A Unique Vision
Local businessman, property owner and manager, former instructor, civil servant, and military veteran Roy E. Hendrix recognized the need for a post-COVID-19 business hub. His experience combined with the community’s need for timely and factual resources all in one place led him to support such a new center at Slover Library. Support from Slover Library Foundation, Edwin Webster Foundation, and TowneBank also made this project possible.
Our mission is to support local and regional business development by providing resources for people in all phases of the business cycle, from start up to expansion to economic growth. The center is located on Slover Library’s 3rd floor. Norfolk business owners are eligible for a free, full-access library card. A library card allows access to digital business resources and check out material.
Available Now
Gale Business Databases
Gale, a Cengage company, partners with librarians and educators around the world to connect learners to essential content through user-friendly technology that enhances experiences and improves learning outcomes.
Entrepreneurship
Ideate small business dreams. Research how to plan, fund, start, and manage your business with Gale Business: Entrepreneurship.
Plan Builder
Get your new business off the ground and running. Access free tools and templates to develop a business plan and other key documents. Gale Business: Plan Builder makes it easy.
DemographicsNow
Analyze your market. Research competition. Target customers. Gale Business: DemographicsNow gives small business the tools for success.
City of Norfolk and Hampton Roads Business Resources
City of Norfolk Business Portal
Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
State of Virginia Business Resources
Virginia Department of Small Businesses and Supplier Diversity
State of Virginia Business Services Portal
Virginia Law Portal — Contains links to: The Code of Virginia, The Virginia Administrative Code, The Constitution of Virginia, Charters, Authorities, Compacts, and Uncodified Acts.
Gale Legal Forms provided by Library of Virginia — A selection of legal documents can now be completed using web forms.
National Business Resources
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
NAICS was developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. It was developed jointly by the U.S. Economic Classification Policy Committee (ECPC), Statistics Canada, and Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia, to allow for a high level of comparability in business statistics among the North American countries.
Economic Indicators, Data Tools, Business Statistics/Surveys
U.S. Census Bureau Census Data Tool
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR)
EDGAR, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, performs automated collection, validation, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Its primary purpose is to increase the efficiency and fairness of the securities market for the benefit of investors, corporations, and the economy by accelerating the receipt, acceptance, dissemination, and analysis of time-sensitive corporate information filed with the agency.
Code of Federal Regulations Online (eCFR)
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) is a continuously updated online version of the CFR. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
District offices in all 50 states provide resources, training and specialists to help start and grow businesses, plus hundreds of online resources for small business owners and employees.
The nation’s largest network of volunteer business experts, is an SBA resource partner, dedicated to entrepreneur education. SCORE has over 10,000 volunteers in 300 chapters with years of business experience available to help small business owners through one-on-one counseling, business tools and training programs.
Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
The OOH is a publication of the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. It includes information about the nature of work, working conditions, training and education, earnings and job outlook for hundreds of different professions in the USA.
Coming Soon
Education and Workforce Development
• Special collections for allied professions
• Testing and licensing resources
• Trainings and workshops
Entrepreneurship
• Start-up resources, research, and forms
• Workspaces and technology check out
• One-on-one appointments with library staff
Economic Development
• Special collections focused on Hampton Roads industries
• Database access for in-depth market and industry research
• Networking events, meetings, job fairs
Library Business Services
• Faxing, printing, copying, and scanning services
• Notary Public service
• Resource assistance and one-on-one appointments with business librarian
• Laptop and media checkout
Innovative Workspaces
• Individual and coworking spaces for projects and meetings
• Customizable desk spaces and sound control options
• Event and workshop space with terrace overlooking downtown Norfolk
• Access to our Creative Studios offering design, prototyping,
and marketing resources
Special Collections
• Comprehensive collection of books and periodicals for small business owners
• Access to ARE study materials for architecture students; sponsored by AIA and YAF
• Reference collection dedicated to Hampton Roads industries.
• Online databases for business planning and market research
Roy E. Hendrix Business Center at Slover Library
(757) 431-7473 | sloverbiz@norfolk.gov
Available by appointment. Contact us for more information.