Fairfax CORE

Free small business help for Fairfax County entrepreneurs

Government AgencyNorthern Virginia

About Fairfax CORE

What it is

Fairfax CORE stands for Connecting Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs. It is a free resource hub for people starting or growing a business in Fairfax County, Virginia. Its content is created and managed by the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, Small and Local Business Development Division, with support from an advocacy team that includes the Mason Small Business Development Center, the Women's Business Center of Northern Virginia at George Mason University, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Fairfax City Economic Development, Town of Vienna Economic Development, Town of Herndon Economic Development, Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation and the Financial Empowerment Center at Britepaths. Its stated mission is to help business owners find and connect with the right resource at the right time.

What it offers founders

Resource Navigator: a searchable directory of more than 120 resource partners, mostly nonprofits, offering free or affordable help with business planning, loans and financing, education, licensing and permitting, startup and incubation, government contracting and location guidance.
Business guides: step-by-step guides on starting a business, starting a home-based business, starting a nonprofit, funding, growing, government contracting, disaster preparedness and industry-specific rules, plus a tool to determine which locality's rules apply to you.
Events and education: a calendar of free and low-cost webinars, seminars and networking events.
Funding and growth opportunities: a page that collects current funding and growth programs.
CORE Newsletter: regular business news and updates.

Who it is for

Fairfax CORE serves aspiring entrepreneurs, prospective owners and businesses at all stages in Fairfax County, including the City of Fairfax and the towns of Vienna and Herndon. It is a navigation tool rather than an accelerator or funder: it points you to the partner organizations that deliver advising, training and capital. Nonprofits that support entrepreneurs can apply to be listed as CORE Resource Partners.

How to engage

Start with the Start a Business guide if you are new, or use the Resource Navigator to filter partners by need and business stage. Check the events calendar for upcoming workshops, and use the contact page if you need help finding the right resource. The site is free to use. The program's office is at the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, 12015 Route 50, Suite 510, Fairfax, VA 22033.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

Fairfax County has many overlapping support organizations, from the SBDC and Women's Business Center to county, city and town economic development offices. Fairfax CORE puts them in one place and explains which licensing and permitting rules apply depending on where your business is located, which saves new founders time when sorting out first steps.

Programs

Resource Navigator
Searchable directory of more than 120 partner organizations offering free or affordable business help in Fairfax County.
Business Guides
Step-by-step guides on starting, licensing, funding, growing and contracting, plus guides for home-based businesses and nonprofits.
Events and Education
Calendar of free and low-cost webinars, seminars and networking events from Fairfax CORE partners.
Funding and Growth Opportunities
Collected listing of funding and growth opportunities available to Fairfax County businesses.
CORE Resource Partner program
Lets nonprofits that support entrepreneurs or the business community join the Resource Navigator.

Who it serves

Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners at any stage in Fairfax County, including the City of Fairfax and the towns of Vienna and Herndon.

Frequently asked questions

Does Fairfax CORE cost anything?

No. The site and its guides are free. Most listed partners offer free or affordable help, and many events are free or low-cost.

Does Fairfax CORE provide one-on-one advising itself?

Fairfax CORE is mainly a navigation hub. It connects you to partner organizations, such as the Mason Small Business Development Center and the Women's Business Center of Northern Virginia, that deliver advising and training.

Who runs Fairfax CORE?

The Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, Small and Local Business Development Division, with support from an advocacy team of local economic development and business support organizations.

Where should I start if I am launching a new business in Fairfax County?

Use the Start a Business guide and the Determine My Locality tool, since licensing and permitting rules differ between the county, the City of Fairfax and the towns.

Can my organization be listed as a resource?

Nonprofits that support entrepreneurship or the business community can apply through the CORE Resource Partner signup page.