Posted: August 13, 2010

By Danielle Walker

danielle.walker@insidebiz.com

This Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 19- 21, the sixth annual Virginia Black Expo will be held in venues throughout Virginia Beach.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will kick off the event Thursday morning at the Westin at Virginia Beach Town Center, addressing around 250 attendees about "The State of Business for Virginia." Individuals from the business community will receive awards during the breakfast.

On Friday morning, the fourth annual Virginia Black Expo Golf Tournament will take place at the Virginia Beach National Golf Club at 9 a.m. That evening a VIP kickoff reception for the expo, presented by TowneBank, will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Westin at Virginia Beach Town Center.

Gerry McCants, CEO of McCants Communications Group, is the producer for the Virginia Black Expo. He said the first workshop, Saturday at 10 a.m., "How to Do Business With the Cities," will give participants fundamental information on beginning a business.

He said the at least 100 people had already signed up for the workshop, which would discuss "procurement opportunities, and the process and paperwork you need to get started [in doing business] with your city."

The workshop will be sponsored by the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Newport News.

The second workshop, "Success in Your Small Business," will be sponsored by Wachovia, which will share information on how to prevent foreclosure.

Norfolk State University and local community colleges will have booths at the convention center Saturday, to recruit for adult and continuing education programs.

Celebrity guests will include actor Boris Kodjoe from the Showtime drama "Soul Food" and model/actress Eva Pigford from "America's Next Top Model," who will meet and greet attendees. All day Saturday there will be a hair show hosted by several salons and beauticians.

Tickets for the Saturday events are $10; children under 6 are free. For more information or tickets, visit www. blackexpoweb.com. nib