November is National Entrepreneurship Month in the United States. It provides a time to celebrate the entrepreneur – someone who sees a problem and solves it. Success for an entrepreneur takes dedication, sacrifice, hard work and boundless energy.
The past couple of years have been challenging for entrepreneurs, even for the most seasoned entrepreneur. Inflation, a global pandemic, broadband connectivity issues, and countless other factors that seem to make the odds of growing a successful business slim to none. Yet, in spite of those challenges, many entrepreneurs in our region kept their dream and passion alive and succeeded.
In recent years, state and federal governments have pumped millions of dollars into entrepreneurship support programming in our communities across the country. From entrepreneurship coaching and advising programs to angel capital networks, leadership has recognized that to diversify the economy, grow new companies, and support our best and brightest, significant investments must be made.
Programs such as the WV Hive are continuing to grow and innovate in the entrepreneurship space. Taking advantage of these support services is crucial for entrepreneurs looking to redefine what it means to be a new company in the 21st century. The WV Hive has served over 400 entrepreneurs to create 62 new businesses in our region over the past 5 years. The WV Hive celebrates the entrepreneur!
An old expression “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is used to describe hard work, ingenuity, and the need to accomplish something difficult. This same expression is often used in the entrepreneurial world to describe businesses who are scraping by and clawing their way to success. The most exciting part about being an entrepreneur today is that you don’t have to ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ – at least not by yourself. There is an influx of support to assist you in the thrill of starting your own business.
Entrepreneurs are the people who should be celebrated every day because they are out there solving problems. Celebrate your local entrepreneur by shopping local!
Jack and Kathleen Taggart, owners of New River Farms Sawmill in Danese, made their home in West Virginia after Jack’s service in the United States Army to settle and start the business of their dreams.
Leaders of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and its entrepreneurial program – the West Virginia Hive – are seeking the community’s input by the end of the year on several aspects of a new Food Business Incubation Hub in Fayette County.
Leading local non-profit organizations — Forward Southern West Virginia and New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) — are donating $10,000 each to help propel an education and training campaign, Project GRACE (Gathered Response to Address Child Exploitation), being coordinated by Just for Kids Child Advocacy Center serving Fayette and Raleigh counties.
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