Supporting the Heart of Our Community

The Portsmouth@Work Small Business Center aims to connect entrepreneurs, soloprenuers, and new small business owners with the training programs and resources they need while learning how to start a business. We serve as an ally for small, minority, and women-owned businesses throughout our community. We connect small businesses to resources that help them thrive.

Our small business workshops help you develop the planning, management, and financial skills necessary to grow your business. 

Here to Support Your Growth.

Through access to trained coaches, counselors, and a variety of small business advisors, we aim to increase the number of viable businesses in Portsmouth by providing high quality, accessible assistance to small business owners, which in turn, leads to job creation and retention.

Get Started the Smart Way

Still in the planning stage of starting your new business? We’ve collected a few resources to guide you through the first steps to setting up a new business in Portsmouth. Our Smart Start Business Guide is a consolidated source of new business information and entrepreneurship resources. Once you have looked through that, we can connect you with business advisors, financial institutions, and more to help you start your business off the smart way.

Resources

Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity

Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity

The mission of the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) is to enhance growth opportunities for Virginia’s small businesses to prosper through increased revenue and job creation thereby raising the standard of living for all Virginians

Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center

Hampton Roads Small Business Devleopment Center

The Small Business Development Center assists entrepreneurs with the identification and evaluation of the most important factors related to the success of his or her enterprise.

Virginia Employment Commission

Virginia Employment Commission

The VEC offers career assistance and employment opportunities for job seekers, employer services for businesses of all sizes, employment services for veterans, unemployment insurance benefits to eligible individuals, and other programs designed to assist with employment.

Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center

Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Center

Virginia PTAC’s mission is to “Help business do business with government”, both federal and state/local. Our services cover the full range of information, from the very basics for newcomers (FAR, FBO, SAM, DSBS, and more) to WOSB, SDVOSB, GSA schedules application, 8(a) certification, and more. We help our clients understand how to analyze and respond to RFPs, the advantages of priming and subcontracting opportunities, and assist with more intricate company-specific challenges including pricing and compliance questions.

Hampton Roads Workforce Council

Hampton Roads Workforce Council

Hampton Roads Workforce Council oversees federally funded workforce development programs, which assist businesses in accessing qualified workers and jobseekers in finding suitable job openings and bolstering their earning power through training.

Check Out Our Upcoming Events

Every month Portsmouth@Work has events for the community. Come see what's happening in the next few months or register to host your own event.