Resources for Small, Minority and Woman-owned Businesses

The Business Development Assistance Group, Inc. (BDAG) is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to help small and minority-owned businesses become more viable in the American economic life through educational programs, workshops and training seminars. BDAG encourages these small businesses, especially those owned by language minorities, to participate in both economic and community development activities so they can merge quickly and effectively into the economic mainstream. BDAG's services include technical assistance on business start-up and expansion, business translation and interpretation services, business data and information dissemination, and business referral and networking. Most of BDAG's workshops or seminars and instructional materials are in dual languages. Contact: Toa Do at PO Box 204, Arlington, VA 22210, phone (703) 993-8127, fax (703) 993-8130, and email tquangdo@aol.com. Offices are located at George Mason University/SBDC 3401 North Fairfax Drive, Rm. #251, Arlington, VA and 6131 Willston Drive, Rm. #8, Falls Church, VA.

The Enterprise Development Group (EDG) promotes opportunities for self-sufficiency through sustainable economic and community development. ECDC targets low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs who will create jobs for low-to-moderate income individuals in the Washington, DC metropolitan area that do not meet traditional bank lending requirements. EDG provides direct loans of up to $35,000 at prime plus four percent for working capital and fixed capital. The loan terms are up to five years. EDG also manages an Individual Development Account program for refugees and political asylees. They do business training and one-on-one counseling in Amharic, English, French and Spanish. Contact: Haddish Welday, phone (703) 685-0510 ext. 211. Fax: (703) 685-4200. Enterprise Development Group, 901 S. Highland Street, Arlington, VA 22204.

The Electronic Commerce Resource Center (ECRC) program was created to help U.S. companies transact business with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies electronically. The local ECRC offers classes and one-on-one counseling to businesses interested in learning more about electronic federal government procurement opportunities. Contact: Fairfax ECRC, 10640 Page Avenue, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22030, phone (703) 691-1507, fax (703) 691-8949.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors established the Fairfax County Commission for Women in 1971. The Commission's mission is to promote the full equality of women and girls in Fairfax County. Each year the Commission identifies several major initiatives and accomplishes its goals through: research and a change in policy, direct service and community education, and serving as a catalyst to help other groups make changes. Contact: The Fairfax County Commission for Women, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 318, Fairfax, VA 22035, phone (703) 324-5730, fax (703) 324-3959.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) provides a wide array of services and information designed to promote Fairfax County as a business location. The economic health of Fairfax County is tied to the business development and growth of all sectors of the economy. When such sectors as small, minority and woman-owned businesses are successful, they contribute to the economic base and provide jobs. The FCEDA's free and confidential assistance includes: identifying site locations for businesses relocating to or expanding in the County; serving as a liaison with the planning and development processes of the Fairfax County government; providing current market information about Fairfax County and the region; supplying entrepreneurs with information on starting a business; and, providing orientation information to relocating employees. For more information, call 703-790-0600 or visit the FCEDA website at www.fairfaxcountyeda.org.

The Fairfax County Branch of the NAACP has an Economic Development Committee. Local NAACP economic development committees work closely with local governing bodies and their staffs, local economic development authorities, minority business groups, local chambers of commerce and other entities to help increase public awareness of how to become an entrepreneur, including ways to find educational, financial and other resources as well as economic opportunities for minority businesses and potential business people. The Fairfax NAACP can cosponsor a community forum, serve on economic development committees and task forces and participate in other activities to enhance minority entrepreneurship in Fairfax County. Contact President Victor Dunbar at (703) 591-4488; e-mail A2408@aol.com.

The Hispanic Committee of Virginia works to enable Hispanic immigrants to more fully participate in and contribute to American society. Their programs include: Education Services, Employment Services, Immigration Services, Information and Referral Services and Social Services. Contact the Hispanic Committee of Virginia at 5827 Columbia Pike, Suite 200, Falls Church, VA 22041; (703) 671-5666.

GEICO Direct/Marymount University Applied Business Ethics Program. They have formed a partnership to make a business ethics program accessible to small-and mid-sized companies. The program is designed especially for emerging businesses seeking to develop and institutionalize an ethical work environment to best meet their professional and social responsibilities. Contact walt.szczypinski@marymount.edu (703-284-5710) or art.meiners@marymount.edu (703-284-5921).

The Small Business Commission was established in 1994 to advise the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on the status of small businesses within the county and how the County government can best support their development and expansion. The Commission makes recommendations to the Board on how to improve the government's support of small business. To fulfill its mission, the Commission is tasked to work with the Department of Purchasing and Supply Management and the Economic Development Authority to expand participation by small businesses in county procurement. The Commission also acts as an advocate for small businesses in Fairfax County and as such encourages opportunities for small businesses in the private sector. Contact Marvis W. Marshall, Coordinator, Small & Minority Business Enterprise Program, and Fairfax County Government, phone (703) 324-3201. Email: marvis.marshall@co.fairfax.va.us

The Small Business and Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman reports directly to the Small Business Administration administrator and is responsible for working with federal agencies to ensure that small businesses subject to enforcement, audit or onsite inspections are provided with a means to comment on the agency regulatory enforcement. Contact Ann Parker, Ph.D., U.S. Small Business Administration, 500 West Madison, Suite 1240, Chicago, IL 60661; (312) 353-0880.

The Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board reviews business owners' appraisal forms of federal agency inspections, holds follow-up meetings on business concerns with inspections, reports on enforcement issues and reflects all concerns in their report to Congress. Contact the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board, Region III, President, Research Dimensions, Inc., 1108 E. Main Street, Suite 1000, Richmond, VA 23219; (804) 643-1082.

The South Fairfax Regional Business Partnership, Inc. is a public-private collaboration targeting small and disadvantaged businesses and low-moderate income individuals in southeast Fairfax County. Their mission is to foster economic revitalization via small business start-ups, expansions, new capital investments and job creation through focused counseling, technical assistance, training and access to capital. Contact Larry Roberts at 6911 Richmond Hwy., Ste. 290, Alexandria, VA phone (703) 768-1440, email lrobert3@gmu.edu.

The Technology Resource Alliance is a partnership between George Mason University and Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology formed to support emerging high technology companies. Companies meeting certain criteria are able to join the Alliance and receive: focused business counseling, senior-level private-sector advice, greater corporate visibility, enhanced use of managerial resources, affiliate faculty status at George Mason University, and an ability to target markets more effectively. Contact: Technology Resource Alliance, 4031 University Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030, phone (703) 277-7710, fax (703) 277-7730.

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance in Richmond serves as state government's principal point of communication with Virginia businesses, providing access to state and other resources, which can help companies prosper. The Department of Business Assistance also offers financial services, workforce training assistance, and other services to qualified companies. Contact VDBA at (804) 371-8200 or visit their website at www.dba.state.va.us.

Other Resources:
Certification Process: Fairfax County - Self-certification, contact: Darryl Jackson at (703) 324-3201 Minority Certification: Dept of Minority Bus. Enterprise, phone (800) 223-0671 or (804) 786-5560. Woman-owned Certification: Capitol Area Small Business Development Center (804) 648-7838.