A Conversation About Rural Entrepreneurship—October 18-19 in Fairmont
The challenges of rural entrepreneurship will be the focus of a forum to be held October 18-19 in 
Fairmont. With support from the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program, the event is aimed at practitioners in rural areas throughout the region, including West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Representatives of USDA, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department will address ways to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in West Virginia and the region.
Participants will learn how the SSBCI program operates in each of the states. In working sessions, they will discuss opportunities and challenges faced by entrepreneurs in rural areas, including those having to do with lending and access to capital, policy, support, culture, human capital and markets.
Information about a variety of grant opportunities–through Federal agencies and private foundations—will be shared.
The event begins at 11:30 am on Tuesday, October 18 and concludes at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, October 19. It will be held at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center, 1000 Galliher Drive, Fairmont WV 26554. The registration fee of $80 includes the two-day program, lunch on Oct. 18 and 19, and a reception and dinner at Muriale’s Restaurant on Oct. 18.
Joining the U.S. Treasury Department in sponsoring this event are the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust, the INNOVA Commercialization Group, TechConnect West Virginia, Marshall University, the WVU LaunchLab and the BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at WVU.