Despite the economic downturn, small businesses in Virginia are continuing to form and seek growth opportunities, as measured by client volume at the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA). To help maintain that level of activity, business owners and potential entrepreneurs from Caroline County are invited to attend "Entrepreneur Express: Moving Your Business Forward," a workshop designed to deliver practical, hands-on training and provide information on available business resources.

Entrepreneur Express, coordinated by VDBA, is being sponsored by the Caroline County Department of Economic Development, the town of Bowling Green, and the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce. It will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Caroline County Community Building, 17202 Richmond Turnpike, in Bowling Green.

Admission is free with pre-registration requested. Attendees with specific interests or resource needs will receive follow-up attention from the workshop's sponsoring and participating organizations.

More than 4500 Virginians have already attended Entrepreneur Express workshops around the state. The workshops are now the signature small-business development program in Virginia, complementing the Virginia Business Information Center and the recently introduced online Business One Stop.

Workshop segments will feature strategies to build sales, including information on how to start and operate a business, grow an existing business, develop a marketing strategy, obtain financing and find available resources. A special segment on tourism-related business topics will be offered.

"Caroline County is a rising star in attracting start-ups and small business," according to Dave Fuller, Business Services Manager for the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and Program Leader for the event. "Entrepreneur Express provides ideas and information in a user-friendly, networking format."

Numerous organizations are partnering to make this event possible and ensure that prospective and existing business owners become aware of the many programs and services available. Partners include the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the Rappahannock Region Small Business Development Center.

For more information, or to register online, entrepreneurs can visit www.vastartup.org . To register by phone, call (804) 371-8131.