The federal economic-stimulus plan is working for small businesses in Virginia, a senior SBA official told the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce’s procurement conference here.

TINH PHAN Metro Business asked Tinh Phan, an Ashland businessman who serves as the chairman of the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, about how the recession has affected Asian businesses: “The Asian businesses throughout the commonwealth of Virginia [have] encountered a lot of difficulties and hardship during this economic downturn.

Business leaders, attorneys and community leaders discussed a wide range of issues last night during the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever legislative summit. Participants took on topics such as health care, civil rights, housing, education and business as the chamber began the process last night of creating a legislative agenda for this election year.

How can your business get a piece of the economic stimulus pie? Find out Wednesday when the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration, hosts “Unlocking America’s Economy.“ The free networking event will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Tuckahoe Public Library at 1901 Starling Drive in Henrico County.

The Small Business Administration is honoring a local man as the minority small-business champion of the year. Tinh Phan, chairman of the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, won for Virginia and the region, which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington.

With the recession making for a tough job market, the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce is offering help for people looking for opportunities to start their own business. The chamber, working with nonprofit business counseling group SCORE, has scheduled a workshop tomorrow on starting and growing a business in a difficult economy. Business counselors will be at the workshop, which is free and open to anyone considering starting a business, a chamber official said. It will cover topics such as how to secure financing and manage money, legal and tax issues, writing business plans, and import and export trade.

People are unsure about job prospects and income growth. They’re worried about declines in house prices. But there are some indications that housing sales have bottomed out. That could mean stability in home prices and be a sign of a turnaround, said Ray Owens, a senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Owens was one of eight speakers who presented briefings last night at the 2009 Virginia Economic Outlook Forum at SunTrust Bank in downtown Richmond. The event was presented by the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce.

The financial crisis and economic slowdown has raised questions about how supply chains, immigration and financing for small businesses will be affected. At least seven speakers will address those and other topics at the 2009 Virginia Economic Outlook Forum, held by the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce. The event is scheduled for Dec. 2 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at SunTrust Bank in Richmond. The fee is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.