Resources to help Front Royal and Warren County Businesses

The Front Royal/Warren County Economic Development Authority (FRWCEDA) is offering the following resources to businesses that need assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.

Professor Jim Wolfe, Associate Professor at George Mason University (GMU), has offered to work with businesses to assist them with the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Disaster Relief Loan Assistance Program and other resources to help companies during this challenging time. Mr. Wolfe can also help businesses and entrepreneurs with business plans, strategy, and other crucial assistance, and can meet with companies virtually to practice social distancing during the crisis.

Jim Wolfe is a business consultant, entrepreneur and attorney specializing in new venture creation. Currently, he serves as the Entrepreneur in Residence and an Associate Professor of Management at the George Mason University School of Business. At GMU, Jim teaches a course on entrepreneurship, management, and strategy. He brings more than 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship and a widely diverse range of industries such as technology, software, banking, hotels, defense research, and agribusiness. His areas of expertise include:

• Financial planning, budgeting, and cash flow
• Crisis management and crisis communications
• General business questions on organization, use of directors, and advisors
• Strategic marketing and new business development
• General discussions of SBA loan programs and disaster recovery

Those interested in working with Mr. Wolfe can contact him at jwolfe7@gmu.edu or by phone at 703-220-9231.

Businesses should also be aware of the resources offered by award-winning Christine Kriz, Director, of the Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Ms. Kriz has a wealth of experience in working with small businesses and the SBA loan programs, including the Disaster Relief Loan Assistance Program, and was the 2019 SBDC Director of the Year in Virginia! She can be reached at www.lfsbdc.org or 540-868-7094. The SBDC offers a full range of services to entrepreneurs and small businesses and is an excellent resource during this crisis and in better times.

If small businesses would like assistance completing the SBA application and they are already an LFSBDC client they can email ckriz@lfcc.edu If they have not worked with LFSBDC before, they need to complete a registration form.

Other resources are also available to assist businesses during these challenging times. Virginia Community Capital has microloans starting at $50,000. Visit their website.

Virginia Small Business Finance Authority offers microloans as well. Visit their website.

For further information, either contact these resources directly or Doug Parsons at dparsons@wceda.com or by phone, 540-635-2182.