That’s where the Community Investment Collaborative’s (CIC) Entrepreneur Workshops came in.  CIC launched the workshops in Charlottesville in 2012 when they realized there was a lack of ongoing support for existing and emerging businesses and of partners who could “walk with them” on their journeys.  They also saw a need for networking, mentorship, and community among small business owners, who can often feel lonely and isolated.

Since that time, the Entrepreneur Workshops have developed into a 16-week program providing practical knowledge and invaluable connections.  The program works with existing and aspiring business owners to explore the viability of their business ideas, both financially and as they align with the person’s lifestyle and values.  It also trains participants on business basics such as marketing and branding, cash flow, recordkeeping, sales, hiring, time management, and goal setting, and helps them further develop their specific business concepts.

The workshop meets once each week and uses a cohort model, where a group of participants move through the program together, making connections and finding support.  Each week there is a presentation on a topic followed by a work session guided by a volunteer group leader, where participants talk through challenges related to the topic.  Through assigned homework, the participants tackle pieces of their business plans between sessions.

After graduation, graduates are eligible to apply for microloans and interest rate discounts.  They get paired with a financial coach, are matched with an experienced business owner from the community or enrolled in a Small Business Circle for ongoing advisory support, and continue to be part of the CIC business network for events, showcases, pitch nights, workshops, and more.

The program is run twice per year, and in 2025, it is working with its 25^th cohort and has graduated 600 participants.  Empowered by what they learned through the workshops, some participants have made the important decision that starting a business is not for them.  Others have decided to take the leap, and half of all participants are running their businesses part-time or full-time.

Word has spread about the Entrepreneur Workshops in Charlottesville, and there is a robust pipeline of applicants – 50-60 people typically apply for 30 spots.  A network of partners helps to share information about the workshops and refer applicants, including the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (hosted within CIC), the Charlottesville Economic Development Authority, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and local social service agencies.  The program has been so successful that in 2023, CIC launched it in Culpeper and Orange Counties, and in 2025 they are expanding it to Southern Virginia in partnership with the RISE Collaborative.

Jennifer enrolled in the Entrepreneur Workshop at the suggestion of a friend who is a workshop graduate, and it proved to be instrumental.  “The workshop covered so much about starting a business, specifically looking at cash flow and how to break even.  Thinking about my expenses was valuable for me because I could look at my numbers from last year and pinpoint the number of weddings or events I need to break even this year.  Even though I knew all of that, I felt like I had a better framework to put it together and dedicated time every week to focus on it. I learned from other entrepreneurs and how they were doing their businesses, which was incredibly helpful and invaluable.  I wouldn’t have had that on my own.”

Following the workshop, Jennifer joined CIC’s Financial Management Program, where she receives one-on-one assistance with recordkeeping.  Working with her coach has given her a stronger grasp on managing her income and expenses, built confidence in her business model, and positioned her to secure a CIC grant and microloan to purchase two gently used coolers, design tables, and necessary hard goods such as vases, vessels, and candleholders.  Flowergirl Cville is now a thriving business that serves the community, partnering with local organizations like the Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE) to repurpose event florals and uplift more people.

For CIC, the Entrepreneur Workshops are a risk management tool and a pipeline builder.  The workshops allow CIC to build relationships with potential clients and get a better understanding of where they are in their entrepreneurial journeys and what they need to take the next steps.  This understanding mitigates CIC’s risk on the loans they make and enables them to make more loans and serve more clients than they otherwise would have – clients like Jennifer who have done intentional work to plan and grow successful businesses in their communities.