Business Growth

SBA Offers Economic Assistance to Mid-Atlantic Small Businesses Affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that Mid-Atlantic small businesses affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26, 2024 may apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). “The SBA joins the entire federal family in grieving for the lives lost in...

New Funding Window to Open in March for USDA Broadband Program

Program webinar will take place on March 6 for interested applicants The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is inviting loan and grant applications from organizations to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas...

Celebrating Black History Month and West Virginia’s Entrepreneurs

It may not seem like it, but the days are getting longer. We may be in the dead of winter here in West Virginia, but at Rural Development February is when things really start to heat up. Funding award announcements and learning opportunities are just a few of the things...

70 Years of Helping Small Businesses in the Mountain State

Last month, The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), celebrated seven decades of helping small businesses start, grow and succeed by honoring local small businesses with their Legacy Business recognition. Diana Lewis-Jackson, President and CEO, of Action Facilities Management received the recognition, at an invite only ceremony among family, friends and colleagues, on...

West Virginia University Industrial Extension Awarded $400,000 Federal Grant to Aid West Virginia Manufacturers

A federal grant has been awarded to the WVU Industrial Extension (WVUIE) to help small and medium sized West Virginia manufacturers build their supply chain initiatives. The funding will provide services to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide National Supply Chain Optimization and to establish a supply chain Intelligence Network,...

Introducing the WVU Industrial Engineering Capstone Program: Enhancing Business Productivity through Student-Driven Solutions

The West Virginia University (WVU) Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering is excited to announce the launch of the WVU Industrial Engineering Capstone Program (IECP). In a nutshell, the WVU IECP aims to provide students with unparalleled experiences and to serve the land-grant mission of the University by supporting...

Unleash the power of AI for your small business

Learn to leverage AI and ChatGPT to improve your day-to-day operations. As both a founder and small business owner, I’ve seen firsthand how today’s rapidly evolving business landscape calls for innovative ways to gain a competitive edge. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force that offers tremendous potential for...

Fostering a Strong Business Climate in Our Rural Communities

Economic and workforce development probably aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), but at USDA Rural Development assisting small businesses is one of our primary missions. We are dedicated to helping West Virginia businesses through job creation and...

Crafting a Stand-Out Brand Identity: Tips and Tricks

Your brand identity is what sets your business apart from the competition and is what customers will remember long after they’ve interacted with your product or service. A strong brand identity is built on a foundation of trust and credibility, and it’s important to learn what it takes to build...

Making Movie Magic With Jeff Tinnell

In this episode of Innovators and Entrepreneurs, Andy Malinoski talks to Jeff Tinnell, owner of Allegheny Image Factory. Tinnell runs his media company out of Morgantown, West Virginia, where he creates award-winning content for major studios and organizations. “We’re very excited about bringing this consistent work into West Virginia by...