SourceLink Virginia: What’s In It For You

VCEN Annual ConferenceRoanoke, VAJune 4, 2014

In 2013, VCEN surveyed over 70 community economic development professionals and statewide leaders to gauge

their interests in various programs and services.

Over the past 5 years, several Virginia agencies and regions (Charlottesville, Lynchburg, VDBA, Loudoun) inquired with US SourceLink about the program and other regions (RVA, SOVA,

SWVA, etc.) identified the need for an online resource database as key parts of their entrepreneurship strategies

Why SourceLink Virginia?

Connecting Resources (out of 5)Creating a website where individuals could find business building resource organizations in Virginia, searchable by geography and services offered

4.2

Creating a shared online calendar of trainings and community events, searchable by location

4.1

Creating an online directory of organizations involved in community development initiatives, searchable by location and category

4.3

Two categories of users (over 20 states) Affiliates (21) – sign licensing agreements; receive full

package of technology solutions and technical assistance Customers (21) – purchase individual US SourceLink

components versus custom-built, off-the-shelf or open-sourced

About the Affiliate Network 11 economic development agencies, 8 universities, two

municipal governments 13 regional, 6 statewide, 2 locality

VCEN is the only startup organization attempting a US SourceLink implementation (national model?)

Typical staffing: Network Builder/Program Director, Referral Center Manager, Administrative Support

US SourceLink is managed by UMKC with primary funding from licensing fees

The US SourceLink Network

VCEN is the official statewide affiliate of US SourceLink – 3-year license with option to renew

SourceLink Virginia features will include: Interactive website with calendar, blogs, and informationOnline database (Resource Navigator) Toll-free telephonic Referral Center (if needed)Client Management System/CRM (Biz-Trakker)

SourceLink Virginia service providers are:Any nonprofit, university or governmental

organization that provides direct services to entrepreneurs and small businesses

VCEN and US SourceLink are exploring ways to include for-profit services providers that meet certain parameters.

SourceLink Virginia is provided free of charge to both service providers and businesses

About SourceLink Virginia

The SourceLink program is designed to be low-impact on Resource Partners.

Each organization goes through an initial intake process where information is gathered about their program and service offerings (paper, electronic and/or online)

Partner organizations will have the option of posting their classes and events to the SourceLink Virginia website

VCEN will co-host periodic Resource Partner meetings with regional champions around the Commonwealth

Resource Partners are asked to promote SourceLink Virginia when possible.

SourceLink Virginia is designed to be easily integrated into existing local entrepreneurship and economic development initiatives (ex. My SWVA Opportunity, RVA Works, Loudoun SourceLink, etc.)

SourceLink Virginia will complement, not duplicate, the Commonwealth’s Business One-Stop Program

How You Can Help

Free marketing of your services, classes, and events

Qualified client referrals, based on the service providers criteria

Greater public awareness of your organization Increased knowledge among community

economic development providers of potential partners

Identify gaps in Virginia’s entrepreneurial & economic development ecosystem that can lead to program creation, reform or expansion

What’s in it for you?

SourceLink Virginia is being developed in-house at VCEN with assistance from Resource Partners

An initial group of service provider information has been uploaded into the online database (Resource Navigator) for testing

VCEN will do a “soft launch” of the interactive online database in mid-June to solicit feedback from providers and entrepreneurs

SourceLinkVirginia.org is under construction and will include a calendar, blog, links to Business One-Stop, etc.

VCEN expects SourceLink Virginia to fully go live in Summer 2014

Sneak Preview

For more information

Contact: Conaway B. Haskins IIIExecutive Director of

VCEN804.793.0985 (desk)703.946.3089 (cell)chaskins@vcen.org

On the Web: http://www.vcen.org

Social Media:http://

www.twitter.com/SourceLinkVAhttp

://www.facebook.com/vcen.orghttp://vcen.tumblr.com

Questions? Comments?