Springfield resident is 2,000th attendee of Fairfax County EDA startup workshop

“Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County” sessions highlight local, state, federal resources

Fairfax County, Virginia USA, Friday, June 5, 2009 -

Cristobal Rivera, a Springfield resident who hopes to start a business specializing in movies and music from central and South America, has been recognized as the 2,000th person to attend an “Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County” workshop since the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA, www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org) began hosting the sessions in 2003.

Mr. Rivera, who works for an insurance company and is interested in opening his own business to benefit his family, participated in the June 2 “Starting a Business” workshop presented by the FCEDA, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (DBA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He received a gift basket and a framed certificate recognizing him as the 2,000th attendee. “I found the workshop very helpful,” he said. “There is a lot of information that I can follow to help me take the next step in opening a business here.”

At each workshop attendees learn about start-up basics such as Fairfax County licenses and permits, DBA workforce service and training programs, and SBA financing and certification resources.

“These sessions attract an incredibly diverse group of people who are pursuing the American dream of succeeding in business, and I am delighted that we can help Mr. Rivera and so many others pursue their dreams,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA. “These programs are a good example of how the FCEDA works to make Fairfax County the best place for any business to grow and succeed.”

The workshops are held on the first Tuesday of each month at FCEDA headquarters, 8300 Boone Boulevard, Suite 450, in Vienna (Tysons Corner). Sessions begin at 8 AM with refreshments and networking. Sessions are free but pre-registration is required. Interested participants can register on the FCEDA’s Web site at www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/doing-business-workshop-registration.

June 2, 2009—Presentation of certificate marking the 2000th attendee of the Entrepreneurship 101 Workshops at FCEDA headquarters in Tysons Corner. L to R: Jo Mears, U.S. Small Business Administration; certificate recipient Cristobal Rivera; Catherine Riley, vice president, marketing, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority; Tina Wade, Virginia Department of Business Assistance.
 

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