Saturday, November 29 is Small Business Saturday, but don't mark your calendar for just that day.

"Small Business Saturday should be every Saturday, if you ask me," says Richmond's Minority Business Development Director Pat Foster. "Small businesses are important parts of creating a community. When you support a small business, you help your community-they are going to hire and work with the people in your community. And their success does increase the taxes, and that goes back to the community, too, in things like parks, public safety."

Pat and her team in the Office of Minority Business Development work diligently behind the scenes to make sure that our business landscapes are strong, especially for folks who might be taking a big new step into entrepreneurship.

"It's a scary space to start a business," explains Lisette Johnson, OMBD's Programs and Operations Supervisor. "We want people to know there's someone who's going to walk them through the steps, who will start a relationship so that we're with them no matter the hurdle or milestone."

OMBD provides a wealth of resources, whether you are considering a new business or you have been in business for a while and are adapting to new technologies:

• Free classes and workshops. Pat is particularly excited about OMBD's recent AI class, a new undertaking. And Lisette is proud of classes that teach entrepreneurs what they need to know to do business with the city, other localities, and other government agencies as a vendor or contractor.
• Personalized, one-on-one support through coaching and business counseling. Entrepreneurs and small business owners meet directly with OMBD staff-professionals who are certified and experienced in areas like contract compliance, human resources, procurement, and small business development. These individualized sessions help business owners identify challenges, explore opportunities, and determine the best next steps for their specific goals and circumstances.
• Networking, loan, and grant support: OMBD connects their business directory with funding opportunities and businesses looking for partners.

OMBD's mission contributes to the Mayoral Action Plan's "Thriving Economy" goals. Most importantly, the staff sees their work reflecting Richmond at its best: "Every locality has something special, but I feel like the City of Richmond, we wrap our arms around the business owner," Lisette says, "We are rooting for them, and their success is our success. This isn't just a paycheck for me and our team, it is a passion."

Pat encourages residents to think about their shopping lists ahead of Small Business Saturday and to be intentional about exploring a new small business to pick up things you already need. Together, we're supporting our local economy and even generational wealth-building. Ultimately, says Pat, "a business is a legacy you can leave behind."

Learn more about the Office of Minority Business Development on their website or on their Facebook or Instagram accounts.