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The West Virginia House of Delegates has held the first of its two “listening tours” for small business owners and entrepreneurs.  The first two sessions were held this past month in Bridgeport and Huntington.  The sessions have been organized by House Speaker Tim Miley (D-Harrison) and the House Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.

Anne Barth, TCWV’s executive director, attended the sessions and has helped to line up businesses in order to highlight entrepreneurial success and to outline needs.  Among innovation entrepreneurs who spoke at the Huntington event were Derek Gregg, with Vandalia Research, Ricky Kirkendall with Floco Apps/Campaignr, and Mark Kropilak, Liberty Hydro.

“It was great that several of the speakers were entrepreneurs who promoted the assistance they have received from the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust and its Capital Access Program (CAP),” Barth said. “That program has been extremely beneficial, but its initial funding is nearly exhausted. TechConnectWV and other groups are talking with Speaker Miley and the committee members about finding additional funds to continue and expand the CAP programs for more small businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Speakers also commended the assistance received from the WV Small Business Development Center in establishing and growing their businesses.

The committee is holding these listening sessions in order to hear from small business owners and to explore possible solutions to address challenges faced by small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Click to read more about the Huntington session: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x892505745/Listening-and-learning

Additional listening tour sessions will be scheduled in other locations across the state.