It’s official — Farmville is one of the “Best Places to Start a Business in Virginia.” According to a recent study by NerdWallet, Farmville ranked 11th out of 112 Virginia communities with a population of 5,000 or more.

That Farmville is a business-friendly town comes as no surprise to Sheri McGuire, executive director of Longwood’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

“Farmville is situated nicely in the region with two anchor institutions of higher learning — Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College,” McGuire said. “ Farmville is also an accredited Virginia Main Street Community with the Farmville Downtown Partnership facilitating services for new and established business on Main Street.”

Farmville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joy Stump, who moved to the area six months ago, sees Farmville as a thriving business community.

“I love having the arts — Mainly Clay, Red Door 104 and the LCVA — right here on Main Street. Farmville has so many things to offer, and I think the (vice-presidential) debate is going to put us on the map internationally.”

Farmville, McGuire noted, is a regional hub for economic activity that serves as a shopping destination for surrounding counties.

“The Town of Farmville is extremely business friendly in working with potential, business owners and existing business owners to make this a great place to live, work and play,” the SBDC director said.

Other contributing factors to the local business climate include tourism from High Bridge Trail and other local state parks.

“Associated businesses, such as The Outdoor Adventure Store, are growing due to the development of local tourism,” McGuire said.

Centra Southside Community Hospital and related health care facilities add to Farmville’s business-friendly scorecard.

“Such facilities serve the community not only with health care but with financial support for community organizations,” SBDC’s director said.

McGuire has served in various roles with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for over 20 years.

“I interned with this center in 1990-91,” she said.

After graduating from Longwood with a degree in finance, McGuire was offered a managerial position at Longwood’s SBDC.

‘I’ve been involved ever since,” she said.

McGuire explained that Longwood and James Madison University opened the first SBDC offices in the state after Virginia came onboard with the program in 1989. Longwood’s office has now expanded to include four field offices in Martinsville, Danville, South Boston and Petersburg.

“We cover 25 counties,” McGuire said.

Nationally, the Small Business Administration funds the Longwood SBDC, which serves the counties of Buckingham, Cumberland, Amelia, Prince Edward, Nottoway, Charlotte and Lunenburg. The host institution (Longwood) and local government, McGuire noted, match that funding.

“Because of this funding, we’re not allowed to charge,” McGuire said. “Our consulting services specifically are free.”

Typically the Longwood SBDC works with 60 to 70 businesses in Farmville and Prince Edward each year.

“Of the small businesses we work with, 60 percent are already in business,” McGuire said. “They’re looking at expanding or solving a specific business issues from cash flow to human resources.”

Assistance provided to start-up clients ranges from researching a business concept to conducting needed market research.

“Sometimes the clients’ decision is validated, and they move forward,” McGuire said. “Sometimes it’s not — and that’s a success, too. When a client is ready to risk their savings on an idea we find is not sustainable, then it’s a better situation for them to invest that money elsewhere.”

McGuire sees SBDC services as a win-win for potential business owners and the overall community.

“In this job you’re really talking about people’s lives — it does become personal,” she said. “It’s a wonderful career — to help people realize their potential.”

For more information on the NerdWallet study go to http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/best-places-start-business-virginia-2015/