Bill Signing Creates Office To Support Entrepreneurs  

From home bakers to auto shop mechanics, anyone interested in starting a new business or even a part-time side hustle may find it easier thanks to Senate Bill 878.  

Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed the legislation that creates the West Virginia Office of Entrepreneurship into law on Wednesday.  

The brand-new office – which officially opens its doors on July 1 under the leadership of the Secretary of State’s office – aims to support existing businesses and guide startups through the earliest stages of launching a business – including licenses, taxes and available loans and grants.   

Sec. Kris Warner says roughly 1,800 new businesses launched in West Virginia last month and about 19,000 in the last year.   

“Not every one of them is going to need help and assistance from us, but those that do, we’re going to be able to have two staff members focus entirely on those new startups and existing businesses that may need the same type of help with state government. I can guarantee you that’s going to grow jobs in West Virginia,” Warner said.  

The new office will coordinate referrals to the appropriate agencies or partners, he added, and work collaboratively with other agencies to solve administrative and policy issues that hinder economic growth. 

Successful entrepreneurship not only helps the business owner and their family with extra expenses, Warner said, but it also helps to create jobs and stabilize the state’s economy. 

“We think that it is going to be able to help tremendously that new business have an early success,” Warner said. “And then if we find barriers, we’re going to report back to the legislature so they can make the changes that need to be made quickly, so that entrepreneurs and small business owners can go to have early successes and go on to be self-sustaining.”