WV BusinessLink Newsletter for April 19, 2024

a service of the WV Small Business Development Center

a division of the WV Dept. of Economic Development

April 19, 2024 | Volume 3, Issue 30

Think WV BusinessLink First

Hi there,

Me again, Mark Burdette from WV BusinessLink. What a tremendous week at Bridging Innovation 2024 in Huntington, WV! Check out the complete summary of the weeks long event under the featured blog articles section below. Thank you Huntington, WV! You did an amazing job being this year's host city. Now, let's get to your weekly dose of business news and things you need to know across the great state of West Virginia. Here we go!

SCAN, CLICK, and READ

URGENT: One Million Black Women: Black in Business - Deadline extended to April 21, 2024 - Learn more
Marshall University officially dedicates new Business and Innovation Center to Brad Smith during Bridging Innovation Week.
West Virginia ranks 23rd in state economic outlook rankings.
Coat of Arms unveils their new trailer for their upcoming documentary film O Pioneer during Bridging Innovation week to record crowd.
COMMENTARY: West Virginia's childcare desert
Economic development discussed at Future Forward event in Beckley.
Renowned entrepreneur and motivational speak Chris Gardner to address graduates at Marshall University's 2024 commencement.
Entrepreneurship conference takes place in Huntington, WV
Lost Creek Farm takes home $100,000 top prize at the 2024 Hayhurst Invitational
Moodr Health from IgniteWV 2024 is headed to pitch at The Startup World Cup semi-finals!
HOT OFF THE PRESSES: Gov. Jim Justice awards $2 million grant for new adventure park in Clendenin
WV Hive congratulates Mountain Steer Meat Company of White Sulphur Springs on second place award in Hayhurst Invitational Pitch Competition
Apply now for the Governor's Export Awards
NEED TO KNOW: New rules for bulk email senders from Google and Yahoo, what you need to know
IP Fundamentals: How the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can help protect your innovations - Register Now
St. Albans small business owner testifies before Congress
Dr. Henry Collier named the inaugural executive director of the Institute for Cyber Security at Marshall University
Congratulations to all of the IgniteWV Main Street and Tech/Innovation Awardees
WV Hive, WVU Tech Launch Lab announce finalists chose to pitch at the April 23 Southern WV Business Idea Pitch Competition
CONSUMER ALERT: Do you really own the digital items you paid for?
Cabell County becomes designated Build WV district
Clarksburg City Council discusses economic development plan
The EdVenture Group announces awardees for inaugural SparkWV competition
NSIN Vector seeks to identify and assist the next generation of dual-use ventures as they develop solutions supporting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) | Flyer
Vantage Ventures welcomes new founders, Drew Lytton and Jackie Lytton with Growmentum

Thanks for reading. Onward and Upward!

Mark

Mark Burdette, EDP

Program Coordinator

WV BusinessLink

Direct: 304-352-4156

Quick Links

April 23, 2024 at 2:00pm

ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY ETHNICITY

INFLATION STICKER SHOCK

FEATURED BLOG ARTICLES

Bridging Innovation Week Bridges the Gap for West Virginia Entrepreneurs: A Week-Long Celebration of Innovation and Growth

Bridging Innovation Week, West Virginia’s premier entrepreneurship event, concluded last week with a resounding success, drawing a diverse crowd of over 1,000 attendees including aspiring and established business owners, resource providers, funders, educators, students, and additional key stakeholders. Held at the Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington, West Virginia, the annual symposium served as a catalyst for entrepreneurship-led economic development throughout the Mountain State.

Your Rural Small Business Can Go Solar and Save Money

Small business owners work hard to serve their customers and communities. Expensive and unpredictable electric bills shouldn’t get in the way of that.

This is why many small businesses are looking into solar to lower their energy costs. Now is a great time to consider going solar; the cost has dropped 37.5% since 2010. Plus, new tax credits and federal programs can lower solar’s cost even further.

New Data on Entrepreneurship in West Virginia Shows Thirteen Percent Growth in Microbusinesses

Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority, unveiled today new data on entrepreneurship in West Virginia, providing a snapshot county by county. The data shows the presence of microbusinesses across the state and highlights the national economic impact on employment. The findings come from Venture Forward, an ongoing research initiative by GoDaddy that analyzes the impact of more than 20 million online microbusinesses. Venture Forward provides a unique view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of these entrepreneurs. The data was unveiled at the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference in Huntington.

RESOURCE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Sprouting Farms Corp is a 501c3 non-profit located in Summers Co, WV, that supports economic development through agriculture in West Virginia and Central Appalachia. Our programs provide farm business training and resources and build the regional markets necessary to launch, support, and enable farm businesses. A 2014 USDA grant funded a business plan, which launched Sprouting Farms after receiving ARC POWER grant in 2017. Sprouting Farms builds farm businesses through five interconnected initiatives described below. We aren’t afraid to do the hard work of building these initiatives from the ground up, because we believe that these programs are important for developing the sustainable and equitable economy and community we envision.

EVENTS

To view the full calendar of events on WV BusinessLink click here

To submit your events on WV BusinessLink click here

Grantsmanship, Formatting and Readability Tips for SBIR/STTR Proposals

TechConnect and WV SBDC

April 17, 2024 at 12:00pm

Investment Crowdfunding Demystified

Crowdfund Better

April 23, 2024 at 2pm ET

One USDA Beginning Farming and Ranching Webinar Series for Transitioning Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses

USDA

April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, and May 21, 2024 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Spring 2024 Pitch Southern WV Competition

WV Hive & WVU Tech Launch Lab

April 23, 2024 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Stay tuned for more info

Food and Beverage Producers

Advantage Valley

April 24th from 5:30-7:30pm

Valley Park Conference Center

EDTALKS

Education Alliance

May 1, 2024

11:30am-1:00pm

Huntington, WV

2024 National AANHPI Business Summit

Minority Business Development Agency

May 15, 2024 from 1:00-6:00pm

SBIR Road Tour

TechConnect, MAMC, WV SBDC

May 17, 2024 at 11:00AM

Huntington, WV

2024 WV Bioscience Summit

Bioscience Association of WV

May 29, 2024 at 9:00am-2:00pm

Huntington, WV

PODCASTS

Episode 108: TOPGUN Pilot Guy Snodgrass Shares Vital Wisdom

LISTEN NOW

Featured Episode: Saran Nurse: Thriving as an Entrepreneur in Urban America

LISTEN NOW

Featured Episode: Olubunmi Kusimo-Frazier

LISTEN NOW

Featured Episode: Judd Walther & Andrew Morrison: Rebuilders Commercial Restoration

LISTEN NOW

Episode Three: Words, Words, Words

LISTEN NOW

Episode 30: The Future of the World Economy with Ajay Banga of the World Bank.

LISTEN NOW

Elsewhere Alpha is a weekly podcast that explores ways to attract private capital outside of the major hubs like NY, CA, and MA in places like WV.

LISTEN NOW

Your window into wonderful #WestVirginia, sharing news and #opportunities from #AlmostHeaven #YesWV.

LISTEN NOW

The daily304’s Innovators and Entrepreneurs helps you stay connected with the people who shape West Virginia.

LISTEN NOW

The daily304’s What Makes You Wonderful podcast uncovers the wonders that make West Virginia truly extraordinary.

LISTEN NOW

Have a podcast for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Mountain State and would like to be listed on WV BusinessLink? Contact our Program Coordinator, Mark Burdette, at mark.d.burdette@wv.gov for more information.

DATES TO REMEMBER

April is National Volunteer Month
Spring 2024 Pitch Southern WV Competition - April 23, 2024 5:30pm to 8:00pm
National Small Business Week - April 28 - May 4, 2024
SBA Awards WV District - May 1, 2024 - Fairmont, WV
SBA SBIR/STTR Road Tour - May 17, 2024 - Huntington, WV
WV Bioscience Summit - May 29, 2024 - Huntington, WV
SBIR/STTR Spring Innovation Conference - June 17-18, 2024 National Harbor, MD
ARC Annual Conference: Advancing Appalachia - September 4-5, 2024 - Chattanooga, TN

STATE RESOURCES

Export resources for small business

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Apply now for the Governor's Export Awards. Complete and submit your application by Wednesday, May 15, 2024. If you have any questions, contact Caitlin Ashley-Lizarraga by calling 304-352-3997 or send her an email caitlin.lizarraga@wv.gov.

SUBMIT APPLICATION

ECOSYSTEM JOB BOARDS

NEW JOB POSTING: Partner Community Capital is seeking an Energy Program Manager to join their growing team. Here is the link to the position and how candidates can apply.