External Resources

William & Mary Mason School of Business

At William & Mary, one of the most important resources available to its students is the Executive Partners network. This volunteer group of over 100 active and retired senior business executives, from over 20 different industries, share their experiences and guidance with the students. Learn more about the Executive Partner Program.


Launchpad

A place for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses to call home. The Launchpad provides the resources and network to get you moving in the right direction. Learn more about our flexible memberships tailored to fit your needs. Launchpad is a joint regional initiative between the Economic Development Authorities of James City County, the City of Williamsburg and York County with William & Mary.

LMI Community Profile

This Demographic Profile (PDF) provides an in-depth analysis of the population in James City County. Most of the data is produced by the U.S. Census Bureau, and includes demographic characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, and gender.
 

SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business

SCORE is a not-for-profit association has been dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship for nearly 50 years. Supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this network of 13,000+ volunteers is able to deliver services at no charge or very low cost. 

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

SBDC professionals assist with business planning, marketing, financial analysis, access to capital, business start-up and other specialized services as requested. The Virginia SBDC helps grow existing companies and start up new companies through one-on-one counseling and group training on a variety of topics.

Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity

  1. Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Businesses
    The Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) certification program is a state program of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose is to enhance procurement opportunities for SWaM businesses participating in state-funded projects. 
  2. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
    The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification program is a Federal program. The purpose is to increase the participation of certified DBEs in projects funded by the US Department of Transportation and other federal sectors. 
  3. Employment Services Organization
    “Employment services organization” means an organization that provides community-based employment services to individuals with disabilities that is an approved Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited vendor of the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
Learn more about SBSD.

Virginia Employment Commission

Recruiting and training new employees can be a big drain on the bottom line of businesses. VEC’s focus is to help people find jobs and businesses find the right employees. The Virginia Employment Commission Business and Economic Development Team is available to educate employers about the many powerful recruiting resources available, including the Virginia Workforce Connection. The goal of the Connection is to help employers find the qualified employees they need without spending a lot of time or money. The team also provides labor market information for decision makers. 

 Additionally, the VEC Business and Economic Development Team is a resource for information about Trade Act on the job training, tax incentives and other VEC services.