Virginia Community Capital received a $200,000 grant over a three-year period from the Thompson Charitable Foundation, as part of a $600,000 total grant package that will be directed at supporting businesses in Southwest Virginia. The grants from the Thompson Charitable Foundation will fund up to 12 small business workshops each year in Buchanan and Tazewell counties, provide free technical advisory services, and host four Small Business Challenges in each county that will award investment grants to existing and startup companies. These regions were deeply affected by coal and manufacturing industry losses.