Stafford, VA Economic Development

06/05/2026

Community Event Highlight: June Coffee Talk
June 9th | 8:00 AM | 718 Venue | Women's Leadership Colloquium at UMW

June’s Coffee Talk, led by Beth Williams, Executive Director for Human Resources at the University of Mary Washington, will be a remarkable session on “Affirming Your Emotional Intelligence.”

How can you increase your impact through Emotional Intelligence? In our fast-paced world, technical skills can get you in the door, but Emotional Intelligence is what makes you a leader, a collaborator, and a resilient professional. In this session, we’ll talk about moving beyond automatic reactions to a more intentional way of working and living with Emotional Intelligence.

Networking is one of the most powerful tools for your professional development. At Coffee Talk, you’ll have the chance to share experiences, learn from others, and grow alongside professionals from across the Fredericksburg region.

Learn more & register >>

Save the date for June’s Coffee Talk, which will take place on Tuesday, June 9th, at 718 Venue. June’s Coffee Talk, led by Beth Williams, Executive Director for Human Resources at the University of Mary Washington, will be a remarkable session on “Affirming Your Emotional Intelligence.” How ...

06/04/2026

Managing Poor Performers: Practical Strategies for Stronger Teams
June 18th | 9:00 am – 11:00 am | Stafford County Government Center | Facilitated by Kirstin Purcell & Mike McClanahan

Managing underperformance is one of the toughest responsibilities leaders face—but avoiding it only makes things worse. This session gives you practical, repeatable tools you can use immediately to address issues early and lead your team toward better outcomes. Gain confidence in documenting and managing performance issues the right way.


Learn more & register >> https://www.gostaffordva.com/calendar-item/managing-poor-performers/

06/02/2026

Community Event Highlight: GovCon 101: VOSB/SDVOSB
Wednesday, June 17th | 12:00 PM | ONLINE | UMW SBDC

Topic: Navigating the New SBA Veteran Owned Small Business/ Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB/SDVOSB) Certification

The SBA oversees the certification of Veteran Owned Small Business/ Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB/SDVOSB) for set-aside opportunities with the government. This class will walk you through the new application and give you advise on how to properly submit your application.

Learn more & register >>

GovCon: VOSB/SDVOSB Wed, Jun 17 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Add to Google Calendar | Outlook Calendar | Apple Calendar Online Facilitated by University of Mary Washington SBDC Topic: Navigating the New SBA Veteran Owned Small Business/ Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB/SDVOSB) Certificatio...

06/01/2026

🍻 Beer & Business is back on August 5!

Join us at Barley Naked Brewing Company for the next installment of Stafford's quarterly networking series, presented by the Stafford County Economic Development Authority and sponsored by Germanna Community College!

Connect with local business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders while expanding your network and learning more about the businesses shaping Stafford's economy.

More details coming soon!

Learn more & register >> https://www.gostaffordva.com/calendar-item/august-2026-beer-and-business-germanna/

06/01/2026

Join Let It Go Coaching & Counseling for the grand opening celebration of their new Stafford location on Saturday, June 6 from 1–4 PM! 🎉

The community event will include:
🎈 Bounce house
🎨 Face painting
🏢 Facility tours
🤝 Meet the clinicians & staff
💙 Learn more about counseling and coaching services available in our community

📍475 Aquia Towne Center Drive, Suite 113, Stafford, VA 22554

Founded by Angel Bartlett, MSW, CPLC, LCSW, Let It Go Coaching & Counseling provides trauma-informed counseling and support services for individuals, couples, and families throughout the region.

Read the full release >> https://www.gostaffordva.com/2026/05/let-it-go-coaching-counseling-announces-grand-opening-celebration-in-stafford-virginia/

05/29/2026

The Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce and VABCC Foundation have received both a proclamation from the Stafford County Board of Supervisors and a $25,000 Community-Based Organizations Support Program grant from the Stafford County EDA to support business advocacy, leadership, workforce development, and economic empowerment initiatives across Stafford County and Virginia.

The funding will support year-round programming focused on strengthening minority-owned and small businesses through education, leadership development, contracting readiness, strategic partnerships, and entrepreneurship support.

Read the full release >> https://www.gostaffordva.com/2026/05/virginia-black-chamber-of-commerce-and-vabcc-foundation-receive-stafford-recognition-and-25000-economic-development-grant/

05/29/2026

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05/28/2026

Community Event Highlight: 2026 Business Acumen Series: Marketing in the Modern Era
Wednesday, June 10th | 9:00 AM | UMW Stafford Campus

University of Mary Washington’s Continuing & Professional Studies Department is excited to announce the 2026 Business Acumen Series – a series of one-day seminars aimed at building leadership and business skills in the Fredericksburg region.

Marketing smarter, not harder. Discover how strategic marketing can do more than advertise—it can attract clients, strengthen your organization’s identity, and communicate your culture. In this seminar, you’ll learn to differentiate between marketing strategies, understand their strengths and limitations, identify the best approaches to achieve your goals, and how to use AI to increase ROI while reducing your workload.
Speaker: Linzy Browne, Marketing & Events Professional, Founder & CEO of Brolin Creative



Learn more & register >>

University of Mary Washington’s Continuing & Professional Studies Department is excited to announce the 2026 Business Acumen Series – a series of one-day seminars aimed at building leadership and business skills in the Fredericksburg region. The Business Acumen Series (BAS) will combine universi...

05/26/2026

Representing Stafford on a national stage. 🌎

Director Liz Barber, CEcD, and Business Development Manager Jon Lindsley recently attended the 2026 ICSC LAS VEGAS conference — the world’s largest commercial real estate event — connecting directly with retailers, developers, and commercial real estate professionals from across the country.

During the event, Stafford County had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with decision-makers from national retailers not yet in our market, many of whom expressed strong interest in expanding into Stafford. Discussions also focused on Stafford’s vision for high-end retail, destination shopping, and full-service restaurant development.

By actively participating in events like ICSC, Stafford County continues working to attract quality investment, strengthen our economy, and create new opportunities for residents and businesses alike.