All About Grants, Loans & Financing: Presented by Advantage Valley
On August 27th, Downtown Ravenswood Partners hosted the final session of our Small Business Skills Workshop Series, welcoming about 20 of our local entrepreneurs and business owners. This last workshop, led by Bryan Shaw of Advantage Valley, focused on a critical topic for any growing business: All About Grants, Loans, and Financing. Here is the link to the original Event Preview article.
Download the full presentation here!
We also encourage any of our area's small businesses to become free Advantage Valley clients and receive business coaching. Click here to learn more about FASTER WV and to connect with a business coach.
Building a Strong Foundation
Bryan began by introducing the FASTER WV program, which offers business coaching, training, and access to capital for West Virginia entrepreneurs. He also shared tools like the Business Model Canvas, a simple visual framework that helps owners map out customer segments, value propositions, and revenue streams. This exercise gave participants a clearer picture of how to structure and plan for growth.Understanding Grant Opportunities
One of the key takeaways was that while there are no grants available to start a business, there are plenty of opportunities to help businesses grow and thrive. Bryan explained several options:
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Technical Assistance Grants – cover costs for professional services like accounting, marketing, or certification.
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Mini Grants – provide funding for smaller but impactful needs such as equipment, signage, or inventory.
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Training Grants – support owners and staff in gaining critical skills and certifications.
These grants are designed to help businesses reach new milestones, improve operations, and become more financially stable.
Exploring Loan and Financing Options
Bryan also walked through the wide range of financing paths available, from microloans through CDFIs to traditional bank loans, lines of credit, invoice financing, and even revenue-based financing. He emphasized understanding both the benefits and risks of each option, encouraging businesses to match the right financing tool with their stage of growth and cash flow needs.
Why This Matters for Ravenswood Businesses
Our mission with this workshop series has been to help local businesses move from surviving to thriving. Earlier this year, we covered digital marketing and how to use artificial intelligence for small business, and this final session on financing rounded out the series. Each workshop provided practical, actionable tools for small business owners here in Ravenswood and across the surrounding area.
Some of Ravenswood's small business owners attending the workshop
Looking Ahead
We’re thrilled with the turnout and the engagement of our small business community. Based on feedback, we plan to continue the workshop series next year—and we want your input! If you’re a business owner in Ravenswood or the surrounding area, let us know what topics you’d like to see covered in 2026. Use the contact form below to let us know!
Together, we’ll keep building a stronger, more vibrant downtown.
