Business Support & Resources

Existing businesses play an integral role in the continued success of our economy. When a local business flourishes, the entire community reaps the benefits.

Goochland County Economic Development has a deep network of state and regional resources at its disposal to provide to its business. So while we may not have all the answers and resources, we know where to get them!

Business Visitation Program

Goochland County Economic Development works closely with existing companies to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to grow. As part of the county's business retention and expansion efforts, Economic Development has established a business visitation program.

During this on-site visit, Economic Development staff meets one-on-one with the business owner to learn more about the company's history, products, services, and staff; discuss business objectives, successes, and challenges; and find out what the county can do to help the company achieve its goals.

Based on your feedback, Goochland County Economic Development will connect you with the information, programs, or people you need to successfully address matters like:

  • Expansion of your site or facilities
  • Grants, incentives and other forms of financial assistance
  • Business planning
  • Employee training
  • Networking
  • International trade opportunities

To learn more or schedule a visit, please contact our office.

Business Training Opportunities

Because Goochland County cares about its businesses and wants to nurture growth for both large and small companies, Goochland offers programs and services that are focused on our existing business's growth and success.

Workforce Assistance

A primary key to business success is a qualified and capable workforce and investing in the same via relevant training.  We partner with the Virginia Community College Workforce Development Service, Resource Virginia and the Workforce Investment Board, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program and a host of service providers to connect you with the right staffing and training solutions for your business.  Services range from:

  • Recruitment and screening services as well as job fairs.
  • Funding opportunities to offset training costs for incumbent workers as well as new employees

Growing Your Business

New Virginia: Scaling for Growth, offered by the Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity, is a six-month program designed for Virginia business owners to learn how to scale their business by assessing their business model and becoming more efficient in areas of human resource, finance, social media, procurement and bank terminology.

The Virginia Economic Gardening Program, offered by VEDP, provides qualifying second-stage companies with custom resources to identify and resolve distinct growth challenges that traditional business assistance and incentives do not address. This program provides access to resources, analysts, and tools typically only available and affordable to Fortune 500 companies. Companies accepted into the program begin an engagement period of approximately 6-8 weeks. All costs are covered by VEDP, and offer a quick turnaround time and highly-focused structure.

Virginia Business One Stop, is an all encompassing website from the Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity. The website connects business owners with resources to help them expand. The goal of the Business One Stop is to be the first stop a business owner will need to make when accomplishing tasks related to their business.

Need more space for your business?  Our office can help with identifying available properties, permitting, review process and inspections assistance and potential grants and tax credits available for capital investment and job creation. 

Permit Process Guidance

We offer guidance to companies throughout Goochland County’s business & industrial development permitting and commercial construction application processes to help your expansion project proceed smoothly, ensuring that all the required permits are in place when the business is ready to occupy the facility.

International Trade Assistance

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) offers a number of programs and grants to help Virginia companies grow their international sales including:

  • Supply Chain Optimization Program
  • Trade Show Program
  • Global Defense Program
  • Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) Program
  • State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant

ACCESS TO CAPITAL

Accessing capital is essential to growing a business.  Through the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA), we offer information on the following direct loan, credit enhancement and bond programs:
  • Economic Development Loan Fund
  • SWaM Business Loan Fund
  • Child Care Financing Program
  • VSBFA State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) 2.0 and SSBCI Cash Collateral Programs
  • Loan Guaranty Program
  • SSBCI Capital Access Program