Spring Small Business Breakfast, May 2026
- May 17
- 1 min read
Business owners, officials from Westmoreland County and Colonial Beach and CB town staff came together on Thursday, May 14 at the Ice House for the Spring Small Business Breakfast, celebrating May as both National Small Business Month and Travel and Tourism Month. Nearly 70 attendees heard an inspiring virtual address by Nathan Ohle, Director of the International Economic Development Council, touting rural businesses and how they can work with local economic development officials to strengthen and grow their economy through creativity, collaboration, patience and courage.
The theme of collaboration as it applies to the local and regional tourism industry was echoed by the following speakers: Lisa Hull, Economic Development and Tourism Director for the Northern Neck Planning District Commission and Northern Neck National Heritage Area; Dale Hendon, Economic Development and Tourism Director for Westmoreland County; Steve "Smurf" Keene, Board Member of the Colonial Beach Chamber of Commerce; Eric Nelson, President of Downtown Colonial Beach; and Charlotte Cole, Economic Development and Tourism Director for the Town of Colonial Beach.
Attendees learned about VA250 events happening in the local area, including Stratford Hall Resolved Weekend (June 5 - 8), the 75th Annual Potomac River Festival (June 12 - 15), Juneteenth (June 19), and how these events are part of a more comprehensive, collaborative summer season marketing campaign being conducted as part of the Northern Neck 250 celebration (NNK250), Westmoreland County's 250 celebration and the efforts taking place in Colonial Beach in the launch of its new brand, "Where the Waters Welcome Wonder." The date for the Fall Small Business Breakfast has not yet been identified, but will take place either in September of October
