The Retail Alliance and Phoebus Partnership have announced a pilot program aimed at supporting small businesses in Hampton. The initiative, funded by a $100,000 Virginia Business District Resurgence grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, will provide $3,000 to $5,000 grants and expert consulting to five selected businesses in the Phoebus commercial district.
Out of eleven applicants, five businesses were chosen to receive the program’s benefits: Art Central Gallery, Happy Hempo, Palace Jewelers, SeeWhich Books, and Sly Clyde Ciderworks. These recipients will undergo individual evaluations of their customer experience from a multi-channel perspective and receive recommendations on how to improve it. The grant money will then be used to help implement these recommendations.
In addition to the consulting services, the program will also feature three workshops for all businesses in the commercial district. The goal is not only to support individual businesses but also to invest in the overall economic vitality of Phoebus. By providing these businesses with the resources they need to succeed and operate sustainably, the program aims to strengthen Downtown Phoebus as a vibrant community and enduring destination.