Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation

EDC focus groups held for minority, small businesses

Sep 2, 2007
By BULLETIN STAFF. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.’s Office of Small and Minority Business is hosting a series of focus group meetings for small and minority business owners monthly.

The meetings give business owners a chance to share information about their businesses, provide participants with a brief educational opportunity and networking with other business owners.

“We’ve implemented this group to provide entrepreneurial educational opportunities and networking opportunities to small business owners in the community,” said Lisa Fultz-Grace, director of small and minority business development at the EDC. “It allows small business owners to share issues and solutions that are common among small business owners. Topics are chosen by the small business owners so that it is totally driven by their interests.”

Previous topics include marketing, networking, and sales techniques. Future topics include “Tourism is Mostly Small Business Industry: Where and How Do You Fit In?” by David Rotenizer and Felicia Rupert of the EDC Office of Tourism on Sept. 21; Target Marketing and Marketing Segmentation Strategies with Eva Doss of the Southside Business Technology Center on Oct. 18; and Online Marketing Strategies and Web site Development with Masha Edelen of Her Design on Nov. 15.

“Small business is the start of everything,” says Bill Figaro, owner of Gow! Inc. and a regular attendee of the forums.

“I attend (the forums) because Martinsville is a place of great opportunity. By attending these breakfasts, you get plugged in at the small business level and can’t help but make your business better,” he added.

Focus group meeting will be held at the Southern Virginia Artisan Center from 8:30-10 a.m. Breakfast is served.

Small business owners who are interested in attending should contact Fultz-Grace at 403-5940 or by e-mail at lfultz@yesmartinsville.com.