Panel will tackle ups, downs, and advantages of starting a business in Prince William Region

Panel will share success stories, Prince William market opportunities 

Starting a small business is a fun, time-intensive process that can and will keep many entrepreneurs up at night.

Where you start you business will affect who your customers are, what product or services you can offer, and what relationships you can cultivate. In business, any entrepreneur will tell you it’s all about relationships.

On April 22, 1 Million Cups Prince William and Potomac Local (the local news website you’re reading right now) will hold a community conversation about keeping entrepreneurs in the Prince William region. The discussion will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the Prince William Campus of George Mason University just outside Manassas.

The event is free to attend, and Coffee will be provided to all those who join us.

Many start-ups view close-in, urban markets in the Washington, D.C. area as attractive places to start businesses. But, do upstarts know about the resources and opportunity available to them right here in Prince William County and Greater Manassas?

• What are the advantages of starting a business here?
• What success stories can we share?
• What great things can business owners in our region look for in the near future?

We have several informative speakers who know about our community, and who have helped many entrepreneurs achieve success in building  businesses.

Linda Decker is the Director of the Flory Small Business Center, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in Prince William County in 1991 to aid existing small companies, start-ups, and entrepreneurs with tools they need to increase sales, create, and retain a quality workforce. The center provides consulting services and regularly advocates for small businesses.

Patrick Small was appointed the Director of Economic Development for the City of Manassas last summer. In his short time in his post, Small has welcomed several new businesses to the city.

Prior to coming to Manassas, Small served as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Portsmouth where he crated a retention program for businesses, and redeveloped a key waterfront property vacant for more than 25 years.

George Harben is the Director of Existing Business at the Prince William County Department of Economic Development. Harben brings 30 years of business and economic development to our region. Among his many accompishments, Harben implemented an industry visitation program in Prince William, and developed a “Guide to Establishing a Business in Prince William County, Va.”

Cydny A. Neville is a Grant Writer and Owner of the Neville Empowerment Network, Inc.  Through the services she provides to nonprofit organizations as a consultant, and work through her organization, she truly does “put the “C” in Community.”  Ms. Neville facilitates a variety of professional development workshops, seminars, and community/family engagement activities across the commonwealth designed to inspire, uplift, educate, and empower.

As the April 22 event approaches, we hope to welcome more invited panelists to our stage.

If you’re familiar with 1 Million Cups Prince William, during normal sessions, our group meets at 9 a.m. each Wednesday at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. An entrepreneur is invited to talk about their small business for five minutes and then ask a challenge question – anything from making their first dollar, refining a targeted customer base, hiring and retaining staff, or adding a new division.

The program is free to attend. Coffee is served at 8:30 a.m.  The organization, 1 Million Cups is a national organization sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

In Prince William County, 1 Million Cups is an all volunteer-run organization supported by the Mason Enterprise Center at George Mason University’s Prince William Campus.