THE PD16 BUSINESS HUB OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES FEBRUARY 20, 2026
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.
The PD16 Business Hub exists to make sure they’re supported, heard, and sustained, not just celebrated when they open.
If you’re a small business owner in Planning District 16, this Hub is a resource for you.
One of Virginia's Fastest-Growing Regions. It's Time to Invest in the Small Businesses Already Building Our Community.
Small businesses are the backbone of Planning District 16.
Across Virginia, they make up 99.5% of all businesses and employ 1.6 million people. They circulate dollars locally, sponsor Little League teams, and show up for this community every single day.
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But for too long, we've focused on attracting new businesses while the ones already here were left to figure it out alone. Closures happen quietly—no headlines, no help, no one asking what went wrong.
It's time to invest in what we have.
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The PD16 Business Hub exists to support, strengthen, and retain the small businesses already building this region.
For every $100 spent locally, $68 stays here.
At a chain? Only $32.
Local First isn't charity. It's math
This Hub provides practical supports, from education and networks to procurement pathways, so your business can navigate challenges and grow stronger.
Small Businesses Don't Need More Cheerleaders.
We Need Access.
The resources exist....
Contracts, grants, mentorship, partnerships. But they flow to those with connections, not those with potential.
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What small businesses actually need:
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Direct connections to procurement opportunities that award contracts and fund growth
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Local resources that don't require a 90-minute drive to access
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A seat at the table when decisions about our economy are made
That's exactly why the PD16 Business Hub exists.
How the PD16 Business Hub Supports Small Businesses
The PD16 Business Hub is designed to be a practical, on-the-ground resource for small businesses in Planning District 16—not just a concept or a campaign.
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If you’re a small business owner, the Hub will help you:
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Stabilize your business – with access to trainings, tools, and workshops that help you get organized, clear, and sustainable.
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Strengthen your systems – through connections to mentors, professionals, and peers who can help with operations, compliance, and growth.
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Scale strategically – by creating pathways to local procurement opportunities, partnerships, and larger contracts when you’re ready.
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Be heard – through the PD16 Small Business Advisory Council, which ensures decisions about our economy include real business voices.
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This is a place to get support, ask questions, build relationships, and move from surviving to sustainable growth.
Ready to Be Part of This?
Whether you’re a small business owner, a corporate partner, or an elected leader, there is a way for you to plug into this work.
A Hub. A Movement. A Commitment.
If you are a Small Business Owner → Join the Hub
If you are a Corporate or Institutional Partner → Become a Partner
If you are an Elected Official → Read the Policy Brief
LEADERSHIP
10 Years. One Mission. No One Left Behind.
I'm Latasha Brooks. I've spent the last decade building A&B Creative Events—hosting summits, workshops, celebrations, and festivals for businesses and families across the East Coast. I've mentored over 1,700 entrepreneurs, helping them start, scale, and grow. I've also spent that decade analyzing. Small businesses open with hope and passion....then close without notice. It's exciting to celebrate a ribbon cutting. It's heartbreaking to watch those same businesses go dark with no one paying attention. I serve on boards. I lead the NCMA Old Dominion Chapter. I founded a nonprofit that supports women entrepreneurs....though I help all entrepreneurs, everywhere. I've been in the rooms where decisions get made. So I can tell you from experience: small businesses are talked about constantly. We're rarely talked to. We're almost never given a seat at the table. And when we speak, we're even more rarely heard.​ I've also been left behind. "The strength of a community is measured not by how many businesses it attracts, but by how fiercely it fights to keep the ones it has." That changes now. ​ The PD16 Business Hub is a seat at the table. A commitment that no business in this region builds alone....or fails in silence. I'm proud of the impact I've made over the last decade. And I'm just getting started.
"A thriving economy is not defined by how many businesses we attract, but by how many we help sustain."
Latasha Brooks, Founder