Northern Virginia Community College Workforce Development staff and representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration recently signed a collaboration agreement to boost small business education in the region. From left to right: Dr. Ron Beck, NOVA’s Business Development Director, Lynn Orosco, NOVA’s Business Development Manager, Dr. Lorinzo Foxworth, an Associate Vice President for NOVA, William Gary SR., NOVA’s Vice President of Workforce Development, Antonio Doss, District Director of the SBA, Nicole Porter, Assistant District Director of Marketing and Outreach for the SBA. Submitted photo.

Northern Virginia Community College’s Workforce Development Division and the U.S. Small Business Administration have signed an agreement to jointly deliver small business training services to business owners and employees in the greater Washington region.

The collaboration agreement between NOVA and the SBA’s Washington Metropolitan Area District Office went into effect in August following the SBA’s annual Small Business Awards Celebration.

Signed by SBA District Director Antonio Doss and NOVA’s Vice President of Workforce Development William Gary Sr., it provides a framework for both organizations to offer small business training support on a range of crucial topics through periodic workshops and seminars.

“Our SBA and NOVA staffs synergized very quickly to bring this agreement from idea to reality,” Doss said. “Our joint brands create a stronger service identity throughout the metropolitan business community.”

Together the organizations have launched a workshop series focusing on the implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Workshop participants at the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center, on NOVA’s Annandale campus, have provided invaluable feedback which will help shape future educational offerings.

The Affordable Care Act workshops are held on the second Tuesday of each month through December, and a schedule is available on NOVA’s Workforce Development webpage.

In the future, NOVA and the SBA will offer workshops on the SBA’s business resource capabilities and NOVA’s customized business training services. Conferences, seminars and other activities will address a range of timely business topics, such as SBA financing and government contracting, to meet the needs of Northern Virginia’s small business community.

“It goes without saying, that this agreement represents an extraordinary, teaming commitment that addresses the training and development needs of one of the most critical drivers of our regional economy,” Gary said. “From the very beginning, our planning discussions with the Washington Metropolitan SBA staff were high-energy with engaging ideas. The potential of the collaboration was more than obvious.”

For more information on NOVA and SBA offerings, contact NOVA’s Workforce Development Division at 703-323-3281 or e-mail NOVA_Customizedtraining@nvcc.edu.

By: NOVA Fortnightly Staff

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