WVPB Underwriting Team Steps Up To Help Struggling Small Businesses

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In response to the economic crisis resulting from COVID-19, West Virginia Public Broadcasting has offered a series of free radio announcements to independent and locally owned restaurants and small businesses that are still open and following social distancing guidelines during the pandemic.

More than 40 small business responded. Each business that met the criteria received a three-week rotation of underwriting spots on the statewide WVPB radio network. Most are still playing in rotation.

“Because the Mountain State has a multitude of small businesses, we know the struggle is immense for these companies and their employees,” said Jane Wright, Director of Grants and Underwriting. “We simply want to help them, and we are able to do it in the spirit of all that public broadcasting represents — service to our state.”

While working with current underwriters whose businesses were closed or organizations whose events were canceled, the underwriting team became inspired to help other struggling businesses that aren’t affiliated with WVPB yet. Two waves of selections followed, the first focused on locally owned restaurants and the second targeted the broader classification of small businesses.

“As with all of our underwriters — new or current — we hope that our loyal WVPB fans will support these businesses both during this uncertain time and when we get back to business as usual,” Wright said.

The first wave was open to locally owned restaurants offering take-out or delivery meals and included:

•     Guesthouse Lost River, Lost River
•     Swiftwater Catering, Charleston
•     Nomada Bakery, Huntington
•     Pies and Pints, Fayetteville, Charleston, Morgantown
•     Southside Junction Tap House, Fayetteville
•     Appalachian Tea, Charleston
•     Sargasso of Morgantown, Morgantown
•     Ristorante Abruzzi, Charleston
•     Tacoholix, Wheeling
•     daVinci’s Italian Restaurant, Williamstown
•     Duckie’s Bar and Grill, Piedmont
•     The Candlewyck Inn, Keyser
•     Starlings Coffee and Provisions, Charleston
•     Bluegrass Kitchen, Charleston
•     Stella’s Gelato and Specialty Market, Charleston
•     Terra Cafe, Morgantown

 
The second wave was open to any small business, including locally owned restaurants and included:

•     Hill and Hollow, Morgantown
•     Talking Across the Lines, Elkins
•     Joey’s Bike Shop, Elkins
•     Mountaineer Technology Consultants, Morgantown
•     Two Rivers Treads, Ranson
•     Cheerful Heart Catering, Charleston
•     Kanawha Valley Veterinary Emergency Hospital, South Charleston
•     Wood Iron Eatery, Fayetteville
•     Edith’s Specialty Store, Lewisburg
•     Coal River Coffee, St Albans
•     Full Circle Gifts and Goods, Huntington
•     Darnold and Lyons Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, South Charleston
•     Walters Law Firm, Charleston
•     Tulsi at the Market, Huntington
•     Wild Ramp Farmers Market, Huntington
•     The Empty Glass, Charleston
•     The Haute Wick Social, Huntington
•     Raleigh Playhouse and Theatre, Beckley
•     Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective, Lewisburg
•     Pathfinder of West Virginia, Morgantown
•     Lost Mountain BBQ Company, Romney
•     Wholi Moli, Barboursville
•     Beckley Pediatrics, Beckley
•     Melange Cafe, Charleston
•     The Wandering Caravan, Davis
•     Animalia Veterinary Care, Berkeley Springs
•     Short Story Brewing, Rivesville