Small Businesses Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Special Session, County Fairs And KY Small Businesses, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Legislature returned for its special session after introducing 44 bills in each chamber on Sunday. Several bills were sent to the Finance and Judiciary committees for further consideration. Briana Heaney has more.

On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Legislature returned for its special session after introducing 44 bills in each chamber on Sunday. Several bills were sent to the Finance and Judiciary committees for further consideration. Briana Heaney has more.

Also, in this show, much needed federal dollars could be headed towards small businesses across rural Eastern Kentucky soon through a new technical assistance grant. Shepherd Snyder has more.

And county fairs bring out the cooks and the crafters hoping to take home the coveted blue ribbon. Few have been as successful as Linda Skeens from Russell County, Virginia. She’s won hundreds, which has made her a social media sensation and a cookbook author. Inside Appalachia Bill Lynch spoke with her about county fair contests and collecting recipes.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Concord University and Shepherd University.

Eric Douglas is our news director and produced this episode.

Chuck Anziulewicz is our host.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Justice Petitions To Expand Small Business Federal Contracts

More federal financial help may soon be available for West Virginia small businesses.

Gov. Jim Justice is petitioning for Boone, Clay, Hampshire, Monroe and Preston Counties to be added to the state roster as governor-designated HUBZones.

“Our great state’s small businesses deserve a fighting chance to show the nation the competitive advantage of West Virginia,” Justice said. “We remain ready and able to compete for federal contracting opportunities and help revitalize our rural communities through continued hard work and dedication.”

The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) federal program gives participating small businesses access to exclusive federal contracting opportunities and preferential price evaluations when bidding on at-large federal contracts.

If approved, small businesses would now have access to markets where they were previously excluded, or where they suffered a competitive disadvantage.

Justice’s designations are in addition to the existing West Virginia HUBZones where businesses are already bringing federal dollars into the state. In 2020, West Virginia small businesses contracted for $48 million worth of goods and services

West Virginia Commerce Secretary James Bailey said, in 2022, there were 59 small businesses that were taking advantage of these – in the limited areas where they were already existing.

“They were awarded almost $100 million in federal contracts,” Bailey said. “What the governor has done here is tremendously increase the areas where small businesses can qualify for this program.”

Bailey said this is not a one and done thing every single year.

“We’re going to be able to reexamine the areas throughout the state that qualify for these designations and do analysis to see how we can keep expanding it,” Bailey said. “These are areas that have to meet certain demographics. It’s not just where the business is located, employees have to be residing there.”

Bailey said the HUBZone program presents a great opportunity for businesses to not only increase revenue and diversify income streams but to also continue driving local economic growth and job creation.

Small Business Opportunities Expand For West Virginia Women And Minorities

The grand opening of the West Virginia Women’s Business Center office in Charleston now gives the nonprofit support agency four statewide hubs serving all 55 counties.

Services to expand small business opportunities for West Virginia women and minorities were strengthened statewide on Wednesday.

The grand opening of the West Virginia Women’s Business Center office in Charleston now gives the nonprofit support agency four statewide hubs serving all 55 counties. The downtown Charleston center joins hubs in Morgantown and Fairmont, with an office in Huntington set to open within the next 30 days.

Executive Director Nora Myers said the centers provide the tools, support and business fundamentals to get a small business off the ground, or take it to the next level.

“We support women and minority owned small businesses in West Virginia,” Myers said. “Whether they’re trying to start up, to expand or maybe they’re combating some challenges like COVID-19.”

Myers said that many of the historical avenues to power, money and resources remain closed to women and minorities.

“While it is better, still in certain segments they’re shut out from those opportunities,” Myers said. “And we’re here to say we will partner with you and get you along that journey.”

Since their launching in 2020, these small business opportunity centers have welcomed more than 2,200 individuals to training workshops. Myers said they currently have about 200 active clients working one on one with business advisors, and they are launching a new mentoring program.

Myers says center services are open to all women, minorities and men. Contact the West Virginia Women’s Business Center for more information.

ARC Announces COVID-19 Grants For Lenders Helping Small Businesses

The Appalachian Regional Commission has announced $3.75 million for banks and other lenders who have lost money during this global coronavirus pandemic.

Specifically, the grants are for lenders who work with small or local businesses and nonprofits in the ARC’s 13-state coverage area.

In a press release on Monday, the commission stated the grant will help approved lenders cover their own operational costs, as they continue to lose income from their local business borrowers, who due to the COVID-19 crisis need to reduce or suspend the regular loan payments.

The ARC anticipates the grant will serve 400 businesses and nonprofits in Appalachia, it said, and it could help retain 200 regional jobs.

Interested lenders have to be a member of Appalachian Community Capital to apply, or they have to have previously been funded by the ARC. The commission said the money will be awarded later this month.

Emily Allen is a Report for America corps member.