Government Initiatives Empowering Small Businesses

Blacksburg, Virginia’s local government empowers the success of small businesses through events, grants and community engagement. 

Small businesses are critical to the community, from unique clothing stories to music, arts and delicious foods. The small business community in Blacksburg is crucial. 

“Small businesses are critical; small businesses are unique,” said Susan Anderson, a member of the Town Council and sits on the Downtown Revitalization Committee. “If you buy in one of our small businesses, you are getting a product that you won't get somewhere else.  I think it adds to the quality of life that we aren't just any town in the USA; we have businesses that are incredibly wonderful.” 

With the importance of small businesses in the community, the local government and community members have implemented a few programs to help them thrive.

Downtown Blacksburg, INC is a non-profit association of merchants, property owners and downtown advocates whose mission is to strengthen and sustain small businesses in Blacksburg and help them thrive through various events, marketing programs and economic development. 

Experience Downtown Blacksburg is a program that helps encourage community members to get out into the community and support locally. During the holiday season, they provide many events to encourage people to try out different small businesses to win a chance at a gift card to shop local businesses. Some events include Small Business Saturday and Holiday Movie Night at The Lyric and Miracle on Main Street. With the events in Experience Downtown Blacksburg, local companies collaborate to help build each other's companies without fear of competition. 

Virginia Tech students make up about 59% of the Blacksburg population. When students leave Blacksburg, many businesses close down. In a sense, Blacksburg becomes a ghost town, but what about the city's citizens? That's where Stepping Out comes into play. 

Stepping Out, originally called Deadwood, was created due to the lack of business local businesses had due to students leaving for breaks. The town made the festival in response to the idea that some businesses were on the brink of going out of business. It was created in 1976 and has become an annual event at the beginning of each August that features 200 artists and crafts from around the United States to sell their unique crafts. Local restaurants are able to sell food through outdoor vending, and local musicians can perform on multiple stages. Thousands of people all over the United States attend this Street fair and it is a great way to get your business name out there for new people to see. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many businesses have shut down and things are less active than they used to be nationwide. With programs like these, there is hope for continuing growth in small businesses and a place for the community to grow together with exciting events. The Blacksburg community is committed to being a space where small businesses can grow and thrive. 

“The health of a community can be judged by its marketplace,” said Lisa Hager-Smith, Mayor of Blacksburg. “It's true all over the world; it's not that money is everything. It's the amount that we can trade and help each other. And the amount of offerings we have on hand,  that's a good way to measure the health of a community.”