Memorial on Wednesday, March 10.
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New River Valley toy store hoping for Christmas rush to end 2020
BLACKSBURG, Va. โ Paula Bolte and her business, Imaginations Toy and Furniture Store, have made some hard adjustments this year because of COVID-19, but she hopes she can finish 2020 with strong sales before Christmas. โBetween October and December is almost half of our business,โ Bolte said. That included Andrew Brooks and Beth Wallen, who said they made it a point to do their Christmas shopping at small businesses. โWeโve seen nothing compared to what it usually is around Christmas, but we are incredibly grateful,โ Bolte said. โThis is my 24th Christmas of being the Toy Lady.
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Buena Vista leaders look at ways to bring more businesses downtown
BUENA VISTA, Va โ After plans for major development in Buena Vista were scrapped earlier this week, business owners and city leaders are working together to determine what the future of downtown will look like. Friday business owners met with the planning team the city has hired to discuss what new businesses they hope to bring downtown. Ed Walker, who has been involved in redevelopment efforts across the area, informed city officials in Buena Vista that he will auction off the remaining properties he originally bought in 2018 in downtown Buena Vista. โIf we can put some light and some activity and some noise and some people out here, weโd like to think weโre helping Buena Vista,โ Nablo said. The city hopes to have the plan finished by November.
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'Theyโve had so many challengesโ: Radford city leaders take steps to help local businesses
RADFORD, Va โ The City of Radford is taking several steps to help some of its businesses financially bounce back from setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The city has used some of the money from the CARES Act to help create the NRV Business Continuity Team (BCT) which will help provide resources to help local businesses reopen and stay open safely. Radford Mayor David Horton said it is a step in the right direction toward economic recovery. โWe are working to help our businesses be in the strongest position possible moving forward. Theyโve had so many challenges and we want to do our best to help them be successful and put them in a position for future growth,โ said Radford Mayor David Horton.
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Divided US House committee backs pot decriminalization
A divided House panel has endorsed a proposal to decriminalize and tax marijuana at the federal level. Groups supporting an end to the national prohibition on pot call the 24-10 vote by the House Judiciary Committee historic. However, even if passed in the House, the proposal faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate. The House Judiciary Committee approved the proposal 24-10 after more than two hours of debate. Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee complained that the proposal to decriminalize cannabis had never had a hearing and lacked the bipartisan support needed to become law.