The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) is the public employment service established to assist employers in finding qualified workers and to assist workers in finding suitable jobs. There are no fees charged to the employer or applicant for our services. VEC staff will assist employers by screening and referring applicants to job openings, providing critical labor market information for business and economic planning, and coordinating statewide Employer Advisory Committee activities. Contact the VEC at (540) 722-3415 or visit their web site at www.vec.virginia.gov for more information.

Northern Shenandoah Valley Adult Education is able to aid business and industry by increasing quality of workforce, productivity and profits, communication skills, and employee retention rates. Contact the NSV Adult Education program at (540) 667-9744 or visit their web site at www2.frederick.k12.va.us/djh/adulted.htm for more information.

Workforce services at Lord Fairfax Community College can provide solutions for successful training, enhancing productivity, and increasing your bottom line. They can provide customized training to meet the specific needs of all types of businesses. Some of the customized services they offer include: on-site computer training in their Mobile Computer Lab, team building seminars, communications workshops, executive management coaching, Spanish for the changing workforce / English for the changing workforce, customer service training, OSHA safety training, and more. Contact LFCC Workforce Services at (540)868-7021 or visit the LFCC web site at www.lfcc.edu for more information.

The Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center (SBDC)’s mission is to create and retain jobs in the private sector by providing assistance to new and established small businesses. Counseling and related services are provided at no charge. Assistance is offered in the following areas: business start-up, operation analysis and review for existing businesses, financial management, marketing, business opportunities and requirements for going into business. The SBDC offers the following services: strategic planning, using computers in small business, business library, business plans, employee training, review of good practices, financial analysis, financial planning and budgeting, licenses and taxes, loan request assistance, marketing personnel assistance, production planning and control, site location analysis, and sources of financing. Call for more information relating to your particular business. Contact the SBDC at (540) 868-7093 or visit their web site at www.lfsbdc.org for more information.

The Business Incubation Group (BIG) of the Shenandoah Valley can offer office space, administrative support, technology resources, or other professional business services for early stage businesses. Contact BIG at (540) 450-2200 or visit their web site at www.bigsr.com for more information.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the only independent agency of the federal government with the sole purpose of assisting small businesses to start, grow, and prosper. Through an extensive network of SBA resources and partnerships with other public and private organizations, SBA is here to help the small business owner. Visit the SBA’s web site at www.sbaonline.sba.gov for more information.