Although Gloucester is ineligible to win Virginia Community Business Launch (CBL) grant next year, all other Middle Peninsula counties and towns are eligible to apply, as the state gears up for the second year of the program, a state development official said.

Gloucester was the lone county, along with the cities of Hopewell and Staunton, each winning a $100,000 grant to support small business development this year. Those localities are not eligible to seek one of the grants for 2016, said Amanda Pearson, public relations director for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, but might be considered in a future year.

Although state officials have not finalized the program for next year, Pearson said, she knows the small business assistance program will again be offered and that three or four communities might receive the grants.

In Gloucester, more than 40 applicants applied to attend a small business training program, with 18 accepted. Three businesses were ulti...