The Advancement Foundation

23 days and counting to the launch of Virginia’s largest business competition,the 11th annual Gauntlet business program and competition! Please share this with all entrepreneurs and innovators across our region! Participants from Rockbridge, Bedford, Lynchburg, Buck, Allegheny, Highlands fellow, Vinton, Franklin, county, Henry county, Martinsville, Danville, Pittsylvania county, new River valley, far southwest Virginia, including wise Dickenson, Wytheville, and beyond! $300,000 in cash and awards will be given. If you have business knowledge in any field and would like to share it. Please check out our website and become a mentor or industry advisor. This cross regional entrepreneur ecosystem is having major impact on Virginia’s economy!!!! Lisa Fenderson SCORE Mentors Brent Hershey John Hull Joe Cobb Karli Foster Todd Wolford Richard "Pete" Peters, ICMA-CM Ken Lanford Kenneth T. McFadyen, MPA Gary Larrowe Tommy Miller Terri McClung Terry Austin Mike Lennon Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Roanoke - Blacksburg Technology Council https://lnkd.in/eEmb8Ti3

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CALLING ALL Virginia Innovators, Inventors, Entrepreneurs and Community Leaders! Please help us spread the word by sharing this post! JOIN US! 3 Exploration events are schedule to network and share information on RESOURCES, ACCELERATION SERVICES and INFORMATION on VIRGINIA'S LARGEST BUSINESS PROGRAM AND COMPETITION. > October 30th - Vinton War Memorial (5:30pm-7:00pm > November 7th - Clifton Forge, Masonic Theatre (5:30pm-7:30pm) > November 12th - Wise, Gather@411 East Main (5:30pm-7:30pm) RSVP thru the Link or QR Code! #Innovators, #Innovation, #Inventors, #Entrepreneurs, #Business #Accelleration, #BusinessIncubation, #Mentorship, #Capital, #Resources

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) celebrated the graduation of 40 fellows from its Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI) in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. ARC is a federal-state partnership aimed at economic development across 13 States in the Appalachian region. Mary Newlyn of Winchester and Annette Patterson of Vinton, were selected as Virginia’s Fellows for the 2023-2024 Appalachian Leadership Institute and commissioned Wednesday. Patterson is the Founder and President of The Advancement Foundation, a non-profit organization that works across Virginia's 23 Appalachian counties, focused on increasing Virginia’s entrepreneurial and innovation activity through programs, resource development, and placemaking Initiatives, including the ARC-funded “Virginia Innovation Accelerator” in Buena Vista.  Newlyn is the Executive Director of the WVa. Hope in Action Alliance, Inc. and Vice President of Plugg'd, Inc. Both non-profit organizations collaborate with key stakeholders to develop healthy and strong communities. “My heartfelt congratulations to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Class of 2024! The hard work and dedication that they have put into the program over the last nine months will not only lead to personal and professional development for themselves but also forward momentum for their communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. The Appalachian Leadership Institute is a comprehensive regional leadership training program developed by ARC in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact. Pictured following the commission ceremony (left to right): ARC Program Manager, Virginia DHCD, Bill Hartley, Virginia ALI Graduate, Annette Patterson, Virginia ALI Graduate, Mary Newlyn, ARC Virginia Program Manager, Director Office of Broadband at DHCD, Tamarah Holmes

If you're looking for a sign....THIS IS IT! Go to https://lnkd.in/g--BgUh to APPLY for the 10th Annual Gauntlet - $300,000 in cash and in-kind business services will be awarded In MAY. Our classes are virtual with optional in person networking events and deeper dive workshops. #Business #entrepreneur #innovator #businesscompetition #smallbusiness #highgrowth #technology #tourism #virginia #realestate #investors https://lnkd.in/eGtxiZkM