Mason Enterprise Center

MEC-Fairfax  ~  MEC-Fauquier  ~  MEC-Leesburg  ~  MEC-Prince William  ~  Community Business Partnership

  February 2015
Newsletter
EVENTS 

MEC-Fairfax

$5,000 Relocation Incentive

The City of Fairfax is offering a $5,000 relocation incentive for graduates of the MEC-Fairfax.
Regarding this incentive, please contact Carter McClure by calling 703-277-7700


SCORE Counseling
Every Thursday, 10am -- 3pm
703-277-7700
[email protected]

Lunch & Learn
Introduction to Patents for the Start-Up
February 17, noon -- 1pm

PTAP
February 17, 2pm -- 5pm
Cost: $75

February 18, 4pm -- 7pm
Cost:  Free

Basic Training: Small BusinessGuide to Federal Contracts
February 18, 4pm -- 7pm
Cost:  $75

ISO Standards Day
February 19, 9am -- 3pm
Cost:  150

FAR/DCAA Seminar & Question Forum
February 23, 9am -- 3pm
Cost:  $100

SBDC Counseling
February 25, 9:30am -- 3pm

Veterans' Employment Counseling 
February 19, 1pm -- 4pm
 
Every Wednesday, 9am -- 10am
(Not on 1st Wednesdays)

Every Wednesday 9am -- 1pm
571-441-1826
[email protected]

SCORE Counseling
Every Tuesday, 10am -- 3pm
 
 703-993-9415
[email protected]
 
1 Million Cups
Every Wednesday,
9am -- 10am

ABC's of Starting a Business 
February 12, 8:30am -- 11:30pm
Cost: $25 

5 Steps to Creating a Marketing Plan 
February 18, 9am -- noon 
Cost: $25

Quickbooks II Beyond the Basics 
February 17, 6pm -- 9pm
Cost: $115

Options for Funding Your Business 
February 5, 9:30am --12:30pm
Cost: $35
Mason Enterprise Center Launches New Website  

 MEC, the largest community-facing, economic-development program at Mason describes its services on the new website  (www.masonenterprisecenter.org).  MECs are in Fairfax, Leesburg, Manassas (MEC-Prince William), Warrenton (MEC-Fauquier), and Springfield (Community Business Partnership), and they help small businesses start, launch, and grow their businesses by providing space, infrastructure, and support -- not to mention seminars, conferences, networking, and the services of co-located programs, such as the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). Explore the website to find out exactly how this robust economic development program is working.

 

SBA Administrator Keynotes at Vet Conference 
Maria Contreras-Sweet, 24th Administrator of the US Small Business Administration and a member of President Obama's Cabinet, will be the keynote speaker at the 2015 Veterans-in-Business Conference to be held on March 26, 2015, at the Army Navy Club in Arlington, VA. Read more 


Ceres Wins Grant for Research on Ebola

MEC-PW client, Ceres Nanosciences, Inc., developed and commercialized the Nanotrap�, a nanoparticle tool that can process biofluid samples for a wide variety of diagnostic applications. With funding from the Gates Foundation, Ceres will work with Mason and the US Army Medical Research Institutes of Infectious Diseases to determine if the Nanotrap technology can be a safer and more sensitive way to detect the Ebola virus using saliva instead of bloodRead more. 

 

Two 1 Million Cups Anniversaries
 1 Million Cups, developed by the Kaufmann Foundation, is a nationwide, entrepreneurial mentorship program.  The one hosted on the GMU Prince William campus celebrated its first anniversary last month.  The one in Loudoun, which meets at the MEC-Leesburg, will celebrate its second anniversary in May.  Both 1MC programs are held on Wednesdays at 9:00 am, in their respective locations.  Presenters from a startup, an existing business, or a nonprofit briefly introduce themselves and pose their issues.  Then attending business experts and fellow entrepreneurs offer feedback.  So far, about 115 companies have presented and profited from participating in these two programs.  And they say that they find this forum particularly helpful . . . as is the free coffee provided for all.  Read more 

 

 
Meet Our New MEC Clients   
  
(MEC-Fairfax)
Fedharmony supplies government contractors with access to preferred contract vehicles, such as GSA and DoD emails.  They help government entities procure what they need in a competitive environment and within the FAR.  "We chose MEC-Fairfax so we could network with other growing small business and because of its central location," said Scott Smith, CEO. "The positive energy in the building was definitely a deciding factor."  Read more
Spatiotemporal Information Systems 
                                     (MEC-Fairfax) 
Spatiotemporal Information Systems, LLC (STIS) is a private cloud solution provider with its business in the United States and foreign countries. STIS works with its clients to manage, simplify, optimize and secure their private cloud operations to facilitate big data applications.  STIS has extensive experience on developing cloud platforms and cloud-based applications of significance for our domestic and international customers.  "We are very happy to locate our office in MEC-Fairfax because of its location, facilities, and unique services specialized for the small companies with international business."  

 
Zifted by County Launch
(MEC-Fauquier) 
Jennifer Yessler started Zifted by County Launch in her home. When it grew enough to require major changes, Yessler was happy to find an office at MEC-Fauquier. Zifted (www.zifted.com) specializes in creating beautiful, functional, and profit-oriented directory websites that target the needs online businesses. "MEC-Fauquier has provided many unexpected and key benefits, including solid business connections in my own community and access to a wide range of amenities that are crucial to creating a success business," said Yessler. "In addition, the MEC-Fauquier offers numerous networking opportunities.  Read more