Starting February 2025, the City of Waynesboro is launching Grow Waynesboro Wednesdays, a new pilot program designed to provide free mentoring and resources to entrepreneurs every Wednesday afternoon. The “Grow” in Grow Waynesboro stands for Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Work, and we’re thrilled to partner with some outstanding organizations to support the growth of Waynesboro’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Here’s how it works:
- First, Third, and Fourth Wednesdays: From noon to 4 p.m., a service provider or mentor will hold open office hours at the Waynesboro Economic Development & Tourism Office (301 W Main Street). No appointments are required, but you’re welcome to notify us in advance and share any specific questions you’d like help with by emailing staff@WaynesboroBusiness.com.
- Second Wednesday of Each Month: Join us for special presentations and technical services tailored to meet the needs of local entrepreneurs.
March 2025 schedule:
March 5, 2025 (1st Wednesday): Shasta Weeks, Director of Membership, Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce
March 12, 2025 (2nd Wednesday): Wilson McLean, Director of Program Development, Culinary Concepts AB LLC
March 19, 2025: (3rd Wednesday): Diane McCarthy, Business Advisor, Small Business Development Center
March 26, 2025 (4th Wednesday): Ross Gulotta, SCORE Mentor and Co-Chapter Chair, Central Virginia SCORE
April 2025 schedule:
April 2, 2025 (1st Wednesday): Shasta Weeks, Director of Membership, Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce
April 9, 2025 (2nd Wednesday): Mary Sullivan, VIEW Project Coordinator, Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership
April 16, 2025: (3rd Wednesday): Diane McCarthy, Business Advisor, Small Business Development Center
April 23, 2025 (4th Wednesday): Ross Gulotta, SCORE Mentor and Co-Chapter Chair, Central Virginia SCORE
More about our providers & mentors:
Shasta Weeks, Membership Director, GARCC
Shasta Weeks, a Waynesboro native, manages membership at GARCC, helping businesses connect, grow, and thrive. From educational workshops to advocacy, she can guide you through membership options tailored to your needs. Have questions about joining, updating your directory listing, or boosting your business? Shasta’s your go-to resource!
Wilson McLean, Director of Program Development, Culinary Concepts AB LLC
Inspired by Chef Brinson’s mission, Wilson joined the Culinary Concepts team in 2023 to serve as the Research & Development Coordinator. He uses his prior experiences and expertise to further the team’s mission, deepen its impact, and expand their reach. Wilson will share about Culinary Concepts AB their transformational culinary and workforce training programs.
Diane McCarthy, Business Advisor, SBDC
Diane brings years of experience in marketing, retail, and business ownership to her role as an SBDC advisor. From restaurants to nonprofits, she helps businesses create sustainable action plans. Her free consulting services are open to start-ups and established businesses alike.
Ross Gulotta, SCORE Mentor
Ross has 40 years of business leadership experience and offers free mentoring through SCORE. He specializes in business planning, operations, and financial literacy. Whether you’re starting or scaling, Ross is ready to help with tailored advice to fit your goals.
Mary Sullivan, Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership – Valley Internship Experience Workgroup (VIEW)
Mary helps to grow and retain talent for the Shenandoah Valley through student internships and other work-based learning opportunities by connecting employers to high schools, colleges, universities, and students through V-TOP. Interns are a good source of new talent for your business, offering new perspectives, knowledge, and techniques to address business challenges and projects. The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) has several FREE resources to help businesses learn best practices and methods of building an internship program. Bonus! Small to mid-sized businesses may qualify for staffing agency services AND up to $30,000 in matching funds to off-set intern wages!
We’re excited to kick off this initiative and help Waynesboro’s businesses thrive. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with mentors and resources that can help take your business to the next level!