The towns of Victoria and Kenbridge are seeking business owners and entrepreneurs interested in helping the communities apply for a grant that could foster economic growth in the county.

The interest meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 13, 5:30 p.m. at the Lunenburg County Airport.

The program, Community Business Launch (CBL), is a program with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that, according to the DHCD website, “assist(s) communities in taking a systems approach to defining and pursuing an asset-based small business development strategy.”

Victoria Town Manager Rodney Newton and Kenbridge Town Manager Robyn Fowler met earlier in 2018 to discuss ways to potentially incorporate the program into the two towns.

According to a previous Dispatch report, a component of the program would be that the towns would organize a small business competition. Similar to Shark Tank, entrepreneurs would present their ideas to a board of judges. The winners of the competition would be determined by the businesses that best fit what residents most need.

“CBL will provide the tools to effectively prepare multiple entrepreneurs to operate successful businesses in a downtown or neighborhood commercial district and allow them to compete for funding to start up their new endeavor,” the DHCD website cited.

For those with questions about the meeting or grant, contact the Victoria Town Manager at (434) 696-2343 and the Kenbridge Town Manager at (434) 676-2452.