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Henrico Small Business Boost — Business — Government — Henrico government — Henrico EDA — Top News

Henrico EDA, Henrico Citizen announce 2026 Small Business Boost participants

,   and  Citizen Staff Reports
2 min read
Representatives from the 2026 class of the Henrico Small Business Boost met with officials from the Henrico Economic Development Authority and Henrico Citizen earlier this month at a kickoff luncheon for the program. (Courtesy Henrico EDA)

The Henrico Citizen and Henrico County Economic Development Authority recently welcomed the 2026 class of participants to the Henrico Small Business Boost program, a partnership between the two organizations that began in 2023.

The 14 participating Henrico small businesses each will receive a series of complimentary six-month advertising campaigns on HenricoCitizen.com, through the Henrico Newsflash email newsletter, and across other digital platforms offered by the Citizen.

Each campaign has a retail value of $8,000. The length of the campaigns represents an increase from previous iterations of the program, which provided three-month advertising packages valued at $4,000 apiece to participants.

Support for the program comes from the Henrico EDA, with in-kind support from the Citizen. Participants also receive complimentary consultation from the Citizen.

The participating businesses were selected late last year from dozens of applicants. The Small Business Boost program has assisted nearly 60 businesses during its first two years.

"Small businesses are the heartbeat of Henrico, and we’re proud to support them through the award-winning Henrico Small Business Boost Program," said Cari Tretina, executive director of the Henrico EDA. "Partnering with the Henrico Citizen — a locally owned small business — allows Boost to make a meaning impact on every Henrico business it touches."

Participating businesses include:

• BilingualKid Language Immersion School
• Brooks Stitch & Fold
• Carnelian Wealth Solutions
• ChiroVirginia LLC
• Commonwealth Driver Improvement Clinic LLC
• Curl House
• Diamond Pressure Washing
• Gayatri Choudhary Designs (doing business as GC Interiors)
• Kindred Animal Massage
• MJAConstruction
• Onyx Elite LLC
• RVA Counseling
• Trevor's Grill and Tavern
• Two and a Half Irishmen Inc.

The program aims to provide strong local exposure to participants' businesses through the Citizen’s platforms, which reach more than 105,000 monthly readers online; more than 28,000 through a daily weekday email newsletter; and more than 38,000 through various social media and podcast platforms. In addition to advertisements, each business also will receive sponsored content articles online and through email.

"We're thrilled to welcome these Henrico businesses into the Small Business Boost program and are looking forward to working with them in the coming months," Citizen Publisher Tom Lappas said. "Funding for advertising and marketing efforts often isn't included when small businesses set their budgets, or they are the first casualties when budgets must be cut – but most small businesses can't afford not to advertise. Thanks to the support of the Henrico EDA, we are able to ensure that these businesses don't have to worry about those difficult decisions. We're excited to help share each of their stories, services and products with our Henrico readers."

In a spirit of community support, Boost grant recipients will continue to "pay it forward" by offering a donation of in-kind products or services worth a minimum of $250 to a Henrico nonprofit organization, further strengthening the ties between Henrico businesses and residents.

In 2024, the Henrico Small Business Boost program earned a National Association of Counties Achievement Award.

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