The Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board received $50,000 from the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors’ American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to expand the Small Business Expansion and Empowerment (SBEE) Program into the country. The SBEE Program, funded by the Thompson Charitable Foundation, has already existed in Tazewell and Buchanan since 2018 with great success; however, the only counties that the foundation serves in our region are those two. SWVA WDB staff requested funding from Dickenson County to expand the program, knowing that it could be successful there. To date, seven Dickenson County businesses within the county have received assistance with either opening or expanding existing services.
One such business is Newsome Accounting Solutions. They used the S-BEE grant to purchase software and other equipment to offer tax preparation services. The added services allowed owner Kasey Newsome to expand from a home-based business into a storefront on Main Street in Clintwood. “We knew that if we could do taxes, our business would really take off,” said Newsome.
Newsome Accounting Solutions celebrated its grand opening on February 1st, and Newsome has not been disappointed. The phone is already ringing consistently with Dickenson County businesses and residents needing tax services.
“Dickenson County has been very supportive. People have helped us clean up the building. The county has assisted us with marketing our business and sending us referrals,” said Newsome. Newsome looks forward to serving the citizens and businesses in Dickenson County and surrounding areas.
