Pop-Up Veterans-Focused Store Recognized at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce Awards

The small business community gathered for an annual celebration of achievement at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce Awards ceremony hosted on Friday at Foxchase Manor in Manassas.

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Deshundra Jefferson presented the 2024 Prince William County Business Partnership Award to the Veterans Growing America (VGA) CEO Donnell Johns, Sr., acknowledging his work towards elevating veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses at the local, state, and national levels.

"I would like to congratulate Donnell Johns, Sr., and his team," said Chair Jefferson during the ceremony. "Veterans Growing America adheres to three principles: passion, purpose, and prosperity. Mr. Johns had a strong vision that he was able to bring to life, and in doing so he has contributed greatly to our community."

Johns conceived the idea of a pop-up opportunity for veterans to showcase their products and services in 2019, and so the seeds for VGA were planted.

"Being part of the Prince William County small business community has been an enriching journey of collaboration, growth, and shared victories,” said Johns. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chair Jefferson, Kimco Realty, and the entire community for this honor and reaffirm our pledge to continue fostering an environment where veterans can grow America with the same zeal and dedication they've defended it."

Learn more about Veterans Growing America in this DC News Now interview.

Other Prince William County businesses were also recognized at the annual awards, including: 

• The ARC of Greater Prince William/INSIGHT
• HireGround, Inc. 
• Nova Specialty Contracting
• Todos Supermarkets
• Villagio Hospitality Group

For a full list of award winners, visit InsideNOVA's coverage.